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Plain bearing

A plain bearing, or more commonly sliding contact bearing and slide bearing (in railroading sometimes called a solid bearing, journal bearing, or friction bearing[1]), is the simplest type of bearing, comprising just a bearing surface and no rolling elements. Therefore, the journal (i.e., the part of the shaft in contact with the bearing) slides over the bearing surface. The simplest example of a plain bearing is a shaft rotating in a hole. A simple linear bearing can be a pair of flat surfaces designed to allow motion; e.g., a drawer and the slides it rests on[2] or the ways on the bed of a lathe.

Plain bearing on a 1906 S-Motor locomotive showing the axle, bearing, oil supply and oiling pad
An early pillow block bearing with a whitemetal plain bearing

Plain bearings, in general, are the least expensive type of bearing. They are also compact and lightweight, and they have a high load-carrying capacity.[3]

Design edit

The design of a plain bearing depends on the type of motion the bearing must provide. The three types of motions possible are:

Integral edit

Integral plain bearings are built into the object of use as a hole prepared in the bearing surface. Industrial integral bearings are usually made from cast iron or babbitt, and a hardened steel shaft is used in the bearing.[7]

Integral bearings are not as common because bushings are easier to accommodate and can be replaced if necessary.[2] Depending on the material, an integral bearing may be less expensive but it cannot be replaced. If an integral bearing wears out, the item may be replaced or reworked to accept a bushing. Integral bearings were very common in 19th-century machinery, but became progressively less common as interchangeable manufacture became popular.

For example, a common integral plain bearing is the hinge, which is both a thrust bearing and a journal bearing.

Bushing edit

A bushing, also known as a bush, is an independent plain bearing that is inserted into a housing to provide a bearing surface for rotary applications; this is the most common form of a plain bearing.[8] Common designs include solid (sleeve and flanged), split, and clenched bushings. A sleeve, split, or clenched bushing is only a "sleeve" of material with an inner diameter (ID), outer diameter (OD), and length. The difference between the three types is that a solid sleeved bushing is solid all the way around, a split bushing has a cut along its length, and a clenched bearing is similar to a split bushing but with a clench (or clinch) across the cut connecting the parts. A flanged bushing is a sleeve bushing with a flange at one end extending radially outward from the OD. The flange is used to positively locate the bushing when it is installed or to provide a thrust bearing surface.[9]

Sleeve bearings of inch dimensions are almost exclusively dimensioned using the SAE numbering system. The numbering system uses the format -XXYY-ZZ, where XX is the ID in sixteenths of an inch, YY is the OD in sixteenths of an inch, and ZZ is the length in eighths of an inch.[10] Metric sizes also exist.[11]

A linear bushing is not usually pressed into a housing, but rather secured with a radial feature. Two such examples include two retaining rings, or a ring that is molded onto the OD of the bushing that matches with a groove in the housing. This is usually a more durable way to retain the bushing, because the forces acting on the bushing could press it out.

The thrust form of a bushing is conventionally called a thrust washer.

Two-piece edit

Two-piece plain bearings, known as full bearings in industrial machinery,[12] are commonly used for larger diameters, such as crankshaft bearings. The two halves are called shells.[13] There are various systems used to keep the shells located. The most common method is a tab on the parting line edge that correlates with a notch in the housing to prevent axial movement after installation. For large, thick shells a button stop or dowel pin is used. The button stop is screwed to the housing, while the dowel pin keys the two shells together. Another less common method uses a dowel pin that keys the shell to the housing through a hole or slot in the shell.[14]

The distance from one parting edge to the other is slightly larger than the corresponding distance in the housing so that a light amount of pressure is required to install the bearing. This keeps the bearing in place as the two halves of the housing are installed. Finally, the shell's circumference is also slightly larger than the housing circumference so that when the two halves are bolted together the bearing crushes slightly. This creates a large amount of radial force around the entire bearing, which keeps it from spinning. It also forms a good interface for heat to travel out of the bearings into the housing.[13]

Gallery edit

Materials edit

Plain bearings must be made from a material that is durable, low friction, low wear to the bearing and shaft, resistant to elevated temperatures, and corrosion resistant. Often the bearing is made up of at least two constituents, where one is soft and the other is hard. In general, the harder the surfaces in contact the lower the coefficient of friction and the greater the pressure required for the two to gall or to seize when lubrication fails.[8][15]

Babbitt edit

Babbitt is usually used in integral bearings. It is coated over the bore, usually to a thickness of 1 to 100 thou (0.025 to 2.540 mm), depending on the diameter. Babbitt is made using soft material when compared to the material of composition of the journal or the rotating shaft. Babbitt bearings are designed to not damage the journal during direct contact and to collect any contaminants in the lubrication.[12]

Bi-material edit

 
Split bi-material bushings: a metal exterior with an inner plastic coating

Bi-material bearings consist of two materials, a metal shell and a plastic bearing surface. Common combinations include a steel-backed PTFE-coated bronze and aluminum-backed Frelon.[16] Steel-backed PTFE-coated bronze bearings are rated for more load than most other bi-metal bearings and are used for rotary and oscillating motions. Aluminum-backed Frelon are commonly used in corrosive environments because the Frelon is chemically inert.[17]

Bearing properties of various bi-material bearings[17]
Temperature range P (max.)
[psi (MPa)]
V (max.)
[sfm (m/s)]
PV (max.)
[psi sfm (MPa m/s)]
Steel-backed PTFE-coated bronze −328–536 °F or −200–280 °C 36,000 psi or 248 MPa 390 (2.0 m/s) 51,000 (1.79 MPa m/s)
Aluminum-backed frelon −400–400 °F or −240–204 °C 3,000 psi or 21 MPa 300 (1.52 m/s) 20,000 (0.70 MPa m/s)

Bronze edit

A common plain bearing design utilizes a hardened and polished steel shaft and a softer bronze bushing. The bushing is replaced whenever it has worn too much.

