A spherical roller bearing is a rolling-element bearing that permits rotation with low friction, and permits angular misalignment. Typically these bearings support a rotating shaft in the bore of the inner ring that may be misaligned in respect to the outer ring. The misalignment is possible due to the spherical internal shape of the outer ring and spherical rollers. Despite what their name may imply, spherical roller bearings are not truly spherical in shape. The rolling elements of spherical roller bearings are mainly cylindrical in shape, but have a profile that makes them appear like cylinders that have been slightly over-inflated.

Spherical roller bearings consist of an inner ring with two raceways inclined at an angle to the bearing axis, an outer ring with a common spherical raceway, spherical rollers, cages and, in certain designs, also internal guide rings or center rings. The bearings can also be sealed.

Spherical bearings are used in countless industrial applications, where there are heavy loads, moderate speeds and possibly misalignment. Some common application areas are: gearboxes, wind turbines, continuous casting machines, material handling, pumps, mechanical fans and blowers, mining and construction equipment, pulp and paper processing equipment, marine propulsion and offshore drilling, off-road vehicles.

Features

Spherical rollers are put between the spherical raceway on the outer ring and the two grooves on the inner ring for these bearings. Since the center of the arc raceway on the outer ring is the same as the center of the whole bearing arrangement, these bearings are self-aligned and automatically adjust the bending of the shaft and housing and the eccentricity. The bearings can carry radial load and axial load in double directions. The especial radial load carrying capability makes these bearings suitable for heavy load and shock load carrying.