Operating Conditions
Bearing duty in Power Transmission & Gearboxes
Conveyor bearings here have to survive contamination, shock load and long running hours. Most of their life depends on the seal arrangement, load rating and housing fit you choose.
Mechanical power transmission systems, including reducers, gearboxes, couplings and gear drive sections, depend on tapered, cylindrical, angular contact and spherical roller bearings to carry combined radial and axial loads. On conveyor drives these bearings see high torque, shock loads at start-up and continuous running. Reliability engineers focus on load rating, internal clearance and expected service life.
- Use tapered roller bearings in pairs at gear positions where helical gears create combined radial and axial loads.
- Specify cylindrical roller bearings for high radial loads on intermediate and output shafts where thermal expansion needs to float.
- Check whether the internal clearance (C3 or C4) suits the gearbox operating temperature and the shaft and housing fits.
- Fit needle or thrust bearings where installation space is tight or the axial load is the main load.
