Ball bearing

Ball bearing is a type of rolling-element bearing that uses balls to maintain the separation between the bearing races. The purpose of a ball bearing is to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. It achieves this by using at least two races to contain the balls and transmit the loads through the balls.

History

The concept of the ball bearing dates back at least to Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century, who described their design in his notebooks. However, the first practical implementation of the concept was by the British inventor and ironmaster Philip Vaughan, who patented a design in 1794.

Design

A ball bearing consists of four main parts: the inner race, the outer race, the balls, and the cage. The races are the large ring-shaped parts. The inner race, or simply the "inner ring", fits on the shaft and rotates with it. The outer race, or "outer ring", is mounted in the housing and is stationary. The balls are located between the races and roll between them. The cage keeps the balls evenly spaced around the races and prevents them from touching each other.

Types

There are several types of ball bearings, each with its own specific applications and advantages. These include deep-groove ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, self-aligning ball bearings, and thrust ball bearings.

Applications

Ball bearings are used in a wide variety of applications. They are found in virtually every kind of machinery, including automobiles, aerospace equipment, computer hard drives, and electric motors. They are also used in everyday items such as skateboards and fidget spinners.

See also

• Rolling-element bearing
• Plain bearing
• Thrust bearing