Sizes & Types of Flange Bearings
A flange bearing is a type of mounted bearing in which the mounted shaft runs perpendicular to the mounting surface and the center line of the mounting holes. This is in contrast to a pillow block bearing, in which the mounted shaft runs parallel to the mounting surface.
Flange bearings consist of a flanged housing and an insert bearing. The housing is typically made from cast iron or cast steel while the bearing can be made from a wide variety of materials.
Types of Flange Bearings
There are several flange bearing types depending on the combination of housing style and bearing type. The housing style derives from the bolt pattern, which typically come in 2-bolt, 3-bolt, or 4-bolt housings.
Similar to pillow bearings, flange bearings can include a number of different types of insert bearings. Roller bearings – which can include tapered, spherical, or cylindrical – utilize rollers within the inner and outer rings. Needle roller bearings are similar to cylindrical roller bearings except are much smaller, and plain bearings (also referred to as bushings) utilize a sliding action rather than a rolling action.
Lastly, perhaps the most widely known type of bearing is the ball bearing, which consists of several balls held in place by a cage within the inner and outer rings.
Flange Bearing Sizes
Flange bearings come in many shapes and sizes to accommodate the wide range of applications and loads they are used for. The diameter of the mounted shaft determines the bore diameter of the appropriate flange bearing.
The radial loads and thrust loads put upon the bearing determines the capacity needed from a flange bearing. In some cases, a standard flange bearing will suffice whereas under larger loads a more heavy-duty bearing may be required.
Lastly, the mounting surface determines the dimensions and type of housing that may be needed, whether it’s a 2-bolt or 4-bolt.
For a wide variety of flange block bearings available for online order, browse the MDS inventory or request information to get assistance finding the product you need.
