HOUSED BEARING

What is a housed bearing?

A mechanical bearing is an essential component designed to support and guide a rotating part around an axis. It is often referred to as a housed bearing, as this support device usually consists of a ball or roller bearing. It is the standard element for ensuring stability, long life and optimum machine performance.

These devices are crucial in various sectors: industry, electrical machinery, and especially the agricultural sector. Agricultural housed bearings must be particularly robust to withstand demanding loads and environments (soil, humidity, vibrations), especially on seed drills or ploughs. Bearings often support a rotating shaft, ensuring the stability and smooth running of machinery. Bearings are often the standard solution for long service life and optimum performance.

Housed bearings are made from a variety of materials. The robust and versatile cast-iron bearing is often preferred for conveying or heavy-duty industrial applications. Other materials include stainless steel, plastic and sheet steel. Whether monobloc or compound, the structure always includes a bearing with pin or insert bearing, forming a complete guiding assembly.

Available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, this equipment can be adapted to a variety of applications. They can be mounted on a machine frame, making the design economical and easy to install, while guaranteeing optimum performance.

Housed bearings are essential mechanical components that play a crucial role in the operation of machines and systems. They are indispensable for the support and smooth running of rotating shafts in a variety of industrial and agricultural applications.

Key features of a housed bearing

Housed bearings are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials to meet the specific needs of different applications. Here are just a few of the key features.

The most popular bearing material is cast iron, but there are also specific bearings in aluminum, stainless steel or plastic, each with its own special features:

• Cast-iron housed bearing : robust and versatile, the cast-iron bearing is the most common choice in industry. It offers excellent resistance to shock, high loads and vibration. This type of bearing is particularly suited to conveyor applications, agricultural machinery or heavy industrial equipment. Its durability makes it an economical and reliable solution over time.

Cast-iron bearings are available in 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 fixture versions.

• Aluminum housed bearing : lighter than cast iron, aluminum bearings are corrosion-resistant and easy to install. It is ideal for environments where lightness and heat dissipation are paramount, such as precision machines, motorized systems or food processing equipment. This material also reduces the overall weight of the structure, while ensuring good mechanical stability.

Aluminum bearings are available in 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 fixture versions.

• Stainless steel housed bearing : designed for demanding environments requiring low maintenance and excellent corrosion resistance. Stainless steel bearings are often used in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, where hygiene and resistance to humidity are essential. They guarantee long service life even in the presence of water, chemicals or extreme temperatures.

Stainless steel bearings are available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 fixture versions.

• Plastic housed bearing : lightweight and economical, plastic bearings are corrosion-resistant and virtually maintenance-free. Easy to clean, they are often combined with food-grade grease, making them ideal for use in the food industry or in humid environments. Although less resistant to heavy loads, it is a practical alternative for simple assemblies and lightweight machines.

Plastic bearings are available in 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 fixture versions.

Depending on mounting requirements and shaft type, the bearings can be fitted with different locking systems:

• Tightening set screw : simple and effective, this system enables the bearing to be quickly secured to the shaft. It is ideal for standard applications requiring fast, secure mounting.

The locking screw can be found on bearings with 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 mountings.

• Needle screw : a variant of the locking screw, the needle screw clamps directly onto the shaft thanks to its tapered end. This system guarantees excellent hold, even in environments subject to heavy vibration.

The needle screw can be found on 3-fixture bearings only.

• Eccentric locking ring : this device ensures excellent bearing retention, even in the event of strong vibrations. It is particularly recommended for agricultural environments or machines subject to repeated shocks.

The eccentric locking ring can be found on bearings with 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 mountings.

• Clamping sleeve : ideal for dismountable assemblies, it facilitates installation and removal of the bearing, while ensuring even pressure distribution on the shaft. This system is often used on smooth shafts without threads.

The clamping sleeve can be found on bearings with 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 mountings.

Other features will help you choose the right bearing for your needs:

• Internal diameter : Bearings are available with a variety of internal diameters to suit different shafts and axles. The choice of inner diameter is crucial to ensure a perfect fit and optimum system operation.

• Structure : Bearings can have different structures, such as roller, ball or needle bearings, to meet specific application needs. Each type of structure offers distinct advantages in terms of load capacity and performance.

• Lubrication system : Bearings can be fitted with lubrication systems to reduce friction and extend bearing life. Adequate lubrication is essential to maintain proper operation and long bearing life, especially under intensive operating conditions.

• Safety : Bearings can be designed with safety features, such as locking systems, to prevent accidents and injuries. These safety features are particularly important in industrial applications where reliability and operator protection are paramount.

• With regard to temperature, they are divided into three groups:

  • No suffix: -20°C to +100°C.

  • Suffix T20: -20°C to +200°C.

  • Suffix T04: -40°C to +100°C.

By integrating these characteristics, the bearings ensure optimum, safe machine operation, meeting the requirements of different application sectors.

What are the different types of housed bearings?

The most commonly used bearings we offer are self-aligning. It's important to note that some components may be out of stock, notably bearings and other mechanical parts essential for repairs or upgrades.

The most common models are self-aligning bearings. These systems are ideal for compensating for misalignment. The main distinction is between the plummer block (where the bearing axis is perpendicular to the mounting) and the thrust bearing (where the axis is parallel). Both consist of a housing, a bearing with an axis (or insert bearing) and a shaft locking system.

These bearings consist of the bearing housing, an insert bearing (also known as an axle bearing) and a shaft locking system. The bearings used can be ball, tapered roller or even needle roller bearings, depending on specific requirements.

They often incorporate two lubrication grooves and a lubrication hole closed by a plastic plug. This provides optimized lubrication, guaranteeing longer service life and higher rotational speed. This type of operation is ideally suited to low-precision assemblies.

Mechanical bearings are classified according to several criteria, such as:

• Fixings: from 0 to 4 points, to suit every configuration.

• Shapes: square, round, triangular, oval, plummer block or flat.

Other housed bearing types

Other models, such as straight plummer block housings (SN, SD) or flange housings (7225(00)), are suitable for specific requirements. These housings use spherical ball or roller bearings to compensate for shaft misalignment.

How to choose a housed bearing

To find the right bearing, start by determining :

1. Its shape.

2. Shaft diameter(diam).

3. Clamping method.

4. Mounting center distance.

Consult the technical data sheets to make sure it's right for your project. On our site, you' ll find a wide choice, from economical models to top-of-the-range solutions.

Our solutions meet every need, whether for domestic or professional use. Trust our experts to find the right solution for you!