Proper lubrication significantly increases bearing life, especially under adverse conditions. Therefore, it is important to apply correct lubrication practices to prevent premature bearing failures.
This guide contains approved instructions for lubricating tapered roller bearings. But before we delve into that, let's take a quick look at the overview of tapered roller bearings.
Protect tapered roller bearings
Tapered roller bearings are precision engineered to withstand radial and axial loads even in the most extreme conditions.
Each tapered roller bearing contains four interdependent components: the cone (inner ring), the cup (outer ring), the tapered rollers (rolling elements), and the cage (roller retainer). Tapered corners allow our bearings to efficiently control a combination of radial and axial loads. The steeper the angle of the outer ring, the greater the bearing's ability to support axial loads. To provide true rolling motion of the rollers on the tracks, the track extensions and tapered roller surfaces come together at a common point, the apex, on the axis of rotation.
There are some main types of tapered roller bearings, namely:
1) Single row bearings
This is the basic and most widely used type of tapered roller bearing. It consists of assembling the inner ring and the outer ring. It is usually mounted as part of an opposing pair. During equipment assembly, single row bearings can be “adjusted” to the required clearance (axial clearance) or preload condition to optimize performance.
Single row bearings are used in a wide range of applications such as:
- Gearboxes, pumps and conveyors used in power generation, mining, oil and gas, wind energy, pulp and paper, food and beverage, gears, cement and metal applications.
- Transmissions, gears, axle centers, axle ends and transmissions used in construction, mining, railway, automotive and commercial vehicles.
2) Double row bearings
This type of bearing has a one-piece (double) outer ring and two single inner rings. It usually comes complete with an inner ring spacer as a pre-defined set. This configuration offers a large effective distribution of bearings and is often chosen for applications where tipping moments are a significant load component. Bearings can be used in fixed (localized) positions or float in the housing bore, for example, to compensate for shaft expansion.
3) Double row bearings
This includes a one-piece (double) inner ring and two single outer rings. They usually come complete with an outer ring spacer as a pre-defined set. TDI bearings can be used in fixed (localized) positions in rotary shaft applications. For rotating housing applications, TDI type double inner ring can be used to float on the fixed shaft.
TDI bearings are used in applications such as gear reducers, calendar rollers and industrial machinery.
Best practice: Fill tapered roller bearings with grease
Applying proper bearing lubrication is one of the best practices that can help increase bearing life and improve bearing performance. The following guide provides a quick and easy way to fill tapered roller bearings with grease.
There are two methods for applying bearing grease: manually or using a mechanical greaser.
Warning: Never rotate a bearing with compressed air. Components may be forcibly ejected. Proper maintenance and handling practices are critical. Always follow installation instructions and maintain adequate lubrication. A bearing/component must not be put into service if its useful life has been exceeded.
Method 1: Manually
1. Clean your hands thoroughly or put on a new pair of latex gloves.
2. Place a golf ball-sized amount of fat in the palm of your hand.
3. Using the opposite hand, push the large end of the bearing cone assembly into the grease, forcing the grease between the rollers, cage and cone.
4. While pushing grease into the large end, rotate the entire cone assembly until the grease is expelled evenly around the entire small end.
5. Spread excess grease on the outside of the bearing cone assembly.
Method 2: Using a Mechanical Grease Packer
1. Clean your hands thoroughly or put on a new pair of latex gloves.
2. Place the bearing cone assembly, small end facing down, into the grease fill funnel.
3. Plug the hole in the large end of the bearing cone assembly with the cone retainer.
4. Press the conical stop firmly. This forces grease between the rollers, cage and cone.
5. Spread excess grease on the outside of the bearing cone assembly.
Attention: it is necessary to leave enough space in the housing for heat dissipation, so that excess grease escapes from the bearing. Contain the grease around the bearing. The housing should normally be filled 1/3 to 1/2 with grease when mounting the bearing. Excess grease in the housing can cause high temperatures and excessive agitation of the grease.
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