Large cylindrical rolling bearings offer new design opportunities
18 April 2013
Schaeffler has extended its premium quality X-life range of cylindrical rolling bearings to now include larger size bearings with outside diameters up to 1,600mm.
Previously, X-life cylindrical rolling bearings were available with outside diameters up to 320mm. The new extended range includes both full complement cylindrical rolling bearings and cylindrical rolling bearings with cages.
In a bearing application that predominantly involves high radial loads, a cylindrical roller bearing is often the best choice. In this type of bearing, two rollers are guided between rigid ribs on two raceways. The raceways and ribs are part of the bearing rings, which are separated by the cylindrical rollers.
The cylindrical rolling elements support the forces not at contact points, as in a ball bearing, but along contact lines and can therefore support higher loads. The general principle is that the more load-carrying rollers, the higher the basic load rating.
If very high loads are to be supported and speeds are relatively moderate, full complement cylindrical roller bearings are recommended. Where other variables and conditions such as high speed play a role, a cylindrical roller bearing with a cage must be specified.
X-life provides totally new design opportunities for applications that require large-size cylindrical rolling bearings. By using its in-house design calculation software and improved manufacturing technologies, Schaeffler has been able to optimise the contact geometry between the roller end faces and the bearing ribs, resulting in a more uniform surface over the contact area between the rolling elements and raceway. This improved internal design results in more uniform internal load distribution.
This, combined with new special heat treatment processes for the bearings, means that X-life cylindrical rolling bearings now offer up to 20 percent higher basic dynamic load ratings and a longer nominal operating life compared to standard bearings. These performance improvements enable customers to optimise design envelopes by either downsizing the bearings or by using the same size bearings with improved performance.
The frictional torque in the bearing is also reduced, which means the bearing temperature during operation is also lower. This means the bearings offer significantly longer operating life under the same operating conditions. Alternatively, higher loads can now be applied while maintaining the same rating life values.
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