Know More about Needle Thrust Bearing and its Features, Types and Uses

Any machine to operate smoothly requires a bearing, which notwithstanding the type, is a critical component to control and guide the rotating assembly by managing heavy loads either radial or axial or a combination of both acting in one or both directions. Among the various kinds of bearings, a needle thrust bearing is known to be the most prominent one for the number of technical advantages it has. 

Its compact design envelope and its ability to manage comparatively heavy loads make this needle roller thrust bearing have wider application in industrial sectors. They come with no rings or raceways and occupy minimal axial space by using the adjoining components as raceways.  

What is a Needle Thrust Bearing Typically Made of?

Needle Thrust Bearing | Image Resource: indiamart.com

A needle thrust bearing is crafted to give you different design variants; it is generally made of needle rollers enclosed in a cage and it has both inner and outer raceways. The bearing undergoes variations in design, with a shaft, thrust roller, drawn cup, precision rings and a needle cage unit. 

Where you want to manage radial loads at high rotational speeds, a needle thrust bearing with a cage is used. You can have this caged bearing in a single row, as well as double rows to help it accommodate different loads. With the cage, the bearing has its rolling elements guided and controlled while in operation.   

Innate Features of Needle Thrust Bearing

The uniqueness of a needle roller thrust bearing is its rollers, which are lengthy and have small bore diameter. Unlike the other types of bearings, they are smaller in size and have several inherent features mentioned below: 

Manage heavy axial loads and peak loads: With slight deviation in the diameters of rolling elements, you can have the bearing handle not only heavy axial loads but also peak loads.

Have extended service life: These bearings are generally designed to have reduced stress peaks and this is made possible with the relieving of the roller ends slightly. The result is the bearing alters the line contact between the rollers and rings, which minimizes or avoids stress peaks and give long life. 

High rigidity: The number of needle rolling elements, as well as the reduced “load carriage per unit area” increase the stiffness of the bearing. 

Needle Thrust Bearings of Different Types for Various Applications

Developments in technology has brought several changes in the design of a needle thrust bearing. A bearing with a taper roller bearing design improve the efficiency of the bearing. There are other types with variations in sizes and dimensions, while some come with cage thrust assemblies and central flange for single or multiple directional movements. It is advisable to go through a needle bearing catalog and choose the bearing you want.