Common bronze alloys used for bearings include: SAE 841, SAE 660 (CDA 932), SAE 863, and CDA 954.[18]

Bearing properties of various bronze alloys[18]
Temperature range P (max.)
[psi (MPa)]
V (max.)
[sfm (m/s)]
PV (max.)
[psi sfm (MPa m/s)]
SAE 841 10–220 °F (−12–104 °C) 2,000 psi (14 MPa) 1,200 (6.1 m/s) 50,000 (1.75 MPa m/s)
SAE 660 10–450 °F (−12–232 °C) 4,000 psi (28 MPa) 750 (3.8 m/s) 75,000 (2.63 MPa m/s)
SAE 863 10–220 °F (−12–104 °C) 4,000 psi (28 MPa) 225 (1.14 m/s) 35,000 (1.23 MPa m/s)
CDA 954 Less than 500 °F (260 °C) 4,500 psi (31 MPa) 225 (1.14 m/s) 125,000 (4.38 MPa m/s)

Cast iron edit

A cast iron bearing can be used with a hardened steel shaft because the coefficient of friction is relatively low. The cast iron glazes over therefore wear becomes negligible.[19]

Graphite edit

In harsh environments, such as ovens and dryers, a copper and graphite alloy, commonly known by the trademarked name graphalloy, is used. The graphite is a dry lubricant, therefore it is low friction and low maintenance. The copper adds strength, durability, and provides heat dissipation characteristics.

Bearing properties of graphitic materials
Temperature range P (max.)
[psi (MPa)]
V (max.)
[sfm (m/s)]
PV (max.)
[psi sfm (MPa m/s)]
Graphalloy[17] −450–750 °F or −268–399 °C 750 psi or 5 MPa 75 (0.38 m/s) 12,000 (0.42 MPa m/s)
Graphite ? ? ? ?

Unalloyed graphite bearings are used in special applications, such as locations that are submerged in water.[20]

Jewels edit

Known as jewel bearings, these bearings use jewels, such as sapphire, ruby, and garnet.

Plastic edit

Solid plastic plain bearings are now increasingly popular due to dry-running lubrication-free behavior. Solid polymer plain bearings are low weight, corrosion resistant, and maintenance free. After studies spanning decades, an accurate calculation of the service life of polymer plain bearings is possible today. Designing with solid polymer plain bearings is complicated by the wide range, and non-linearity, of coefficient of thermal expansion. These materials can heat rapidly when used in applications outside the recommended pV limits.

Solid polymer type bearings are limited by the injection molding process. Not all shapes are possible with this process, and shapes that are possible are limited to what is considered good design practice for injection molding. Plastic bearings are subject to the same design cautions as all other plastic parts: creep, high thermal expansion, softening (increased wear/reduced life) at elevated temperature, brittle fractures at cold temperatures, and swelling due to moisture absorption. While most bearing-grade plastics/polymers are designed to reduce these design cautions, they still exist and should be carefully considered before specifying a solid polymer (plastic) type.

Plastic bearings are now quite common, including usage in photocopy machines, tills, farm equipment, textile machinery, medical devices, food and packaging machines, car seating, and marine equipment.

Common plastics include nylon, polyacetal, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), rulon, PEEK, urethane, and vespel (a high-performance polyimide).[21][22][23]

Bearing properties of various plastics[21][22][24]
Temperature range P (max.) [psi (MPa)] V (max.) [sfm (m/s)] PV (max.) [psi sfm (MPa m/s)]
Frelon[25] −400 to 500 °F (−240 to 260 °C)[26] 1,500 psi (10 MPa) 140 (0.71 m/s) 10,000 (0.35 MPa m/s)
Nylon −20 to 250 °F (−29 to 121 °C) 400 psi (3 MPa) 360 (1.83 m/s) 3,000 (0.11 MPa m/s)
MDS-filled nylon blend 1* −40 to 176 °F (−40 to 80 °C) 2,000 psi (14 MPa) 393 (2.0 m/s) 3,400 (0.12 MPa m/s)
MDS-filled nylon blend 2* −40 to 230 °F (−40 to 110 °C) 300 psi (2 MPa) 60 (0.30 m/s) 3,000 (0.11 MPa m/s)
PEEK blend 1** −148 to 480 °F (−100 to 249 °C) 8,500 psi (59 MPa) 400 (2.0 m/s) 3,500 (0.12 MPa m/s)
PEEK blend 2** −148 to 480 °F (−100 to 249 °C) 21,750 psi (150 MPa) 295 (1.50 m/s) 37,700 (1.32 MPa m/s)
Polyacetal −20 to 180 °F (−29 to 82 °C) 1,000 psi (7 MPa) 1,000 (5.1 m/s) 2,700 (0.09 MPa m/s)
PTFE −350 to 500 °F (−212 to 260 °C) 500 psi (3 MPa) 100 (0.51 m/s) 1,000 (0.04 MPa m/s)
Glass-filled PTFE −350 to 500 °F (−212 to 260 °C) 1,000 psi (7 MPa) 400 (2.0 m/s) 11,000 (0.39 MPa m/s)
Rulon 641 −400 to 550 °F (−240 to 288 °C) 1,000 psi (7 MPa) 400 (2.0 m/s) 10,000 (0.35 MPa m/s)[27]
Rulon J −400 to 550 °F (−240 to 288 °C) 750 psi (5 MPa) 400 (2.0 m/s) 7,500 (0.26 MPa m/s)
Rulon LR −400 to 550 °F (−240 to 288 °C) 1,000 psi (7 MPa) 400 (2.0 m/s) 10,000 (0.35 MPa m/s)
UHMWPE −200 to 180 °F (−129 to 82 °C) 1,000 psi (7 MPa) 100 (0.51 m/s) 2,000 (0.07 MPa m/s)
MDS-filled urethane* −40 to 180 °F (−40 to 82 °C) 700 psi (5 MPa) 200 (1.02 m/s) 11,000 (0.39 MPa m/s)
Vespel −400 to 550 °F (−240 to 288 °C) 4,900 psi (34 MPa) 3,000 (15.2 m/s) 300,000 (10.5 MPa m/s)
* MDS (molybdenum disulfide) ** PEEK (polyether ether ketone) 

