Description:
Thrust bearings are special types of rotary
bearings that permit rotation between parts, but mainly support axial loads. They come in varying designs and configurations to support different applications and load capacities. The main ones include thrust ball bearings that are made with bearing balls supported in a ring. These are recommended for little axial loads. Another category is the cylindrical thrust roller bearing that is made with cylindrical rollers that are arranged flat with axes pointed towards the axis of the bearing. They are preferred for higher axial loads.
Depending on your application, you could also opt for the tapered roller thrust bearings that operate with tapered rollers. In this type of thrust bearing, the axes of the rollers converge at a point on the bearing axis.
Another common thrust bearing is the fluid-film model that contains several sector-shaped pads arranged around the shaft and which are free to pivot. They create wedge-shaped regions of oil in the bearing between the rotating disc and pads. The effect is support for applied thrust without metal-on-metal contact.