Bearings play an important role in many machines. Consisting of enclosed rings with balls, they are designed to support rotating shafts. Machines with a rotating shaft will often feature a bearing to reduce friction. Bearings, however, are typically used in conjunction with an assembly known as a housing.
Overview of Bearing Housings
A bearing housing is an assembly that holds or “houses” a bearing. It ensures the proper alignment and support of bearings.
If a machine contains a bearing, it will likely feature a bearing housing as well. The bearing housing will support and align the bearing. The bearing will remain within the housing where it’s able to roll smoothly while subsequently reducing friction.
What Are Bearing Housings Made Of?
Bearing housings are available in different materials. Some of them are made of metal, such as steel or cast iron. Metal bearing housings are strong, durable and long-lasting. Depending on the type of metal from which they are made, though, they may corrode when regularly exposed to moisture.
When choosing a bearing housing for a humid or wet environment, you may want to go with a different material, such as PBT thermoplastic polyester. PBT thermoplastic polyester is a synthetic material that offers excellent resistance to corrosion.
Common Types of Bearing Housings
There are several types of bearing housings. A pillow block, for instance, is a type of bearing housing with a specialized rolling element, such as a ball or roller. Pillow block bearings are versatile and easy to install, making them a popular choice.
A plummer block is a type of bearing housing that’s designed for high-load applications. Plummer block housings typically come without any rolling elements or bearings. They still consist of an enclosure, but plummer block housings require a separate rolling element or bearing.
There are also flanged bearing housings. Flanged bearing housings live up to their namesake by featuring a flanged design. If you inspect the rim, you’ll notice a protrusion. This flanged design helps to hold and contain the bearing.
Flanged bearing housings are available in two-bolt and four-bolt styles. Two-bolt flanged bearing housings require the use of two bolts for installation, whereas four-bolt flanged bearing housings require the use of four bolts for installation.
In Conclusion
Bearing housings are vital components in many machines. They provide support and alignment for bearings. As machinery becomes more advanced, the importance of reliable bearing housings and bearings will only increase.