Others edit

  • Igus, iglidur - Specially developed polymer bearing materials with life prediction
  • Ceramic bearings are very hard, so sand and other grit that enters the bearing are simply ground to a fine powder that does not inhibit the operation of the bearing.
  • Lubrite[28]
  • Lignum vitae is a self lubricating wood and in clocks it gives extremely long life. Also used with bronze wheels in ship rigging.
  • In a piano, various (usually) wooden parts of the keyboard and action are linked together by center pins typically made of German silver. These linkages usually have felt, or more rarely, leather bushings.
  • Aluminum alloys can be used for low load applications[29][30][31]

Lubrication edit

 
A graphite-filled groove bushing

The types of lubrication system can be categorized into three groups:[10]

  • Class I — bearings that require the application of a lubricant from an external source (e.g., oil, grease, etc.).
  • Class II — bearings that contain a lubricant within the walls of the bearing (e.g., bronze, graphite, etc.). Typically these bearings require an outside lubricant to achieve maximum performance.
  • Class III — bearings made of materials that are the lubricant. These bearings are typically considered "self-lubricating" and can run without an external lubricant.

Examples of the second type of bearing are Oilites and plastic bearings made from polyacetal; examples of the third type are metalized graphite bearings and PTFE bearings.[10]

Most plain bearings have a plain inner surface; however, some are grooved, such as spiral groove bearing. The grooves help lubrication enter the bearing and cover the whole journal.[32]

Self-lubricating plain bearings have a lubricant contained within the bearing walls. There are many forms of self-lubricating bearings. The first, and most common, are sintered metal bearings, which have porous walls. The porous walls draw oil in via capillary action[33] and release the oil when pressure or heat is applied.[34] An example of a sintered metal bearing in action can be seen in self-lubricating chains, which require no additional lubrication during operation. Another form is a solid one-piece metal bushing with a figure eight groove channel on the inner diameter that is filled with graphite. A similar bearing replaces the figure eight groove with holes plugged with graphite. This lubricates the bearing inside and out.[35] The last form is a plastic bearing, which has the lubricant molded into the bearing. The lubricant is released as the bearing is run in.[36]

There are three main types of lubrication: full-film condition, boundary condition, and dry condition. Full-film conditions are when the bearing's load is carried solely by a film of fluid lubricant and there is no contact between the two bearing surfaces. In mix or boundary conditions, load is carried partly by direct surface contact and partly by a film forming between the two. In a dry condition, the full load is carried by surface-to-surface contact.

Bearings that are made from bearing grade materials always run in the dry condition. The other two classes of plain bearings can run in all three conditions; the condition in which a bearing runs is dependent on the operating conditions, load, relative surface speed, clearance within the bearing, quality and quantity of lubricant, and temperature (affecting lubricant viscosity). If the plain bearing is not designed to run in the dry or boundary condition, it has a high coefficient of friction and wears out. Dry and boundary conditions may be experienced even in a fluid bearing when operating outside of its normal operating conditions; e.g., at startup and shutdown.

Fluid lubrication edit

 
A schematic of a journal bearing under a hydrodynamic lubrication state showing how the journal centerline shifts from the bearing centerline.

Fluid lubrication results in a full-film or a boundary condition lubrication mode. A properly designed bearing system reduces friction by eliminating surface-to-surface contact between the journal and bearing through fluid dynamic effects.

Fluid bearings can be hydrostatically or hydrodynamically lubricated. Hydrostatically lubricated bearings are lubricated by an external pump that maintains a static amount of pressure. In a hydrodynamic bearing the pressure in the oil film is maintained by the rotation of the journal. Hydrostatic bearings enter a hydrodynamic state when the journal is rotating.[12] Hydrostatic bearings usually use oil, while hydrodynamic bearings can use oil or grease, however bearings can be designed to use whatever fluid is available, and several pump designs use the pumped fluid as a lubricant.[37]

Hydrodynamic bearings require greater care in design and operation than hydrostatic bearings. They are also more prone to initial wear because lubrication does not occur until there is rotation of the shaft. At low rotational speeds the lubrication may not attain complete separation between shaft and bushing. As a result, hydrodynamic bearings may be aided by secondary bearings that support the shaft during start and stop periods, protecting the fine tolerance machined surfaces of the journal bearing. On the other hand, hydrodynamic bearings are simpler to install and are less expensive.[38]

In the hydrodynamic state a lubrication "wedge" forms, which lifts the journal. The journal also slightly shifts horizontally in the direction of rotation. The location of the journal is measured by the attitude angle, which is the angle formed between the vertical and a line that crosses through the center of the journal and the center of the bearing, and the eccentricity ratio, which is the ratio of the distance of the centre of the journal from the centre of the bearing, to the overall radial clearance. The attitude angle and eccentricity ratio are dependent on the direction and speed of rotation and the load. In hydrostatic bearings the oil pressure also affects the eccentricity ratio. In electromagnetic equipment like motors, electromagnetic forces can counteract gravity loads, causing the journal to take up unusual positions.[12]

One disadvantage specific to fluid-lubricated, hydrodynamic journal bearings in high-speed machinery is oil whirl—a self-excited vibration of the journal. Oil whirl occurs when the lubrication wedge becomes unstable: small disturbances of the journal result in reaction forces from the oil film, which cause further movement, causing both the oil film and the journal to "whirl" around the bearing shell. Typically the whirl frequency is around 42% of the journal turning speed. In extreme cases oil whirl leads to direct contact between the journal and the bearing, which quickly wears out the bearing. In some cases the frequency of the whirl coincides with and "locks on to" the critical speed of the machine shaft; this condition is known as "oil whip". Oil whip can be very destructive.[12][39]

