What Are Ball Bearings Used For?
Ball bearings are used in many types of equipment and machines to reduce friction, to reduce component part wear and tear, and to eliminate the need for frequent component part replacement. The concept for ball bearings is elegant yet simple: Substituting a rolling component (ball) for a sliding component reduces the generation of friction.
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History
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The technique used to move the stones forming the pyramids foreshadowed the use of ball bearings. More than 4500 years ago, Egyptians used cylindrical rollers to move the large heavy blocks of stone needed for the pyramids, foreshadowing the use of ball bearings. Similar techniques were used in the creation of Stonehenge years later. In 1794, ball bearings supporting a carriage axle appeared in a patent filed by Philip Vaughan. In 1869, a bicycle mechanic in Paris, Jules-Pierre Suriray, patented a steel ball-bearing design for bicycles.
Significance
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Ball bearings are integral to many applications. They can handle both radial load (side loads or forces such those as found in a motor and pulley assembly) and thrust load (direct impact such as that when someone sits on a piano stool).
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Maintenance
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Improvements in lubrication have lengthened the life of ball bearings, reducing the need for maintenance and replacement. Most ball bearings are sealed and require no additional lubricant. Some, however, do require it. Grease is the most common lubricant. Ball bearings requiring occasional lubrication have a grease cup.
Uses
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Some guitars have ball bearings. Ball bearings have been a part of everyday life for years. Computers contain them in their hard drives, and exercise equipment is equipped with them.
Ball bearings are in such home objects as guitars, bicycles, video game controllers, blenders, microwave ovens, washing machines, fans, CD and DVD players, camcorders, mechanical toothbrushes, aquarium water pumps and aerators, air conditioners, garage door openers and hot tubs.
High Technology
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Ball bearings help bicycles maintain motion. The Mars Rover, the Hubble telescope and weather satellites are examples of ball bearings as part of the highest technology.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Luciano Consolini Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of David Evers Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Juan Pablo Olmo Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Paul Keleher
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Comments
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thanku iliyan.a for puting the link.
