Sliding bearings, linear bearings, sleeves

I. Sliding bearings include plain bearings and rod ends.

1. Plain bearings - standardized engineering components, able to sustain radial, axial and combined loads, have the ability of self-centering and allow motion in several directions. The inner ring has a convex outside diameter, while the outer ring has a spherical surface, but on the inside diameter.

In practice, this design allows bearing to:

• avoid the negative impact of mounting errors and misalignment;
• avoid the negative effects of strain components which are combined;
• eliminate possible excessive stresses in the construction;
• increase reliability of lightweight constructions.

Plain bearings with the sliding surface steel/steel, appointed to percept heavy shock or static loads. They are made of high quality bearing steel or stainless steel. The mobile connection - a connections in which the plain bearings operate at mutual displacement of one ring as concerns to the other, at a relatively low speed of sliding. Fixed connections - a fitting joints in which plain bearings operate at periodic single shifts of one ring as concerns to the other; designed mainly to compensate misalignment of the shaft and housing.

Plain bearings are used in dusty conditions and oil limitation in mechanisms of aircraft managing, mounted mechanism units of agricultural machinery, excavators, heavy mining truck suspensions.

2. Rod ends - the so-called hinge caps, rods, ball caps, ball heads, end caps, hinge connections, units, etc., consist of a housing, with a spherical sliding hinge on the inside. Usually, rod ends are equipped with nipple for lubrication or supply bores. Rod ends are able to sustain radial, axial and combined loads, have the ability of self-centering and allow motion in several planes. Rod ends are mainly appointed for connecting piston rods, fundamentals of pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders or other actuators for connecting machine details and mechanisms.

Today, plain bearings and rod ends are widely used in control and hinge mechanisms of machine tools, looms, packing and packaging equipment, textile industry, food processing equipment, robotics, etc.

II. Linear bearings for several decades already, have been widely used in various fields of engineering. Structurally, linear bearings have balls recirculation system that allows to ensure rectilinear movement with unlimited power. Their use allows to construct low-cost linear motion system for a wide range of tasks.

III. Bearing sleeves are divided into adapter and withdrawal sleeves.

1. Withdrawal sleeves are used for mounting bearings with a tapered bore on cylindrical seats of stepped shafts. They are inserted into the bearing, which rests on the shoulder of the shaft or similar stationary detail. Fixed to the shaft by means of nuts or final washers. Withdrawal sleeves are usually equipped with removable snap rings.

2. Adapter sleeves - the most common device, used for fixing bearings with tapered bore on cylindrical seat surfaces of smooth or stepped shafts. When using adapter sleeves on stepped shafts, together with the supporting ring is provided precise axial fixation of the bearing and facilitated its dismounting. Another important function - connection of internal rings of the rolling bearings.