Why Spherical Plain Bearings Are Considered Distinctive And Reliable In Industry?

By Author: Snehal Desai
Total Articles: 94
Comment this article

Theoscillating movements in machines ask for bearings of different types revolutionizing the industry. Spherical bearings among them are majorly found in several applications that ask for managing axial loads, as well as combined loads.

The mechanical components like bearings have gone through further developments due to advancements in technology to operate in applications under extreme conditions, which demand multi-directional alignment movements, with no or less stress to adjacent components. A spherical bearing design is one of the several types, which contrary to the rolling bearings is used in harsh conditions and support self-alignment. These bearings are known for their “spherical convex outside diameter” design in the inner raceway and the “spherical concave inside surface” design in the outer raceway.



Offering state-of-the-art solution to misalignment or errors of alignment, the spherical plain bearings are standardized components, which are easily mountable and interchangeable. With no edge stresses, as well as excessive stresses of adjoining components, the bearing ...
... has static forces acting on it when undergoing oscillating, as well as tilting movements at low speeds.

Know Various Benefits of Spherical Plain Bearings

The design of spherical plain bearings offers intrinsic features when applying them in heavy-load applications under unfavorable conditions. A few of the essential features are:

Saves adjacent components from deformation: With no or minimal edge stresses to nearby components, there is hardly any malformation of components surrounding the bearing.

High operational reliability: With the compact design, a spherical plain bearing offers operational reliability when used under harsh conditions.

Extensive manufacturing tolerances:Spherical plain bearings have design variants with compact sealing, protective steel and lip seal. The welded constructions come as a unit offering wide manufacturing tolerances.

Reduced maintenance cost: Offeringself-lubrication through PTFE coating, the compact unit of the bearing is known for less maintenance cost. Furthermore, the multiple grooves in the raceways enables easy lubrication, as well as re-lubrication when under extreme conditions.

Non-responsive to vibration:The bearing design transmits heavy loads through sliding contacts enabled by the inner and outer rings. This makes the spherical bearing insensitive to impact loads.

What Makes Spherical Plain Bearing More Flexible

The broader range of designs, dimensions and sizes of spherical plain bearings make them the most preferred one for total design economy.The angular contact spherical plain bearings are one of the design variant that are good enough for accommodating both radial and axial loads. They are also available as single angular contact spherical bearings to handle one-directional axial loads.



The well-proved designs ofspherical plain bearings have made them the most suitable components meet different types of applications in industry.

Author Bio: Snehal Desai is an ardent blogger who writes articles on various engineering subjects. His articles on spherical plain bearings provide enough information about their use in various industrial sectors.