Do you know the bearing box and its function?

Jul 15, 2024

As a box part widely used in mechanical equipment, the bearing box plays an important role in supporting and lubricating the bearing. Its design and manufacturing accuracy directly affect the running stability and service life of the machine. In the modern industrial field, the application of bearing boxes has penetrated various industries, from large fans and wheelsets to precision instruments and equipment.

The basic structure of the bearing box is generally composed of a box body, a bearing seat, a sealing device, a lubrication system, etc. The box body is usually made of cast iron or cast steel to ensure sufficient strength and rigidity. The bearing seat is a component for installing bearings, and its design needs to consider the type, size, and working conditions of the bearing. The sealing device is used to prevent lubricating oil leakage and external impurities from entering the bearing box to ensure the normal operation of the bearing. The lubrication system is an indispensable part of the bearing box. It forms an oil film on the surface of the bearing through lubricating oil, reduces the friction between the bearing and the shaft, reduces wear, and prolongs the service life of the bearing.

There are many types of bearing boxes, and the common ones are standard, adjustable, flange, and large openings. Standard bearing boxes are usually used for bearing support under general working conditions; adjustable bearing boxes are suitable for occasions where the bearing position or preload needs to be adjusted; flange bearing boxes are mostly used for installation of linear bearings; large opening bearing boxes have a larger opening size, which is convenient for installation and removal of bearings.

The function of the bearing box

The main functions of the bearing box include the following aspects:

Support and fix bearings: As the carrier of bearings, bearing boxes can stably support and fix bearings to ensure that bearings can maintain their normal motion state when rotating at high speed or bearing heavy loads. At the same time, the design of bearing boxes also needs to consider the heat dissipation of bearings to avoid bearing damage due to excessive temperature.

Transmit power: The bearing box transmits the rotational power to other components through the bearings to achieve the normal operation of the machine. In this process, the bearing box needs to bear complex loads from the shaft and other components, including axial force, radial force, and overturning moment. Therefore, the structural design of the bearing box must be reasonable to ensure that it has sufficient load-bearing capacity and rigidity.

Reduce friction and wear: The bearing box's lubricating oil forms an oil film on the bearing surface, reducing friction and wear between the bearing and the shaft. It can not only reduce the energy consumption and operating costs of the machine but also extend the service life of the bearing. In addition, the design of the bearing box also needs to consider the circulation and heat dissipation of the lubricating oil to ensure that the lubricating oil works in the best condition.

Protect bearings and shafts: The bearing box can prevent harmful substances, such as external impurities and moisture, from entering the bearing, thereby protecting the bearing and shaft from damage. At the same time, the bearing box can also play the role of dustproof, anti-fouling, and sealing, keeping the inside of the bearing clean and dry.

Adjust the bearing position and preload: For some occasions that require precise control of the bearing position and preload, such as high-precision machine tools, aerospace equipment, etc., the bearing box can adjust the bearing position and preload by adjusting the structure or adding adjustment gaskets. It helps to improve the processing accuracy and stability of the machine.

Designing, making, and maintaining bearing boxes requires advanced professional skills. With the development of modern industry and the advancement of technology, the application range of bearing boxes is becoming more and more extensive, and the performance and quality requirements of bearing boxes are also becoming higher and higher.

In future development, the bearing box will develop towards higher precision, higher reliability, longer life, and lower cost. At the same time, with the improvement of environmental awareness and increasingly stringent requirements for energy conservation and emission reduction, energy saving, environmental protection and intelligence of bearing boxes will also become an important trend of future development.