How UsefulIs Bearing Pillow Block in Various Industrial Applications?
Bearing Pillow Block
A pillow block bearing, which is a bearing housing unit with a straightforward design, is used in most industrial applications today. The most prominent feature of this type of bearing unit is the housing with an insert bearing mounted in it.
Pillow block bearings are known for its highly calculated engineering design, in which a pedestal holds a rotating shaft with a compatible bearing unit consisting of rollers and raceways.Such a housing unit with bearings are mostly used in the industrialized environments demanding high performance and hygienic bearing solutions.
They are carefully crafted to offer better durability and interchangeability through standardized sizes, dimensions, and series and the use of cast steel or iron ensuring consistent performance. A bearing pillow block is available in a single piece or assembly pieces to suit the requirement.
The whole unit is bolted to a support or plain surface using a mounting surface. Industrial applications like material handling system, textile equipment, food and beverage processing equipment, and pharmaceutical machinery use pillow block with an appropriate bearing for greater efficiency in production.
What to Consider When Designing the Best Bearing Pillow Block?
Choosing the most appropriate bearing housing unit for any application requires you to consider some factors like the shaft size, diameter, and height, as well as the maximum speed and load capacity. Moreover, you need to look for the right bearing and ring washers that hold the rollers. You can choose from plain, ball, needle, and spherical bearings depending on your requirement and application.
You need ball or roller bearings, raceways, and a separator to design a pillow block bearing. The logarithmic profile of the rolling elements minimizes the friction while the machine is in operation, allowing it to operate smoothly. The rollers in the bearing unit are in conical,crowned-end, tapered or spherical shape. Pillow block bearings can manage heavy radial or axial loads or a combination of both with a larger contact area. By keeping in mind the above information, you can choose a bearing pillow block for specific applications.
Different Versions of Pillow Block Bearing for High Performance
The advanced developments in the bearing technology has helped design bearing pillow block in improved versions to meet the needs of industrial applications. Here are some popular ones:
Cast Iron Housing Bearing: This version of the bearing unit undergoes lubrication and re-lubrication at regular intervals through an in-built lubrication system. It helps offer extended service life.
Pressed Steel Housing: The bearing unit is crafted to have chromium-free steel with zinc coating, which avoids corrosion. It is mostly used in applications of limited loads at low speeds.
Your best selection of bearing pillow block depends on the application and its needs.