Classification of Thrust Bearings

Thrust bearings are divided into thrust ball bearings and thrust roller bearings. Thrust ball bearings are further classified into thrust ball bearings and thrust angular contact ball bearings. The combination of washers with raceways, balls, and retainers forms the raceway rings that fit with the shaft, known as the shaft ring, and the raceway rings that fit with the housing, known as the seat ring. In the case of bi-directional bearings, the middle ring fits with the shaft, while single-direction bearings can withstand unidirectional axial loads, and bi-directional bearings can withstand bidirectional axial loads. Bearings with seat rings that have a spherical mounting surface have self-aligning capabilities, which can reduce the impact of installation errors. These types of bearings are mainly used in automotive steering mechanisms and machine tool spindles.

Thrust roller bearings are divided into thrust cylindrical roller bearings, thrust spherical roller bearings, thrust tapered roller bearings, and thrust needle roller bearings.

Thrust cylindrical roller bearings are mainly used in oil drilling rigs and iron and steel machinery. Thrust spherical roller bearings are primarily used in hydraulic generators, vertical motors, ship propeller shafts, tower cranes, and extruders. Thrust tapered roller bearings are mainly used for unidirectional applications such as crane hooks and oil drilling rig turntables, while bidirectional applications include rolling mill roll necks. Flat thrust bearings mainly bear axial loads in assembly structures and have a wide range of applications.