Use of Needle Thrust Bearing in Various Applications

With bearings developed to offer varied designs, their use in industry is indispensable. Advancements in engineering have revolutionized the functioning of machines through these mechanical components that they have helped multiple productivity. There are different types of bearings, which are meant for specific applications. Among them, the needle thrust bearing is known for its design and varied uses in industry.

Its significance lies in the cylindrical rolling elements, which are small in diameter. You can find these bearings in a wide range of designs and sizes so that they can be used in any applications.

Various Uses of Needle Thrust Bearing
 

Needle Thrust Bearing | Image Resource : amazon.com

It is said that the shaft, which is a rotating machine component, has a bearing arrangement, which in general should be a locating or non-locating one in order to support and detect the component axially and radially relative to the unit. The needle thrust bearing supporting radial loads can handle axial displacement in the bearing. Since the bearing generally accommodates acting one-directional axial loads, it is used as non-locating needle thrust bearings.

Where a needle roller thrust bearing acting in both direction is needed, you can make it using a combination of two needle roller, raceways and cage thrust assemblies. However, this combined bearing can handle axial and radial loads acting in one direction. For the supporting the axial loads in opposite direction, you need another combined needle thrust bearing. You can have more information on this in the needle bearing catalogue.

How Different is Needle Thrust Bearing with General Bearings?

The applicability of the needle roller bearing is for specific purposes for they are several inherent features.

Higher load-bearing capacity: When compared to general bearings needle thrust bearings are smaller though they have better load-carrying capacity. Such bearings are recognized for compact designs and bearing housing units. Applications using needle roller bearings can accommodate them in light-weight machinery, thereby it results in low cost of production.

High rigidity: Some characteristics of this bearing like including additional rollers and smaller load handled per unit area offer high rigidity.

Smaller inertial force: The smaller mass of the needle thrust bearing enables it to be used in applications, where low inertial force is needed, for example, in case of an engine crankshaft.  

Appropriate for applications asking for oscillatory motion: Where applications that require oscillatory movements, without any overlapping of the nearby rollers, the needle thrust bearing is used. Like the taper roller bearing design, the needle roller bearing design promotes adequate lubrication of the adjacent rollers, not permitting the rollers from wearing. The oscillatory angle of the inner and outer raceways is designed to be at minimum to make it effective.

Thus, the use of the needle thrust bearing is found in a range of applications.