Lubrication

Of
Roller Bearings

Roller Bearings have a long history

1794

around 700 BC

40 AC

around
3000 BC

1869

Tasks of Roller Bearings

l reducing friction
l transfer of loads
l guiding rotating parts

Friction

Energy losses through friction

Although rolling friction is already very low, manufacturers of roller
bearings and lubricants work continuously on further improvements..

10 % = 1/2 E [AUS+BR+E+S]
SKF
one of the worlds biggest manufacturers of roller
bearings
made the following calculation:
If it can be managed to drop the friction in all roller bearings
installed on the globe only by further 10%,
the combined total electricity consumption of the countries
Australia, Brasil, Spain und Sweden
could be cut to a half !

Roller Bearings are named after the

Shape of their rolling Elements

ball

spherical roller
symmetrical

spherical roller
asymmetrical

conical roller

cylindrical roller

needle roller

Friction in Roller Bearings

l small portion of rolling friction

l but considerable share of sliding friction at:

roller bearing rings
cages and / or
rolling elements against each other

Kinds of Lubrication
of Roller Bearings

90% by greases

9,5% by oils

0,5% by solid lubricants only

The most important Parameters for

selecting the suitable Lubricant

revolution or DN - factor
D+d
DN =
n
2

D = external bearing diameter [mm]

d = internal bearing diameter [mm]
n = revolution per minute [rpm]
D+d
dm= medium bearing diameter [mm] =
2

temperature range

DN- Factors for OKS Bearing Greases

Temperature Range of OKS Bearing

Greases

with MoS2

with MoS2 + Mox - Active

with MoS2
with Mox - Active

with MoS2 + Mox - Active

with PTFE
with white solid lubricants
with PTFE

with PTFE

Lubrication by greases

Grease pump

Contamination may
cause bearing failures.
Seals protect to a large
extent from outside contaminations.

Contamination penetrating through

labyrinth channels.

Frequent relubrication is required when

the hazard of grease contamination exists.
Same applies if the grease should seal also
against penetrating moisture.

Newly supplied grease pushes out both

used up and contaminated grease
through the labyrinth packing seals.

Relubrication Intervals for Grease

lubricated Roller Bearings
Small bearings with lateral seals or cover plates do not
need any relubrication. They are already for - life lubricated.

For all other roller bearings relubrication intervals become valid.

Guidelines for
Relubrication Intervalls
Lubrication interval,
given by service hours

tfc
10 000

tfb

6 000

20 000

4 000

15 000

3 000

20 000

10 000

2 000

15 000

7 500

1 500

10 000

5 000

1 000

5 000

2 500

500

3 000

1 500

300

2 000

1 000

200

1 500

750

150

1 000

500

100

500

250

50

tfa

Example: A deep-groove ball bearing with an internal diameter

d= 100mm running at a speed of n = 1000 rpm. The operating
temperature lies between 60 and 70 C.
Which is the expected relubrication interval?

The vertical in point n= 1000 rpm on the abscissa

cuts the curve for d= 100mm. From there the horizontal leads
to the outer left-hand scale (deep- groove ball bearings)
indicating a relubrication interval of 10000 service hours

500 420 360

tfa = radial ball bearing
100
200
500
tfb = cylindrical roller bearing / needle bearing
tfc = self aligning roller bearing / taper rolling bearing / axial roller bearing
massive cylindrical roller bearing (0,2 tfc), axial cylindrical roller
bearing (0,5 tfc)

d=10

20

40

280 240 200

1 000

160

2 000

120 100

80

5 000

60

10 000
n [U/min]

Correction of Relubrication Intervals

The assessed intervals are valid only for:

l bearings in stationary machines
l normal load
l ageing-proofed greases
l temperature < + 70C at the outer ring

Dependance of Relubrication
Intervals on Tempearture

Lubrication interval

100

l above 70C the factor 0,5 applies

for each temperature rise of 15C

85

i.e. with a temperature rise from e.g.

70C up to 85C the service life of
the grease is cut by half.

70

55

l below 70C the factor 2 applies

for each temperature drop of 15C

40

i.e. with a temperature drop from e.g.

70C down to 55 C the service life of the
grease is doubled.

Temperature at the outer ring

Lubrication by Oil

is used at high speeds resp. at DN-factors exceeding

1.000.000 and in case heat conduction is necessary.

Oil bath lubrication

Suitable only for bearings with low speeds.

During stand-stills the oil level should not
quite reach the middle of the rolling element
at the bottom.
.

Oil injection lubrication

At high speed it becomes necessary,

that the air turbulence circulating with
the bearing is penetrated by the oil.
This is ensured by injecting oil under
high pressure (min.15 m/s) from the side
into the bearing.

Circulatory oil lubrication

Cooling

pump

With increasing speed the service temperature

rises and accelerates the ageing of the
lubricating oil.
By circulatory lubrication the
oil can be cooled and consequently
the service temperature be reduced.

Lubrication with Solid Lubricants

Deep groove ball bearings with increased clearance

required at:
l high temperatures > + 200 C

l high temperature variations

l low speed

Lubrication with Solid Lubricants Exsample

Kiln-car bearings in the ceramics and brick industry

Lubrication by Solid
Lubricants only
at temperatures > + 200 C
OKS 230 MoS2-High Temperature Paste
(for thin-film lubrication during assembly and maintenance)

in connection with
OKS 310 MoS2-High-Temperature Lubricant
(for relubrication during operation)

The carrying fluid evaporates residue-free above 200C and

dry MoS2 films remain, which assure lubrication up to 450C.

OKS Speciality Lubricants for

Roller Bearings at:

l High loads
l Shock stress
l Vibrations
l Low or high speed
l Stop-and-go operation

l Very low or very high temperatures

l Temperature variations
l Humid conditions
l Corrosive influences
l Long-term lubricating needs
l Use in the food industry

Thank You

for Your
Attention