Bearing: history of development

Bearing: history of development

The primitive predecessors of modern bearing, so widely used today, simplified life of people for thousand years ago. The main role in the historical process of emergence and gradual improvement of the bearing can be given to the study of friction and other accompanying events. Indeed, about the existence of friction humanity has known since ancient times, as particularly evidenced by the fact that primitive man made fire by friction, quickly rotating stick, and later - stroke the stones together, thus used the phenomenon of conversion of kinetic energy of friction to thermic energy.

Round billets were made of stone and used in the initial drilling devices and spinning spindles. Later they were used in a variety of constructions such as: chariot, bullock cart, ceramic wheel, mill stones. In fact, before the invention of the wheel transportation of loads was made on a sleigh, pulled by people or animals, naturally overcoming the resistance of forces of sliding friction. Before roller bearing reached forms approximately similar to the modern, it went through a variety of stages of development.

Almost by the 2nd century BC its predecessors - the usual wooden logs (in the modern sense - rollers) - were used (to decrease friction force) only when transporting very heavy loads: huge blocks of stone for building, siege machines, etc.

In the 4th century BC Aristotle devoted one of his meetings to the problem of friction, during which the theory of rolling friction was discussed. The turning point in the realization of the idea of ​​reducing friction force, that provides movement resistance, was the invention of the wheel, around 3000 years BC, which changed the movement of sliding on rolling. Contemporary roller bearing, which is a derivative of this discovery, has come a long way from the ancient "prototype" to the modern form through many inventions-intermediaries.

Archaeologists attribute found turntables to the 1st century AD which, according to the principle of action, look like a ball bearings.

Leonardo da Vinci created a picture of perfect joint pin of the bearing, originality of which was created to replace the sliding friction on much smaller in size rolling friction.

In the 18th century - appeared bearings for a machine tools.

The first rolling metal bearing was in the windmill holder, built in 1780 in Sprowston, England.

In the 19th century - designed wheel bearing of rail car. The beginning of use of abrasive machining technology.

In 1853, Friedrich Fischer designed a machine for grinding of steel balls, what was the basis for creating of the company of FAG bearings manufacture.

In 1898 Henry Timken, founder of “The Timken Company” - leading American manufacturer of bearings and steel, mounted tapered bearing on a cart with horses.

In 1907 Sven Wingqvist drawn a sketch of a rolling bearing (double-row spherical ball). For the production was founded SKF company.

In 1920 developed roller bearings, able to sustain heavy loads.

In 1945 - oil-free sliding bearings.

Rapid industry development after the Second World War that continues till this day,  led to the emergence of hybrid bearings, bearings with low torque, micro bearings for microelectronics, bearings with ceramic housings, etc.

The greatest progress in the development of bearings has been made by the 20th century, through the use of efficiently new materials. One of the latest achievements are bearings based on ceramics. An excellent ceramics for bearings is silicon nitride: low density, high hardness, prone to wear and jamming, fatigue, use in high-temperatures, high chemical stability in corrosive environments. Compared with steel ceramics has a higher Young's modulus and hardness, hence high elasticity and the best stability at increased temperatures. Mainly balls, and  sometimes rings, are made of ceramics. In 1991 it was noted that over the past 5 years, sales of ceramic bearings have grown in 10 times. Ceramic bearings are installed in air-cosmic industry, arms, machine equipment, various devices.

In modern technology rolling bearings (ball and roller) are used as well as sliding bearings. Main advantages of rolling bearings that led to its widespread use:

Small given coefficient of friction;

Reduced static friction moment;

Reduced consumption of lubricants;

The relative cheapness of mass standard bearing types, ease of installation, maintenance and service;

Great reliability against jamming;

The possibility of operation without oil supply.

Disadvantages:

Limited lifespan;

Low vibration protection.