Anti-slippage bearing marries balls and rollers

Bearing experts at FAG have tackled the problem of slippage damage in paper machinery by developing a novel bearing that uses a combination of ball and rolling elements. The anti-slippage spherical rolling (ASSR) bearing is a high-speed device that can carry high loads for brief periods, has a low frictional torque, and is capable of angular adjustment.

Slippage can occur in paper machines when rolling elements are subjected to light loads and their lubricant films may be broken. The rolling elements are no longer separated from their raceways and this can result in costly damage - possibly even causing cold welding.

The new bearing design consists of rings of spherical roller bearings which alternate with barrel rollers. When the load is low, the balls provide slippage-free operation. At high loads, the balls deflect and the rollers take over the load-bearing task. The elastic deformation of the two types of element is matched to the operating conditions.

As well as preventing slippage, the dual-element bearings are said to improve machine availability and to run quietly, even at high speeds. The ASSR bearings are interchangeable with standard types.