Thrust bearings

Thrust bearings accommodate loads that are predominantly in the direction of the
shaft. The bearings are typically classified by the type of rolling element and shape of
the raceways.
Thrust ball bearings
Single direction

with a flat housing washer (fig. 57)

with a sphere housing washer

o with (fig. 58) or without a seat washer

double direction

with flat housing washers (fig. 59)

with sphere housing washers

o with (fig. 60) or without seat washers

fig. 57

fig. 58

fig. 59

fig. 60

Angular contact thrust ball bearings for

screw drives
Machine tools require screw drives that can position a work piece or machine
component quickly, efficiently, and precisely. To meet these requirements, screw
drivers can be supported at both ends by SKF super-precision angular contact thrust
ball bearings. The bearings provide a high degree of axial stiffness, high axial load
carrying capacity, accommodate high speeds and rapid accelerations, and offer very
high running accuracy.
Angular contact thrust ball bearings for screw drives are well suited for screw drive
applications, but are also beneficial in other applications, where safe radial and axial
support is required, together with extremely precise axial guidance of the shaft.

Double direction angular contact thrust

ball bearings
fig. 1
SKF double direction angular contact thrust ball bearings are designed to locate
spindle shafts axially in both directions. These bearings are intended for mounting in
combination with cylindrical roller bearings in the NN 30 K or N 10 K series in the
same housing bore (fig. 1). This bearing combination simplifies machining of the
housing bore.
Double direction angular contact thrust ball bearings are manufactured with the same
nominal bore size and outside diameter as corresponding cylindrical roller bearings.
However, the outside diameter tolerance of the housing washers, combined with the
housing bore diameter and geometric tolerances recommended for super-precision
cylindrical roller bearings under light to normal load and rotating inner ring load

(Recommended shaft and housing fits) will result in an appropriate radial clearance in
the housing bore. This clearance is sufficient to prevent radial loads from acting on
the thrust bearing provided that its outer ring is not axially clamped in the housing.

Angular contact thrust ball bearings

Super-precision bearings

single direction ( Angular contact thrust ball bearings for screw drives)
o basic design for single mounting (fig. 61)
o universally match able for mounting as sets (fig. 62)

double direction ( Double direction angular contact thrust ball bearings)

o basic design (fig. 63)
o high-speed design (fig. 64)

Cylindrical roller thrust bearings

SKF cylindrical roller thrust bearings are designed to accommodate heavy axial loads
and shock loads. They must not be subjected to any radial load.
The ends of the rollers are relieved slightly to modify the line contact between the
raceways and rollers. This prevents stress peaks at the roller ends to extend bearing
service life.

Cylindrical roller thrust bearings

Single direction

single row (fig. 65)

double row (fig. 66)

double direction
components

cylindrical roller and cage thrust assemblies

shaft and housing washers

Needle roller thrust bearings

SKF needle roller thrust bearings are fitted with a form-stable cage to reliably retain
and guide a large number of needle rollers. The very small diameter deviation of the
rollers within one assembly enables these bearings to accommodate heavy axial loads
and shock loads. The ends of the rollers are relieved slightly to modify the line contact
between the raceways and rollers. This prevents stress peaks at the roller ends to
extend bearing service life.
Needle roller thrust bearings provide a high degree of stiffness within a minimum
axial space. In applications where the faces of adjacent machine components can
serve as raceways, needle roller thrust bearings take up no more space than a
conventional thrust washer.

Needle roller thrust bearings

single direction

needle roller and cage thrust assemblies (fig. 67)

needle roller thrust bearings with a centring flange (fig. 68)

universal washers

thin universal washers

double direction
For additional information, refer to Needle roller thrust bearings.

fig. 67
fig. 68

Spherical roller thrust bearings

SKF spherical roller thrust bearings have specially designed raceways and
accommodate a large number of asymmetrical rollers. The rollers have an optimum
conformity with the washer raceways to optimize load distribution along the roller
length. Therefore, they can accommodate relatively high speeds, heavy axial loads in
one direction and heavy radial loads. The load is transmitted between the raceways at
an angle to the bearing axis (fig. 1). Spherical roller thrust bearings are self-aligning
and can accommodate misalignment of the shaft relative to the housing, which can be
caused, for example, by shaft deflection.

fig. 1
Single direction ( fig. 69 )

fig. 69

Tapered roller thrust bearings

Tapered roller thrust bearings enable axially very compact bearing arrangements to
be produced which can carry very heavy axial loads, are insensitive to shock loads
and are stiff. SKF produces single direction tapered roller thrust bearings (fig 1) and
double direction tapered roller thrust bearings (fig 2). The screw-down bearings
(fig 3) constitute a special design of single direction tapered roller thrust bearing and
have a full complement of rollers. They are used for rolling mill screw-down
arrangements.

fig 1

fig 2

fig 3
SKF tapered roller thrust bearings are produced with the logarithmic contact profile
between raceways and rollers to guarantee optimum stress distribution in the bearing,
thus enhancing bearing life.
SKF tapered roller thrust bearings with cage are of separable design so that the two
washers and the roller and cage thrust assembly can be mounted separately and easily.

The full complement screw-down bearings are held together by special retaining
components and, to simplify handling, the washers have threaded holes for eye bolts.
Tapered roller thrust bearings
single direction

with or without (fig. 70) a cover

screw down bearings

double direction ( fig. 71 )

fig. 70

fig. 71

About SKF
SKF, Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB, later AB
SKF, is a leading bearing and seals
manufacturing company founded in
Gothenburg, Sweden in 1907.

SKF has been a leading global technology

provider since 1907. Our fundamental
strength is the ability to continuously develop
new technologies then use them to create
products that offer competitive advantages
to our customers.

We achieve this by combining hands-on

experience in over 40 industries with our
knowledge across the SKF technology
platforms: bearings and units, seals,
mechatronics, services and lubrication
systems. Our success is based on this
knowledge, our people, and our commitment
to SKF Care principles.
The focus of SKFs technology development
today is to reduce the environmental impact
of an asset during its lifecycle, both in our
own and our customers operations. The SKF
BeyondZero product portfolio is the latest example of
what SKF has to offer in this area.