Name: Radial spherical plain bearings

• The Finished Products Pictures of Radial Spherical Plain Bearings 

• The Detailed Dimension of GEG..ES(-2RS) Radial Spherical Plain Bearings

• Kinds of Spherical Plain Bearings

1.Spherical plain bearings requiring maintenance(steel-on-steel): It have hardened sliding contact surface on both rings. The surfaces are treated with molybdenum disulphide and phosphated. It has characteristics of wear-resistance and wear-corrosion. Bearings with this sliding contact surface combination require regular relubrication. The high strength of the sliding contact surfaces makes these bearings especially suitable for bearing arrangements where heavy loads of alternating direction, shock loads or heavy static loads have to be accommodated.

2. Maintenance-free spherical plain bearings: It have three groups: steel-on-PTFE composite material, steel-on-PTFE fabric and steel-on-copper alloy. Dynamic load support capability of steel-on-PTFE fabric spherical plain bearings is higher than that of steel-on-PTFE composite material. They have very low friction and can be operated without maintenance. They are used for applications where long bearing lives are required without maintenance, or where operating conditions, such as inadequate lubrication or the absence of lubrication make the use of steel-on-steel bearings inadvisable.

• Design Characteristics:

Large load capacity

Strong impact resistance

corrosion resistance

Wear proof

Self-aligning

Good lubrication

It can work properly even if displaced during installment

• Permissible Operating Temperature Range: 

 -50℃~+150℃: FSZ steel-on-steel,steel-on-PTFE composite material and steel-on-PTFE fabric radial spherical plain bearings.

 -30℃~+130℃: FSZ spherical plain beairngs with seals

At higher temerature, the load carrying capacity will be reduced.

• Service Life: 

The service life of a spherical plain bearing operated under mixed or dry friction conditions is determined by the increase in bearing clearance or bearing friction caused by progressive wear of the sliding surfaces, plastic deformation of the sliding material or fatigue of the sliding surface. Depending on the application, the permissible wear or permissible increase in friction will be different. This means that under the same operationg conditions the service life which can be obtained in practice will be different.

The service life of a spherical plain bearing is the number of oscillating movements, or the number of operating hours which the bearing will service before a defined increase in bearing clearance or a defined increase in friction is reached.

The effective service life is that life which will be attained by a given spherical plain bearing under actual operating conditions. It is determined by the magnitude and type of load, but also by several other factors, such as contamination, corrosion, high-frequency load and movement cycles, shock etc. Some of these factors are impossible to determine or can only be determined with difficulty.

• Mounting

To facilitate mounting, the ends of pins or shafts and the edges of housing bores should have a lead chamfer of 10 to 20°. The bearings can be more easily pushed into position and there is little risk of damage to the mating surfaces being caused by skewing of the bearing.

When mounting spherical plain bearings with a fractured or two-part outer ring, it is essential that the joint should be positioned at 90 to the main load direction, otherwise the service life will be shortened, particularly under heavy loads.

• Lubrication:

For spherical plain bearings requiring maintenance which are of the steel-on-steel type, the purpose of the lubrication is primarily to reduce wear, reduce friction and prevent scuffing. Also the grease serves to protect the bearings against corrosion. The frequency of relubrication of the bearing during its operation will appreciably extend the service life.

For steel-on-PTFE fabric spherical plain bearings, there is a transfer of PTFE from fabric to the opposing steel surface of the inner ring. Any lubrication of the sliding contact surfaces would disturb this transfer and shorten bearing life. Therefore' lubrication of these bearings is not advisable.

For steel-on-PTFE composite material spherical plain bearings, as a rule, it must not be lubricated. When operating conditions are such that enhanced sealing and protection against corrosion are required. It is recommended that the bearing or the space surrounding the bearing is filled with lithium base grease.