Bearings
Insert Ball Bearings Distributor
Insert bearings and wide inner ring bearings are utilized for shaft attachment without the usage of shoulders or adapters. Setscrews or a locking collar secure the bearing in place. UC Style Insert Bearings feature an inner ring that extends on both sides of the bearing, whereas SB Style Insert Bearings have an inner ring that extends on just one side.
However, both designs are meant to give additional shaft support. Insert bearings are sometimes just normal deep groove radial bearings that fit into a housing and can be purchased as stand-alone goods to be used as replacements. Insert bearings may be slide fit directly into the shaft, unlike normal radial ball bearings, which must be pushed into a machined shaft requiring specific installation equipment.
Osten Machinery offers a wide assortment of custom and standard size insert bearings in various combinations of materials. Stainless steel and ceramic hybrid insert bearings are available for washdown conditions, high temperature and food grade applications.
Insert Bearing Types
Wide Inner Ring Inserts
Set screw, eccentric collar or gripLoc shaft locking method with 3pc adapter
Cylindrical or spherical ODs
SR and L3 seals available on most
Groove & snap-ring on ER series
Shaft sizes: 1/2 to 4″ (metric to 100mm)
Narrow Inner Ring Inserts
Set screw or eccentric locking collar
Cylindrical or spherical ODs
A-type seals
Relubricatable or non-relubricatable
Shaft sizes: 1/2 to 2-3/16″ (55mm)
Sentinel Series Corrosion Resistant Inserts
Set screw, eccentric collar or gripLoc shaft locking method with 3pc adapter
Wide inner rings
Set screw locking
Stainless steel rings, balls, set screws & retainers
FDA approved grease
How Insert Bearings Work
Insert bearings are typically ordinary radial bearings that have been modified to fit inside a housing. Although they are often offered with the housing, these bearings can also be purchased separately to be used as replacements.
Insert bearings may be slide fit directly into the shaft, unlike normal radial ball bearings, which must be pushed into a machined shaft requiring specific installation equipment. Insert bearings, on the other hand, are often placed on shafts that are somewhat smaller than the bearing bore diameter.
This loose fit needs the use of a locking mechanism to keep the bearing securely in place. To fit the locking device, the inner ring of the bearing is expanded to one side. Furthermore, the width of the inner ring of the insert bearing may vary depending on the type of the bearing.
How Wide Inner Ring Bearings Work
The wide inner ring bearing is a type of insert bearing. The broad inner ring insert, also known as the double extended inner ring insert, has an inner ring that extends beyond the width of the outer ring on both sides of the insert. A heavy-duty seal is accommodated by the expansion on one side.
The opposite side is widened much more to allow a heavy-duty seal as well as the locking device. Wide inner ring insert bearings transfer load across a larger surface area due to the broader inner ring.
These bearings are often employed in higher-load applications. Some manufacturers provide inserts that lie between between narrow and broad inner ring inserts. By incorporating traits from both, they construct a more cost-effective “will-fit” that is neither true nor false.
Insert Bearing Benefits
Housings can be built of 440 stainless steel, 52100 chrome steel, pressed steel, cast iron, zinc coated, or nickel plated materials
The inserts can be made with seals, shields, or as open bearings
Insert bearings may withstand higher loads than normal ball bearings
The lubricating procedure is less complicated
There are several locking solutions available, such as a squeeze collar, eccentric lock collar, or set screw lock
It’s important to note that not all applications will be able to accommodate a one-size-fits-all insert bearing. Make sure you understand the specifications of your particular application before making your purchase.
Additional Insert Bearing Details
Many insert bearings are constructed with seals to prevent against contamination and as a lubricant retainer, in addition to permitting motion and support. They may be built with single or double seals, as well as single or double shields, to prevent dirt ingress.
Open bearings, which do not have shields or seals, are also available. Although open bearings provide no protection against contamination or lubricant confinement, they have a higher maximum speed capability than bearings with seals or shields.
