What Are Thrust Bearings? |
Posted: March 13, 2019 |
If you have a bandsaw or regularly use one, you understand the importance of thrust bearings. Thrust bearings support axial loads onto rotating shifts and are made in a variety of designs. These designs range from simple, coin-sized flat washes to more sophisticated assemblies and appliances. There are six basic types of thrust bearings, and each type is important in understanding thrust bearings. The first basic type of thrust bearing is the hydrostatic thrust bearing, externally pressurized. It works best for low-speed, heavily loaded equipment, including telescopes and large radio antennas. These structures can weigh up to a million pounds, or more. Generally, the other five types of thrust bearings internally generate oil pressure to support thrust loads. In this process, they include a rotating face or shaft collar will pump oil onto a supporting surface. Tapered-land bearings are thrust bearings that are sensitive to load, speed, and lubricant. They are specifically designed to match the operating conditions of constant-speed machines. Pivoted-pad thrust bearings are more typically used in turbines, pumps, compressors, marine drives and more. They are generally the same size as tapered-land bearings. They can accommodate minor misalignment and equalize loads. Offsetting these thrust bearings can raise load capacity, lowers operating temperatures, and cuts power loss. The other types of bandsaw thrust bearings include spring-mounted bearings, which can run at speeds of up to 700 rpm at unit loads of up to 500 psi. Oil film does not overheat because of the shortened path in the tangential direction of motion. Step-thrust bearings use a coined or etching step, better suited to mass-produced to small bearings and thrust washes. They work best with water, gasoline, and solvents. However, it does tend to accumulate dirt and this wear and erosion can hurt the effectiveness of a machine. Lastly, flat-land thrust bearings are the least expensive thrust bearings to produce. They typically are able to handle for light loads, simple positioning of rotors typically used in electric motors, appliances, crankshafts and other machinery. They carry just a small percentage of the load that other thrust bearings can, but they do not directly build oil-film pressure through pumping action. Each type of thrust bearing is used for a specific purpose, to take a heavy or lighter load, and is suited for a specific machine. Using a variety of materials, such as leaded bronzes or reinforced plastic, to serve the right purpose. They should be cleaned and replaced regularly based on the care process for the machine in question.
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