Oil whirl can be prevented by a stabilising force applied to the journal. A number of bearing designs seek to use bearing geometry to either provide an obstacle to the whirling fluid or to provide a stabilising load to minimize whirl. One such is called the lemon bore or elliptical bore. In this design, shims are installed between the two halves of the bearing housing and then the bore is machined to size. After the shims are removed, the bore resembles a lemon shape, which decreases the clearance in one direction of the bore and increases the pre-load in that direction. The disadvantage of this design is its lower load carrying capacity, as compared to typical journal bearings. It is also still susceptible to oil whirl at high speeds, however its cost is relatively low.[12]

Another design is the pressure dam or dammed groove,[40] which has a shallow relief cut in the center of the bearing over the top half of the bearing. The groove abruptly stops in order to create a downward force to stabilize the journal. This design has a high load capacity and corrects most oil whirl situations. The disadvantage is that it only works in one direction. Offsetting the bearing halves does the same thing as the pressure dam. The only difference is the load capacity increases as the offset increases.[12]

A more radical design is the tilting-pad design, which uses multiple pads that are designed to move with changing loads. It is usually used in very large applications but also finds extensive application in modern turbomachinery because it almost completely eliminates oil whirl.

Related components edit

Other components that are commonly used with plain bearings include:

  • Pillow block: These are standardized bearing mounts designed to accept plain bearings. They are designed to mount to a flat surface.
  • Ring oiler: A lubricating mechanism used in the first half of the 20th century for medium speed applications.
  • Stuffing box: A sealing system used to keep fluid from leaking out of a pressurized system through the plain bearing.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Mukutadze, M. A.; Khasyanova, D. U. (2019-09-01). "Radial Friction Bearing with a Fusible Coating in the Turbulent Friction Mode". Journal of Machinery Manufacture and Reliability. 48 (5): 421–430. doi:10.3103/S1052618819050066. ISSN 1934-9394. S2CID 208844095.
  2. ^ a b c d e BBM 1921, p. 1.
  3. ^ , archived from the original on 2010-01-10, retrieved 2009-12-29.
  4. ^ a b c CSX Dictionary J 2014-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia Of American Practice
  6. ^ "The Evolution of Railway Axlebox Technology". Evolution. SKF. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  7. ^ BBM 1921, pp. 15, 18.
  8. ^ a b Brumbach, Michael E.; Clade, Jeffrey A. (2003), Industrial Maintenance, Cengage Learning, p. 199, ISBN 978-0-7668-2695-3.
  9. ^ Neale 1995, p. A12.1.
  10. ^ a b c Weichsel, Dick (1994-10-03), (PDF), ESC Report, 5 (1): 1–2, archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-09.
  11. ^ Russo, Michael (2013-02-12). "Metric Bronze Bushings – A Brief Overview". National Bronze Manufacturing. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Journal Bearings, from the original on 2001-05-02, retrieved 2010-05-08.
  13. ^ a b Mobley, R. Keith (2001), Plant engineer's handbook (5th ed.), Butterworth-Heinemann, p. 1094, ISBN 978-0-7506-7328-0.
  14. ^ Neale 1995, p. A11.6.
  15. ^ BBM 1921, pp. 29–30.
  16. ^ Frelon bushings 2011-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ a b c McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1115, retrieved 2009-12-21.
  18. ^ a b McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1116, retrieved 2009-12-17.
  19. ^ BBM 1921, p. 15.
  20. ^ Glaeser, William A. (1992), Materials for tribology, Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-444-88495-4.
  21. ^ a b McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1110, retrieved 2009-12-22.
  22. ^ a b McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1114, retrieved 2009-12-21.
  23. ^ McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1121, retrieved 2009-12-21.
  24. ^ McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1111, retrieved 2009-12-22.
  25. ^ (PDF), March 1997, archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-10, retrieved 2010-11-26.
  26. ^ , archived from the original on 2010-11-26, retrieved 2010-11-26.
  27. ^ Rulon 641, retrieved 2015-10-26
  28. ^ Silano, Louis (1993). Bridge Inspection and Rehabilitation. Wiley. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-471-53262-0.
  29. ^ "Aluminum Alloys for Bearings". Key to Metals AG. Sep 2004. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  30. ^ "Aluminum based bearing materials". SubsTech wiki. Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  31. ^ "Aluminum-Alloy Bearings". Endeavor Business Media LLC. 2002-11-15. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  32. ^ McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1119, retrieved 2009-12-20.
  33. ^ (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-20, retrieved 2009-12-16.
  34. ^ Curcio, Vincent (2001), Chrysler: The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius, Oxford University Press US, p. 485, ISBN 978-0-19-514705-6.
  35. ^ McMaster-Carr catalog (115th ed.), McMaster-Carr, p. 1118, retrieved 2009-12-20.
  36. ^ (PDF), pp. 1.2–1.3, archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-30, retrieved 2009-12-10.
  37. ^ "Converting Ships to Seawater Lubricated Shaft Lines". Gallagher Fluid Seals. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  38. ^ Babin, Alexander; Savin, Leonid; Majorov, Sergey (2018). "Dynamic Characteristics of Rotors on Passive and Active Thrust Fluid-film Bearings with Fixed Pads". MATEC Web of Conferences. 148: 11003. doi:10.1051/matecconf/201814811003.
  39. ^ "Fundamentals of Rotating Machinery Diagnostics", pps480 - 489. (2002), Bently.D. & Hatch.C. The Bently Pressurised Bearing Co. ISBN 0-9714081-0-6
  40. ^ Neale 1995, p. A10.4.

Bibliography edit

  • Bearings and Bearing Metals: A Treatise Dealing with Various Types of Plain Bearings, the Compositions and Properties of Bearing Metals, Methods of Insuring Proper Lubrication, and Important Factors Governing the Design of Plain Bearings. The Industrial Press. 1921. OCLC 1184217724.
  • Neale, Michael John (1995), The Tribology Handbook (2nd ed.), Butterworth-Heinemann, ISBN 978-0-7506-1198-5.

