
In bearing maintenance proper lubrication significantly increases bearing life, especially under adverse conditions. Therefore, it is important to use proper lubrication procedures to prevent premature bearing failure.
In this guide, you will find the recommended instructions for lubricating tapered roller bearings. But before we get into that, let’s take a quick look at the overview of tapered roller bearings.
Tapered roller bearings
Tapered roller bearings are designed to support both radial and axial loads under even the most extreme conditions.
Each tapered roller bearing consists of four interdependent components: the cone (inner ring), the cup (outer ring), the tapered rollers (rolling elements), and the cage (roller retainer). Tapered angles allow our bearings to efficiently control a combination of radial and axial loads. The steeper the angle of the outer ring, the greater the ability of the bearing to handle axial loads. To allow true rolling motion of the rollers on the raceways, the extensions of the raceways and the tapered surfaces of the rollers meet at a common point, the apex, on the axis of rotation. Visit also: Needle Bearings Combined Ball Roller Series
There are some main types of tapered roller bearings, namely:
1) Single row bearings (TS – SINGLE-ROW).
This is the basic and most widely used type of tapered roller bearing. It consists of the inner ring and the outer ring. It is usually installed as one of two opposing pairs. When the equipment is installed, single row bearings can be adjusted for the required clearance (endplay) or preload to optimize performance.
Single-row bearings are used in a variety of applications such as:
– Gearboxes, pumps, and conveyors in power generation, mining, oil and gas, wind energy, pulp and paper, food and beverage, gear drives, cement, and metal industries.
– Drivelines, gear drives, axle centers, wheel heads, and gearboxes used in construction, mining, railroads, motor vehicles, and commercial vehicles.
2) Double row bearings (TDO – DOUBLE OUTER RING).
This type of bearing has a one-piece (double) outer ring and two single inner rings. It is normally supplied complete with an inner ring spacer as a pre-assembled assembly. This configuration provides a large effective bearing spread and is often selected for applications where tilting moments are a significant load component. TDO bearings can be used in a fixed (stationary) position or float in the housing bore to compensate for shaft expansion, for example.
Applications of TDO bearings include heavily loaded gear drives and various industrial configurations.
3) Double row bearings (TDI – DOUBLE INNER RING).
These bearings consist of a single-piece (double) inner ring and two single outer rings. They are usually supplied complete with an outer-ring spacer as a pre-set assembly. TDI bearings can be used in fixed positions on rotating shafts. In rotating housing applications, the double inner ring type TDI can be used floating on the stationary shaft.
TDI bearings are used, for example, in gearboxes, cranes, calender rollers, and industrial machinery.
Best practice: lubricate tapered roller bearings with grease
Proper bearing lubrication is one of the best ways to extend bearing life and improve performance. The following guide shows you how to quickly and easily fill your tapered roller bearings with grease.
There are two methods to add grease to the bearing, either by hand or with a mechanical grease packer.
Method 1: By hand
1. Clean your hands thoroughly or wear a new pair of latex gloves.
2. Place a golf ball-sized amount of grease in the palm of your hand.
3. with your other hand, press the large end of the bearing cone into the grease so that the grease is forced between the rollers, cage, and cone.
4. While pressing the grease into the large end, rotate the entire cone assembly until the grease is evenly distributed throughout the small end.
5. Brush any excess grease onto the outside of the bearing cone.
Method 2: Using a mechanical grease packer.
1. clean your hands thoroughly or wear a new pair of latex gloves.
2. place the bearing cone in the grease packer funnel with the small end down.
3. Plug the hole of the large end of the bearing cone with the conical holder.
4. Press firmly on the conical holder. This will force the grease between the rollers, cage, and cone.
5. Grease excess grease on the outside of the bearing cone.
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