TIMKEN tapered roller bearing mounting

TIMKEN tapered roller bearings are designed to take both radial and thrust loading. Under radial loads, a force is generated in the axial direction that must be counteracted. As a result, TIMKEN tapered roller bearings are normally adjusted against a second bearing. They can be mounted in either a direct or indirect mounting arrangement shown as follows. For applications where a direct mounting arrangement is used and the outer ring is used to adjust the bearing setting, the outer ring is usually set in position by an outer-ring follower or mounted in an outer-ring carrier.

Comparison of mounting stability between indirect and direct mountings.

For indirect mountings, TIMKEN bearing setting is typically achieved by clamping against one of the inner rings. Various designs, including locknuts, stakenuts and end plates as shown as follows can be used. For applications requiring precision-class bearings, a special precision nut can be used.

Bearing setting devices - indirect mounting.

Backing shoulder diameters are listed for tapered roller bearings in the product data sections in this catalog.

Fitting practice

General industrial application fitting practice standards for inner rings and outer rings are shown in the tables starting on page 38. These tables apply to solid or heavy-sectioned steel shafts, heavy-sectioned ferrous housings and normal operating conditions. To use the tables, it is necessary to determine if the member is rotating or stationary, the magnitude, direction and type of loading, and the shaft finish.

Certain table fits may not be adequate for light shaft and housing sections, shafts other than steel, nonferrous housings, critical operation conditions such as high speed, unusual thermal or loading conditions or a combination thereof. Also, assembly procedures and the means and ease of obtaining the bearing setting may require special fits. In these cases, experience should be used as a guideline or your Timken engineer should be consulted for review and suggestions.

Rotating inner rings generally should be applied with an interference fit. In special cases, loose fits may be considered if it has been determined by test or experience they will perform satisfactorily. The term “rotating inner ring” describes a condition in which the inner ring rotates relative to the load. This may occur with a rotating inner ring under a stationary load or a stationary inner ring with a rotating load. Loose fits will permit the inner rings to creep and wear the shaft and the backing shoulder. This may result in excessive bearing looseness and possible bearing and shaft damage.

Stationary inner ring fitting practice depends on the application. Under conditions of high speed, heavy loads or shock, interference fits using heavy-duty fitting practices should be used. With inner rings mounted on unground shafts subjected to moderate loads (no shock) and moderate speeds, a metal-to-metal or near zero average fit is used. In sheave and wheel applications using unground shafts, or in cases using ground shafts with moderate loads (no shock), a minimum fit near zero to a maximum looseness that varies with the inner ring bore size is suggested. In stationary inner ring applications requiring hardened and ground spindles, a slightly looser fit may be satisfactory. Special fits also may be necessary on installations such as multiple sheave crane blocks.

Rotating outer ring applications where the outer ring rotates relative to the load should always use an interference fit.

Stationary, non-adjustable and fixed single-row outer ring applications should be applied with a tight fit wherever practical. Generally, adjustable fits may be used where the bearing setup is obtained by sliding the outer ring axially in the housing bore. However, in certain heavy-duty, high-load applications, tight fits are necessary to prevent pounding and plastic deformation of the housing. Tightly fitted outer rings mounted in carriers can be used. Tight fits should always be used when the load rotates relative to the outer ring.

To permit through-boring when the outside diameters of singlerow bearings mounted at each end of a shaft are equal, and one is adjustable and the other fixed, it is suggested that the same adjustable fit be used at both ends. However, tight fits should be used if outer rings are backed against snap rings to prevent excessive dishing of snap rings, groove wear and possible loss of ring retention. Only outer rings with a maximum housing fillet radius requirement of 1.3 mm (0.05 in.) or less should be considered for a snap ring backing.

Double-row stationary double outer rings are generally mounted with loose fits to permit assembly and disassembly. The loose fit also permits float when a floating bearing is mounted in conjunction with an axially fixed bearing on the other end of the shaft.

For the inch system bearings, classes 4 and 2 (standard) have been included.

The metric system bearings that have been included are: classes K and N (metric system standard bearings).

TIMKEN tapered roller bearings setting

Setting is defined as the axial clearance between roller and raceway. Establishing the setting at the time of assembly is an inherent advantage of tapered roller bearings. They can be set to provide optimum performance in almost any application. The drawing as follow gives an example of the relationship between fatigue life and bearing setting. Unlike some types of anti-friction bearings, tapered roller bearings do not rely strictly on housing or shaft fits to obtain a certain bearing setting. One ring can be moved axially relative to the other to obtain the desired bearing setting.

At assembly, the conditions of bearing setting are defined as:

Endplay (EP) – An axial clearance between rollers and raceways producing a measurable axial shaft movement when a small axial force is applied – first in one direction then in the other, while oscillating or rotating the shaft.

Preload (PL) – An axial interference between rollers and raceways such that there is no measurable axial shaft movement when a small axial force is applied – in both directions – while oscillating or rotating the shaft.

Line-to-line – A zero setting condition: the transitional point between endplay and preload.

TIMKEN bearing setting obtained during initial assembly and adjustment is the cold or ambient bearing setting, and is established before the equipment is subjected to service.

TIMKEN bearing setting during operation is known as the operating bearing setting, and is a result of changes in the ambient bearing setting due to thermal expansion and deflections encountered during service.

The ambient bearing setting necessary to produce the optimum operating bearing setting varies with the application. Application experience or testing generally determines optimum settings. Frequently, however, the exact relationship of ambient to operating bearing setting is unknown and an educated estimate has to be made.

Generally, the ideal operating bearing setting is near zero to maximize bearing life. Most TIMKEN tapered roller bearings are set with endplay at assembly to reach the desired near-zero setting at operating temperature.

There is an ideal bearing setting value for every application. To achieve this condition, the bearing setting must take into account deflection under load (radial + axial) as well as thermal expansions and material used.

1. Standard mounting
Operating setting = mounted setting ± temperature effect + deflection

2. Pre-set assemblies
Mounted EP or PL = bench EP or bench PL – effect of fits
Operating setting = mounted EP or PL (MEP or MPL) + deflection ± temperature effect

The temperature and fit effects will depend upon the type of mounting, bearing geometry and size, shaft and housing sizes, and material as defined in the following sections.

Setting methods

Upper and lower limits of bearing setting values are determined by consideration of the following factors:

• Application type.
• Duty cycle/loading.
• Operational features of adjacent mechanical drive elements.
• Changes in bearing setting due to temperature differentials and deflections.
• Size of bearing and method of obtaining bearing setting.
• Lubrication method.
• Housing and shaft material.

The setting value to be applied during assembly will depend on any changes that may occur during operation.