External links edit

  • Kinematic Models for Design Digital Library (KMODDL) - Movies and photos of hundreds of working mechanical-systems models at Cornell University. Also includes an e-book library of classic texts on mechanical design and engineering.
  • Cylindrical Roller Bearings factory

plain, bearing, plain, bearing, more, commonly, sliding, contact, bearing, slide, bearing, railroading, sometimes, called, solid, bearing, journal, bearing, friction, bearing, simplest, type, bearing, comprising, just, bearing, surface, rolling, elements, ther. A plain bearing or more commonly sliding contact bearing and slide bearing in railroading sometimes called a solid bearing journal bearing or friction bearing 1 is the simplest type of bearing comprising just a bearing surface and no rolling elements Therefore the journal i e the part of the shaft in contact with the bearing slides over the bearing surface The simplest example of a plain bearing is a shaft rotating in a hole A simple linear bearing can be a pair of flat surfaces designed to allow motion e g a drawer and the slides it rests on 2 or the ways on the bed of a lathe Plain bearing on a 1906 S Motor locomotive showing the axle bearing oil supply and oiling padAn early pillow block bearing with a whitemetal plain bearingPlain bearings in general are the least expensive type of bearing They are also compact and lightweight and they have a high load carrying capacity 3 Contents 1 Design 1 1 Integral 1 2 Bushing 1 3 Two piece 2 Gallery 3 Materials 3 1 Babbitt 3 2 Bi material 3 3 Bronze 3 4 Cast iron 3 5 Graphite 3 6 Jewels 3 7 Plastic 3 8 Others 4 Lubrication 4 1 Fluid lubrication 5 Related components 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign editThe design of a plain bearing depends on the type of motion the bearing must provide The three types of motions possible are Journal friction radial or rotary bearing This is the most common type of plain bearing it is simply a shaft rotating in a hole 2 In locomotive and railroad car applications a journal bearing specifically referred to the plain bearing once used at the ends of the axles of railroad wheel sets enclosed by journal boxes axleboxes 4 5 Axlebox bearings today are rolling element bearings rather than plain bearings 6 Linear bearing This bearing provides linear motion it may take the form of a circular bearing and shaft or any other two mating surfaces e g a slide plate 2 Thrust bearing A thrust bearing provides a bearing surface for forces acting axial to the shaft 2 One example is a propeller shaft Integral edit Integral plain bearings are built into the object of use as a hole prepared in the bearing surface Industrial integral bearings are usually made from cast iron or babbitt and a hardened steel shaft is used in the bearing 7 Integral bearings are not as common because bushings are easier to accommodate and can be replaced if necessary 2 Depending on the material an integral bearing may be less expensive but it cannot be replaced If an integral bearing wears out the item may be replaced or reworked to accept a bushing Integral bearings were very common in 19th century machinery but became progressively less common as interchangeable manufacture became popular For example a common integral plain bearing is the hinge which is both a thrust bearing and a journal bearing Bushing edit A bushing also known as a bush is an independent plain bearing that is inserted into a housing to provide a bearing surface for rotary applications this is the most common form of a plain bearing 8 Common designs include solid sleeve and flanged split and clenched bushings A sleeve split or clenched bushing is only a sleeve of material with an inner diameter ID outer diameter OD and length The difference between the three types is that a solid sleeved bushing is solid all the way around a split bushing has a cut along its length and a clenched bearing is similar to a split bushing but with a clench or clinch across the cut connecting the parts A flanged bushing is a sleeve bushing with a flange at one end extending radially outward from the OD The flange is used to positively locate the bushing when it is installed or to provide a thrust bearing surface 9 Sleeve bearings of inch dimensions are almost exclusively dimensioned using the SAE numbering system The numbering system uses the format XXYY ZZ where XX is the ID in sixteenths of an inch YY is the OD in sixteenths of an inch and ZZ is the length in eighths of an inch 10 Metric sizes also exist 11 A linear bushing is not usually pressed into a housing but rather secured with a radial feature Two such examples include two retaining rings or a ring that is molded onto the OD of the bushing that matches with a groove in the housing This is usually a more durable way to retain the bushing because the forces acting on the bushing could press it out The thrust form of a bushing is conventionally called a thrust washer Two piece edit Two piece plain bearings known as full bearings in industrial machinery 12 are commonly used for larger diameters such as crankshaft bearings The two halves are called shells 13 There are various systems used to keep the shells located The most common method is a tab on the parting line edge that correlates with a notch in the housing to prevent axial movement after installation For large thick shells a button stop or dowel pin is used The button stop is screwed to the housing while the dowel pin keys the two shells together Another less common method uses a dowel pin that keys the shell to the housing through a hole or slot in the shell 14 The distance from one parting edge to the other is slightly larger than the corresponding distance in the housing so that a light amount of pressure is required to install the bearing This keeps the bearing in place as the two halves of the housing are installed Finally the shell s circumference is also slightly larger than the housing circumference so that when the two halves are bolted together the bearing crushes slightly This creates a large amount of radial force around the entire bearing which keeps it from spinning It also forms a good interface for heat to travel out of the bearings into the housing 13 Gallery edit nbsp A sliding table with four cylindrical bearings 1 nbsp A wheelset from a Great Western Railway GWR wagon showing a plain or journal bearing end 4 nbsp Archbar type truck with journal bearings in journal boxes as used on some steam locomotive tenders A version of the archbar truck was at one time also used on US freight cars nbsp Diagram of a railroad journal box 4 nbsp A solid