Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG · Germany
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Maintenance-free Spherical Plain Bearings
Maintenance-free spherical plain bearings are used where there are particular requirements for operating life or where bearings with a metallic sliding contact surface are not suitable for lubrication reasons, e.g. under unilateral loads. Spherical plain bearings allow spatial adjustment movements and, depending on the bearing type (radial, angular contact, axial), are preferably used to support radial, combined or axial loads.
Maintenance-free spherical plain bearings have special sliding layers based on PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). In descending order of performance, these are:
- ELGOGLIDE® – the highest performance sliding layer
- PTFE composite
- PTFE-bronze film
These materials form the slideway of the outer ring or the shaft locating washer. They transmit loads and provide lubrication – the bearings must not be lubricated by any other means.
Radial spherical plain bearings comprise inner and outer rings with maintenance-free sliding layers made from ELGOGLIDE®, PTFE composite or PTFE-bronze film. In addition to radial forces, they can also support low axial forces and are suitable for alternating dynamic loads.
Sealed spherical plain bearings are protected by lip seals against contamination and water spray. Large spherical plain bearings of d = 320 mm and above belong to our premium class.
Angular contact spherical plain bearings comprise inner and outer rings with ELGOGLIDE®. In addition to radial forces, they can also support higher axial forces and are suitable for alternating dynamic loads.
Axial spherical plain bearings comprise shaft locating and housing locating washers with ELGOGLIDE®. They are preferably used to support axial forces and are suitable as support or base bearings.
Large spherical plain bearings of d = 220 mm and above belong to our premium class.
