Where you are looking for high level of durability and stiffness in bearings, then it is better to use needle roller thrust bearings. With a large number of needle rolling elements which are guided using a cage, the bearing occupies minimal axial space, while accommodating heavy axial loads. Needle thrust bearings are widely used in applications where there is just enough space for the thrust washer. By using the faces of nearby components as raceways, a needle roller thrust bearing takes less space but offer high reliability.
Some Inherent Features of Needle Thrust Bearing
Needle Thrust Bearing | Image Resource: indiamart.com
This type of bearing is widely used in applications, such as high-pressure pumps, machine tools, industrial machines, and so on, owing to its intrinsic features.
- Needle roller thrust bearings can handle heavy axial loads, as well as peak loads. This is possible through a deviation of the rolling elements by a small diameter.
- They have a long service life for the roller ends are slightly tapered to not to undergo stress peaks. This small change in design helps roller ends change the line contact between the rolling elements and raceway.
Get to Know Different Types of Needle Thrust Bearing
Based on the requirements, a needle roller thrust bearing is designed to give the following variants.
- Needle roller bearing, with cage thrust assemblies: This variant of bearing is available in different sizes and dimensions to support axial loads in only one direction. Where there are no nearby components to serve as washers, you can have raceways combined with the bearing to use it
- Multi-direction bearing: This type of needle thrust bearing asks for similar hardness and surface finish of intermediate washers. You can have a double-direction bearing by integrating two needle roller bearings, with cage thrust assemblies and two raceways, as well as an intermediate washer.
- Needle thrust bearing with a centering flange: You can design this using a needle roller bearing, with cage thrust assemblies, a thrust washer and a centering flange, which helps correctly center the washer radially.
Various Uses of Needle Thrust Bearing
With a needle thrust bearing available in various sizes, dimensions, class type clearance, and more, it is advisable to check the needle bearing catalogue, which even provides information on intermediate washers in different sizes. The taper roller bearing design enables the bearing have its usage in wider applications, where extended service life and reliability is important. Some of the applications where a needle roller thrust bearing is highly used are automobiles such as light trucks, cars, trailers, buses and two wheelers and machine tools.
The new developments in a needle thrust bearing design like steel cages helps it operate in high temperature. The other variations are made through shaft and housing washers that come in standard sizes.