Thrust Spherical Plain Bearings

Thrust spherical plain bearings are specifically designed to accommodate primarily axial loads. Their construction features a convex spherical surface on the shaft washer and a corresponding concave spherical surface on the housing washer. This unique design allows them to transfer loads efficiently while compensating for possible misalignments. In addition to axial forces, they can also carry combined loads (axial and radial), where the radial component should not exceed 50% of the axial load. For higher radial loads, thrust spherical plain bearings are typically combined with radial bearings.

A major advantage of these bearings is their separable design, enabling the shaft and housing washers to be mounted individually. SKF supplies maintenance-free thrust spherical plain bearings with a steel/PTFE sliding surface combination, ensuring long service life and eliminating the need for relubrication. Their robust construction makes them suitable for demanding industrial applications where reliability, high load capacity, and tolerance for misalignment are essential.

Typical applications include construction and agricultural machinery, hydraulic cylinders, industrial presses, and other equipment that requires reliable transmission of heavy axial forces with minimal maintenance and long service life.