sleeve bushing nbsp A flanged bushing nbsp A clenched or clinched bushingMaterials editPlain bearings must be made from a material that is durable low friction low wear to the bearing and shaft resistant to elevated temperatures and corrosion resistant Often the bearing is made up of at least two constituents where one is soft and the other is hard In general the harder the surfaces in contact the lower the coefficient of friction and the greater the pressure required for the two to gall or to seize when lubrication fails 8 15 Babbitt edit Main article Babbitt metal Babbitt is usually used in integral bearings It is coated over the bore usually to a thickness of 1 to 100 thou 0 025 to 2 540 mm depending on the diameter Babbitt is made using soft material when compared to the material of composition of the journal or the rotating shaft Babbitt bearings are designed to not damage the journal during direct contact and to collect any contaminants in the lubrication 12 Bi material edit nbsp Split bi material bushings a metal exterior with an inner plastic coatingBi material bearings consist of two materials a metal shell and a plastic bearing surface Common combinations include a steel backed PTFE coated bronze and aluminum backed Frelon 16 Steel backed PTFE coated bronze bearings are rated for more load than most other bi metal bearings and are used for rotary and oscillating motions Aluminum backed Frelon are commonly used in corrosive environments because the Frelon is chemically inert 17 Bearing properties of various bi material bearings 17 Temperature range P max psi MPa V max sfm m s PV max psi sfm MPa m s Steel backed PTFE coated bronze 328 536 F or 200 280 C 36 000 psi or 248 MPa 390 2 0 m s 51 000 1 79 MPa m s Aluminum backed frelon 400 400 F or 240 204 C 3 000 psi or 21 MPa 300 1 52 m s 20 000 0 70 MPa m s Bronze edit A common plain bearing design utilizes a hardened and polished steel shaft and a softer bronze bushing The bushing is replaced whenever it has worn too much Common bronze alloys used for bearings include SAE 841 SAE 660 CDA 932 SAE 863 and CDA 954 18 Bearing properties of various bronze alloys 18 Temperature range P max psi MPa V max sfm m s PV max psi sfm MPa m s SAE 841 10 220 F 12 104 C 2 000 psi 14 MPa 1 200 6 1 m s 50 000 1 75 MPa m s SAE 660 10 450 F 12 232 C 4 000 psi 28 MPa 750 3 8 m s 75 000 2 63 MPa m s SAE 863 10 220 F 12 104 C 4 000 psi 28 MPa 225 1 14 m s 35 000 1 23 MPa m s CDA 954 Less than 500 F 260 C 4 500 psi 31 MPa 225 1 14 m s 125 000 4 38 MPa m s Cast iron edit A cast iron bearing can be used with a hardened steel shaft because the coefficient of friction is relatively low The cast iron glazes over therefore wear becomes negligible 19 Graphite edit In harsh environments such as ovens and dryers a copper and graphite alloy commonly known by the trademarked name graphalloy is used The graphite is a dry lubricant therefore it is low friction and low maintenance The copper adds strength durability and provides heat dissipation characteristics Bearing properties of graphitic materials Temperature range P max psi MPa V max sfm m s PV max psi sfm MPa m s Graphalloy 17 450 750 F or 268 399 C 750 psi or 5 MPa 75 0 38 m s 12 000 0 42 MPa m s Graphite Unalloyed graphite bearings are used in special applications such as locations that are submerged in water 20 Jewels edit Main article Jewel bearing Known as jewel bearings these bearings use jewels such as sapphire ruby and garnet Plastic edit Solid plastic plain bearings are now increasingly popular due to dry running lubrication free behavior Solid polymer plain bearings are low weight corrosion resistant and maintenance free After studies spanning decades an accurate calculation of the service life of polymer plain bearings is possible today Designing with solid polymer plain bearings is complicated by the wide range and non linearity of coefficient of thermal expansion These materials can heat rapidly when used in applications outside the recommended pV limits Solid polymer type bearings are limited by the injection molding process Not all shapes are possible with this process and shapes that are possible are limited to what is considered good design practice for injection molding Plastic bearings are subject to the same design cautions as all other plastic parts creep high thermal expansion softening increased wear reduced life at elevated temperature brittle fractures at cold temperatures and swelling due to moisture absorption While most bearing grade plastics polymers are designed to reduce these design cautions they still exist and should be carefully considered before specifying a solid polymer plastic type Plastic bearings are now quite common including usage in photocopy machines tills farm equipment textile machinery medical devices food and packaging machines car seating and marine equipment Common plastics include nylon polyacetal polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE ultra high molecular weight polyethylene UHMWPE rulon PEEK urethane and vespel a high performance polyimide 21 22 23 Bearing properties of various plastics 21 22 24 Temperature range P max psi MPa V max sfm m s PV max psi sfm MPa m s Frelon 25 400 to 500 F 240 to 260 C 26 1 500 psi 10 MPa 140 0 71 m s 10 000 0 35 MPa m s Nylon 20 to 250 F 29 to 121 C 400 psi 3 MPa 360 1 83 m s 3 000 0 11 MPa m s MDS filled nylon blend 1 40 to 176 F 40 to 80 C 2 000 psi 14 MPa 393 2 0 m s 3 400 0 12 MPa m s MDS filled nylon blend 2 40 to 230 F 40 to 110 C 300 psi 2 MPa 60 0 30 m s 3 000 0 11 MPa m s PEEK blend 1 148 to 480 F 100 to 249 C 8 500 psi 59 MPa 400 2 0 m s 3 500 0 12 MPa m s PEEK blend 2 148 to 480 F 100 to 249 C 21 750 psi 150 MPa 295 1 50 m s 37 700 1 32 MPa m s Polyacetal 20 to 180 F 29 to 82 C 1 000 psi 7 MPa 1 000 5 1 m s 2 700 0 09 MPa m s PTFE 350 to 500 F 212 to 260 C 500 psi 3 MPa 100 0 51 m s 1 000 0 04 MPa m s Glass filled PTFE 350 to 500 F 212 to 260 C 1 000 psi 7 MPa 400 2 0 m s 11 000 0 39 MPa m s Rulon 641 400 to 550 F 240 to 288 C 1 000 psi 7 MPa 400 2 0 m s 10 000 0 35 MPa m s 27 Rulon J 400 to 550 F 240 to 288 C 750 psi 5 MPa 400 2 0 m s 7 500 0 26 MPa m s Rulon LR 400 to 550 F 240 to 288 C 1 000 psi 7 MPa 400 2 0 m s 10 000 0 35 MPa m s UHMWPE 200 to 180 F 129 to 82 C 1 000 psi 7 MPa 100 0 51 m s 2 000 0 07 MPa m s MDS filled urethane 40 to 180 F 40 to 82 C 700 psi 5 MPa 200 1 02 m s 11 000 0 39 MPa m s Vespel 400 to 550 F 240 to 288 C 4 900 psi 34 MPa 3 000 15 2 m s 300 000 10 5 MPa m s MDS molybdenum disulfide PEEK polyether ether ketone Others edit Igus iglidur Specially developed polymer bearing materials with life prediction Ceramic