Optimal design of paired tapered roller bearings under centred radial and axial static loads

Dipartimento di Scienze e Metodi dell’Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Amendola 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy

^a Corresponding author: eugenio.dragoni@unimore.it

Received: 24 September 2014
Accepted: 17 November 2014

Abstract

Based on the relationships from the ISO 76 standard, this paper optimizes the internal dimensions of tapered roller bearings for maximum static load capacity. A bearing system formed by two identical bearings is assumed, subjected to whatever combination of centred radial and axial forces. It is shown that the static capacity increases linearly with the roller infill, with the ratio of roller length to roller diameter and with the square of the pitch diameter of the roller set. Further, given the ratio of axial to radial force, an optimal contact angle exists which maximizes the static capacity of the bearing pair, regardless of the actual bearing size and ratio of roller diameter to pitch diameter. The optimization procedure can either be used to design custom-made bearings or to pick from manufacturers’ catalogues the bearing with the best contact angle for any assigned loading condition.