Angular Contact Ball Bearing

Angular contact ball bearings are defined as bearings where the line of action of the load forms an angle with the bearing’s axis, allowing them to carry combined radial and axial loads. They can be designed as single or double row bearings, with the former suitable for high speeds and axial loads in one direction, and the latter capable of handling loads in either direction.

Angular-contact ball bearings are designed to support combined radial and axial loads or heavy axial loads, depending on the magnitude of the contact angle. An illustration of an angular-contact ball bearing and its contact angle is shown in Fig. 2.7. Angular contact bearings are commonly used in gearboxes, pumps, electric motors, and clutches and other high-speed applications. Bearings having larger contact angles can support larger axial loads, and the contact angle does not usually exceed about 40 degrees. The ratio of the inner and outer raceway radii to ball diameter resides between 0.52 ≤ f ≤ 0.54. In most applications, the bearings are mounted in pairs, such as the configurations shown in Fig. 2.8. Tandem mounting is employed when greater axial load-carrying capacity is required. Double-row angular-contact ball bearings such as those shown in Fig. 2.9 can carry axial loads in either direction, or a combination of radial and axial loads. Rigid type versions are very effective in accommodating moment loading from misalignment, for example.