Four-point angular contact ball bearing applications
Four-point angular contact ball bearings can withstand both high axial and small radial loads. They can operate at high speeds and are more suitable for higher axial forces than deep groove ball bearings. The outer ring with ball and cage assembly can be mounted separately from the two inner ring halves.
- High-speed capability
- Withstand high axial loads in both directions and small radial loads
- Requires much less axial space than double-row angular contact ball bearings
Four-point angular contact ball bearings are ideal for applications with limited axial space, but axial load capacity in both directions is required.
Four-point contact ball bearings should be considered if design space is limited and a high axial load or speed in both directions occurs. This can occur in applications such as pumps, retarders, compressors, industrial or automotive transmissions, traction motors, or steering columns.
Turbo retarders convert excess kinetic energy from the truck into heat. Such applications require bearings with high terminal speeds and the ability to accommodate rapid speed changes, which is typical for four-point contact ball bearings.
Multi-phase pumps help to extract oil fields more efficiently than conventional methods. These pumps are located on the seabed and increase the pressure of the upstream oil and gas mixture. Therefore the demand for reliability is very high. Typically four point contact ball bearings are subjected to axial loads.
Wind turbine gearboxes transfer energy from a very slowly rotating main shaft (about 18 r/min) to a generator speed of about 126 times higher. Helical gears generate the heavy axial loads on high-speed shafts that must be carried. A combination of cylindrical roller and four-point contact ball bearings is used.
For railroads, there are two main applications. Gearboxes and traction motors usually combine cylindrical roller and four-point contact ball bearings.