bearings are very hard so sand and other grit that enters the bearing are simply ground to a fine powder that does not inhibit the operation of the bearing Lubrite 28 Lignum vitae is a self lubricating wood and in clocks it gives extremely long life Also used with bronze wheels in ship rigging In a piano various usually wooden parts of the keyboard and action are linked together by center pins typically made of German silver These linkages usually have felt or more rarely leather bushings Aluminum alloys can be used for low load applications 29 30 31 Lubrication editSee also oiler occupation nbsp A graphite filled groove bushingThe types of lubrication system can be categorized into three groups 10 Class I bearings that require the application of a lubricant from an external source e g oil grease etc Class II bearings that contain a lubricant within the walls of the bearing e g bronze graphite etc Typically these bearings require an outside lubricant to achieve maximum performance Class III bearings made of materials that are the lubricant These bearings are typically considered self lubricating and can run without an external lubricant Examples of the second type of bearing are Oilites and plastic bearings made from polyacetal examples of the third type are metalized graphite bearings and PTFE bearings 10 Most plain bearings have a plain inner surface however some are grooved such as spiral groove bearing The grooves help lubrication enter the bearing and cover the whole journal 32 Self lubricating plain bearings have a lubricant contained within the bearing walls There are many forms of self lubricating bearings The first and most common are sintered metal bearings which have porous walls The porous walls draw oil in via capillary action 33 and release the oil when pressure or heat is applied 34 An example of a sintered metal bearing in action can be seen in self lubricating chains which require no additional lubrication during operation Another form is a solid one piece metal bushing with a figure eight groove channel on the inner diameter that is filled with graphite A similar bearing replaces the figure eight groove with holes plugged with graphite This lubricates the bearing inside and out 35 The last form is a plastic bearing which has the lubricant molded into the bearing The lubricant is released as the bearing is run in 36 There are three main types of lubrication full film condition boundary condition and dry condition Full film conditions are when the bearing s load is carried solely by a film of fluid lubricant and there is no contact between the two bearing surfaces In mix or boundary conditions load is carried partly by direct surface contact and partly by a film forming between the two In a dry condition the full load is carried by surface to surface contact Bearings that are made from bearing grade materials always run in the dry condition The other two classes of plain bearings can run in all three conditions the condition in which a bearing runs is dependent on the operating conditions load relative surface speed clearance within the bearing quality and quantity of lubricant and temperature affecting lubricant viscosity If the plain bearing is not designed to run in the dry or boundary condition it has a high coefficient of friction and wears out Dry and boundary conditions may be experienced even in a fluid bearing when operating outside of its normal operating conditions e g at startup and shutdown Fluid lubrication edit nbsp A schematic of a journal bearing under a hydrodynamic lubrication state showing how the journal centerline shifts from the bearing centerline See also Fluid bearing Fluid lubrication results in a full film or a boundary condition lubrication mode A properly designed bearing system reduces friction by eliminating surface to surface contact between the journal and bearing through fluid dynamic effects Fluid bearings can be hydrostatically or hydrodynamically lubricated Hydrostatically lubricated bearings are lubricated by an external pump that maintains a static amount of pressure In a hydrodynamic bearing the pressure in the oil film is maintained by the rotation of the journal Hydrostatic bearings enter a hydrodynamic state when the journal is rotating 12 Hydrostatic bearings usually use oil while hydrodynamic bearings can use oil or grease however bearings can be designed to use whatever fluid is available and several pump designs use the pumped fluid as a lubricant 37 Hydrodynamic bearings require greater care in design and operation than hydrostatic bearings They are also more prone to initial wear because lubrication does not occur until there is rotation of the shaft At low rotational speeds the lubrication may not attain complete separation between shaft and bushing As a result hydrodynamic bearings may be aided by secondary bearings that support the shaft during start and stop periods protecting the fine tolerance machined surfaces of the journal bearing On the other hand hydrodynamic bearings are simpler to install and are less expensive 38 In the hydrodynamic state a lubrication wedge forms which lifts the journal The journal also slightly shifts horizontally in the direction of rotation The location of the journal is measured by the attitude angle which is the angle formed between the vertical and a line that crosses through the center of the journal and the center of the bearing and the eccentricity ratio which is the ratio of the distance of the centre of the journal from the centre of the bearing to the overall radial clearance The attitude angle and eccentricity ratio are dependent on the direction and speed of rotation and the load In hydrostatic bearings the oil pressure also affects the eccentricity ratio In electromagnetic equipment like motors electromagnetic forces can counteract gravity loads causing the journal to take up unusual positions 12 One disadvantage specific to fluid lubricated hydrodynamic journal bearings in high speed machinery is oil whirl a self excited vibration of the journal Oil whirl occurs when the lubrication wedge becomes unstable small disturbances of the journal result in reaction forces from the oil film which cause further movement causing both the oil film and the journal to whirl around the bearing shell Typically the whirl frequency is around 42 of the journal turning speed In extreme cases oil whirl leads to direct contact between the journal and the bearing which quickly wears out the bearing In some cases the frequency of the whirl coincides with and locks on to the critical speed of the machine shaft this condition is known as oil