Industrial roller bearings consist of several components, all of which work together to support a load and enable relative motion between two separate pieces of equipment. The English terms and definitions for these components are described below.
Cage: A frame that serves to separate and evenly space the balls within a bearing. The cage is often made of plastic or another light material with the purpose of reducing weight and simplifying assembly.
Roller: A rolling element typically made of steel which is located between two concentric rings. Rollers carry the applied load and minimize friction between the two concentric rings.
Retainer: A component which contains and maintains the bearing components, usually made of steel or plastic.
Bore: The internal hole of the bearing which allows it to fit onto a shaft.
Radial clearance : A pre-calculated distance between the inner and outer ring of a bearing in which the rollers sit. This clearance affects the bearings radial load and speed capabilities.
Cage Return: The area of the bearing where the cage is attached to the inner ring and is held in place by a collar.
Lubrication Grooves: The grooves machined into roller bearings which provide lubrication to the bearing.
Center Distance: The distance between the center of the inner and outer rings of the bearing.
Outer Race: The outer ring of the bearing, which holds the rollers in place and is attached to the inner ring by a shoulder.
Shoulder: The flat, raised area located between the inner and outer ring of the bearing which is used to secure the two rings together.
Housing: The rigid structure which is used to mount and contain the bearing.
Axial Clearance: The calculated gap between the components of the bearing when the bearing is spinning in its axial direction. This clearance affects the bearings axial load and speed capabilities.
Axial Load: The amount of force along the axis of a bearing, used as a measure of how much weight the bearing can carry.
Pitch Circle: The circumference of the inner and outer rings of the bearing created by the roller elements in contact with them.
Seal: A component used to prevent contamination of a bearing, typically made of rubber or other light material.
Preload : The amount of force a bearing exerts on its rollers when the bearing is at rest, used to eliminate the play between the parts when the bearing is spinning.
Radial Load: The amount of force and weight the bearing can handle in its radial direction.
