Needle & Roller Thrust Bearings

NIBL manufactures needle and roller thrust bearings with various construction features.

In these thrust bearings, the rolling elements are retained and guided in radial pockets within the cage, which is held in place by a steel ring. This assembly is easy to handle and install, providing high axial load capacity while occupying minimal space.

NIBL’s thrust-bearing design minimizes friction between the rolling elements and the guiding cage. With correct installation and adequate oil lubrication, the coefficient of friction is between 0.003 and 0.004 for needle thrust bearings and between 0.004 and 0.005 for roller thrust bearings.

This low friction is primarily due to the design of the one-piece steel cage, which has a special curvature that guides the rolling elements along their centrelines. As a result, the loads imposed by the rollers on the cage do not create components parallel to the axis of rotation, preventing an increase in internal friction and ensuring correct operation without wear or overheating. Additionally, this curvature provides the steel cage with great rigidity while being relatively thin, allowing maximum space for lubrication.

When the ring of rolling elements starts to rotate, it automatically centres itself in relation to the shaft axis. Thus, the thrust bearing does not require precise centring by the incorporated plate. This allows for alignment of the bearing on the shaft or in the housing with wide tolerances and without surface hardening, thereby reducing costs.

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