whip Oil whip can be very destructive 12 39 Oil whirl can be prevented by a stabilising force applied to the journal A number of bearing designs seek to use bearing geometry to either provide an obstacle to the whirling fluid or to provide a stabilising load to minimize whirl One such is called the lemon bore or elliptical bore In this design shims are installed between the two halves of the bearing housing and then the bore is machined to size After the shims are removed the bore resembles a lemon shape which decreases the clearance in one direction of the bore and increases the pre load in that direction The disadvantage of this design is its lower load carrying capacity as compared to typical journal bearings It is also still susceptible to oil whirl at high speeds however its cost is relatively low 12 Another design is the pressure dam or dammed groove 40 which has a shallow relief cut in the center of the bearing over the top half of the bearing The groove abruptly stops in order to create a downward force to stabilize the journal This design has a high load capacity and corrects most oil whirl situations The disadvantage is that it only works in one direction Offsetting the bearing halves does the same thing as the pressure dam The only difference is the load capacity increases as the offset increases 12 A more radical design is the tilting pad design which uses multiple pads that are designed to move with changing loads It is usually used in very large applications but also finds extensive application in modern turbomachinery because it almost completely eliminates oil whirl nbsp A lemon bore nbsp A pressure dam nbsp Miba tilting pad bearing used in turbomachineryRelated components editOther components that are commonly used with plain bearings include Pillow block These are standardized bearing mounts designed to accept plain bearings They are designed to mount to a flat surface Ring oiler A lubricating mechanism used in the first half of the 20th century for medium speed applications Stuffing box A sealing system used to keep fluid from leaking out of a pressurized system through the plain bearing See also editComputer fan Miniature fan used in a computer for active cooling Hot box Overheating of railway rolling stock Pillow block bearing Bracket used to provide support to rotating shafts Plastigauge Roller bearing Stave bearingReferences edit Mukutadze M A Khasyanova D U 2019 09 01 Radial Friction Bearing with a Fusible Coating in the Turbulent Friction Mode Journal of Machinery Manufacture and Reliability 48 5 421 430 doi 10 3103 S1052618819050066 ISSN 1934 9394 S2CID 208844095 a b c d e BBM 1921 p 1 Journal Bearings archived from the original on 2010 01 10 retrieved 2009 12 29 a b c CSX Dictionary J Archived 2014 07 29 at the Wayback Machine Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia Of American Practice The Evolution of Railway Axlebox Technology Evolution SKF 2010 12 07 Retrieved 2014 09 18 BBM 1921 pp 15 18 a b Brumbach Michael E Clade Jeffrey A 2003 Industrial Maintenance Cengage Learning p 199 ISBN 978 0 7668 2695 3 Neale 1995 p A12 1 a b c Weichsel Dick 1994 10 03 Plane bearings PDF ESC Report 5 1 1 2 archived from the original PDF on 2011 06 09 Russo Michael 2013 02 12 Metric Bronze Bushings A Brief Overview National Bronze Manufacturing Retrieved 2019 07 07 a b c d e f g Journal Bearings archived from the original on 2001 05 02 retrieved 2010 05 08 a b Mobley R Keith 2001 Plant engineer s handbook 5th ed Butterworth Heinemann p 1094 ISBN 978 0 7506 7328 0 Neale 1995 p A11 6 BBM 1921 pp 29 30 Frelon bushings Archived 2011 09 10 at the Wayback Machine a b c McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1115 retrieved 2009 12 21 a b McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1116 retrieved 2009 12 17 BBM 1921 p 15 Glaeser William A 1992 Materials for tribology Elsevier ISBN 978 0 444 88495 4 a b McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1110 retrieved 2009 12 22 a b McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1114 retrieved 2009 12 21 McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1121 retrieved 2009 12 21 McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1111 retrieved 2009 12 22 Frelon lined linear bushings PDF March 1997 archived from the original PDF on 2011 09 10 retrieved 2010 11 26 Frelon lined linear bearings archived from the original on 2010 11 26 retrieved 2010 11 26 Rulon 641 retrieved 2015 10 26 Silano Louis 1993 Bridge Inspection and Rehabilitation Wiley p 185 ISBN 978 0 471 53262 0 Aluminum Alloys for Bearings Key to Metals AG Sep 2004 Retrieved 2023 03 10 Aluminum based bearing materials SubsTech wiki Dr Dmitri Kopeliovich 2021 10 07 Retrieved 2023 03 10 Aluminum Alloy Bearings Endeavor Business Media LLC 2002 11 15 Retrieved 2023 03 10 McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1119 retrieved 2009 12 20 Oilite PDF archived from the original PDF on 2011 08 20 retrieved 2009 12 16 Curcio Vincent 2001 Chrysler The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius Oxford University Press US p 485 ISBN 978 0 19 514705 6 McMaster Carr catalog 115th ed McMaster Carr p 1118 retrieved 2009 12 20 Iglide PDF pp 1 2 1 3 archived from the original PDF on 2015 05 30 retrieved 2009 12 10 Converting Ships to Seawater Lubricated Shaft Lines Gallagher Fluid Seals Retrieved 21 July 2017 Babin Alexander Savin Leonid Majorov Sergey 2018 Dynamic Characteristics of Rotors on Passive and Active Thrust Fluid film Bearings with Fixed Pads MATEC Web of Conferences 148 11003 doi 10 1051 matecconf 201814811003 Fundamentals of Rotating Machinery Diagnostics pps480 489 2002 Bently D amp Hatch C The Bently Pressurised Bearing Co ISBN 0 9714081 0 6 Neale 1995 p A10 4 Bibliography edit Bearings and Bearing Metals A Treatise Dealing with Various Types of Plain Bearings the Compositions and Properties of Bearing Metals Methods of Insuring Proper Lubrication and Important Factors Governing the Design of Plain Bearings The Industrial Press 1921 OCLC 1184217724 Neale Michael John 1995 The Tribology Handbook 2nd ed Butterworth Heinemann ISBN 978 0 7506 1198 5 External links editKinematic Models for Design Digital Library KMODDL Movies and photos of hundreds of working mechanical systems models at Cornell University Also includes an e book library of classic texts on mechanical design and engineering CSX Dictionary J Cylindrical Roller Bearings factory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plain bearing amp oldid 1203645908, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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