Deep groove ball bearings uses and applications

Deep groove ball bearings

Deep groove ball bearings are the most common type of bearings specified due to their utility in transferring both high radial and axial loads.

Both the outer and inner rings have grooves with a radius only slightly exceeding the ball radius. Due to the curvature ratio, the bearing is capable of supporting radial and axial forces.

When the balls are loaded in this typical non loading slot type of deep groove ball bearing the bearing rings are displaced relative to each other in an eccentric positioning.

The free space is filled with balls whose size and number are so calculated that by utilizing the elasticity of the rings the balls are forced in between the rings evenly. 

As you can see in the example the balls are then surrounded by a retainer.

Most frequently, two-piece stamped sheet steel cages are inserted from both sides and then joined together. Of course, there are many other types of cages where machined cages or polyamide may be used for each type of application requirement.

Deep groove ball bearings applications

Deep groove ball bearings are used in a myriad of applications. Due to its ability to sustain forces in both the radial and axial directions, its low friction and its suitability for high speeds the potential uses are endless.

Applications include:

• electric motors automobiles
• windmills
• power tools
• engines
• gearboxes
• medical devices
• office machinery 
• flying cars, robots

Conrad Type ball bearings

There are deep groove ball bearings with filling slots ( also known as Conrad type) which is a predecessor to the more widely used deep groove ball bearing without filling slots.

The primary difference between the two is that the filling slot allows for the addition of one more ball increasing the load carrying capacity. While the deep groove ball bearing with filling slot is better for increasing the radial load capacity it suffers somewhat for carrying axial loads. Since nearly all bearing applications involve axial loads, the deep groove radial ball bearing without filling slots has largely replaced the former deep groove radial ball bearing with filling slots.

Further in the article, you will learn about Single row and Double row angular contact ball bearings.

Single row angular contact ball bearing

In single row angular contact ball bearing, the raceways are so arranged that the forces are transmitted from one raceway to the other under certain a certain contact angle. The angle between the line of action of the force and the radial plane. Angular contact bearings can be manufactured using 15, 18,25,30, 40 and 60 degrees depending upon the application requirements.

This is an example of a high-speed angular contact bearing with a 15 degree contact angle and would likely be used in high-speed machine spindles. High-speed machining is usually associated with any spindle speed above 15k rpm.

Double row angular contact ball bearing

Double row angular contact ball bearings are of a design where two rows are running parallel in two different raceways in both the outer and inner rings. The design actually corresponds to a ready to mount pair of single row angular contact ball bearings in O-arrangement.

Double row angular contact ball bearings are capable of sustaining large radial and axial forces. They are particularly suitable for applications demanding rigid axial guidance. Generally, each ball set has a pressed steel sheet waved ribbon cage.

This is a track roller bearing with which demonstrates a typical double row combination.

Track rollers – also referred to as idler rollers – are motion transmission components designed to work with all varieties of tracks. They see use in conveyor systems, cam drives, and a wide range of similar material handling systems.

These are just a few examples of the way deep groove ball bearings are applied. In addition to those bearings described here, single row angular contact bearings can be paired, used in threes, or even four or five together to achieve the goals required.

Another category is self aligning bearings.

Self aligning bearings

In the  self aligning ball bearing the raceway of the outer ring is spherical while the inner ring has two grooved raceways. The cage combines the two balls sets and the inner ring to form a unit that can align itself with the outer ring. The bearing is therefore not affected by misalignment of shaft and housing nor by shaft deflections.

These bearings are primarily used in agricultural machinery, conveyors, line shafting, woodworking machines etc.

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