Ball Bearings Are Flat - Another Myth Crushed

Ball Bearings Are Flat - Another Myth Crushed

Incredible but unrelated things I learned working on the Internet By David Leonhardt



What shape are ball bearings? They are shaped like a ball, as

everyone knows, right?



The funny thing about what everyone knows is that everyone can be

wrong. For instance, everybody thinks that the America's Cup is

an ocean-sailing race, and yet the Swiss managed to win the Cup.

For those readers who are geographically-challenged, Switzerland

is a land-locked country comprised entirely of mountains.



What does this have to do with ball bearings. Very little, I

suspect, but balls have very little to do with ball bearings,

either. Ball bearings look more like hula hoops. But don't try

using them for that - you will find them inconveniently heavy and

painfully small.



You can view a picture of a ball bearing in the middle of this

ball bearing supplier's page: http://www.gm-exports.com/bearing-supplier.html



So what are those stunted metal tube donuts called ball bearings

for anyway? Are they used as a spare wheel? Do they hold in

evil shop-floor spirits? No, they help things move more

efficiently. In an early demonstration of bearing usage, three

ladies pulled a locomotive (It was just a demonstration, not a

career development).



Many bearings look very similar, whether they are ball bearings,

roller bearings or other bearings. What?! Other bearings?



Ball bearings are formed with an outer ring, an inner ring, a

cage or a retainer inside, and a rolling element inside,

typically a ball (which is why they are called ball bearings).

Roller bearings are formed using a roller instead of a ball,

which is why they are called roller bearings (Yes, finally

something that makes sense!). Other bearings look just like

metal tubes, called plain bearings or bush bearings. They look

like sawed off pipe or tube (something my metal tube and pipe

bending client would be turning into architecturally glamorous

structural supports).



The principle of bearings is the same principle behind the wheel:

things move better by rolling than by sliding. They are called

"bearings" because they bear the weight of the object, such as an

inline skate or the head of dentist's drill, allowing the object

to glide over them with incredible ease and speed. Unlike

wheels, they don't turn on an axel; they turn on themselves.



You can see this in action with some great cut-away pictures of

bearings at:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/bearing3.htm



The balls or rollers spin on themselves inside the bearing,

reducing friction for the machine parts attached to them. It's

much neater than using a bucket of oil, especially in dental

equipment, and significantly more reliable than hampsters on a

wheel.



Once upon a time, all bearings were metal - like a metal tube or

pipe with metal balls stuck inside. These days, more and more

are made of ceramic or even plastic (like everything else in this

world!).



If you are still confused about why ball bearings are not shaped

like balls, just remember that you drive on a parkway and park on

a driveway. And you can even try sailing your sea-craft through

the Swiss Alps. But don't try playing a game of one-on one

basketbearing.





ABOUT THE AUTHOR



David Leonhardt is a freelance writer: http://www.seo-writer.net/ He wrote this article for G&M Bearings: http://www.gm-exports.com Their full product line is available at: http://www.gm-exports.com/products.html







ABOUT THE AUTHOR (in html)



David Leonhardt is a

Canadian freelance writer and SEO consultant. He wrote this

article for G&M Ball Bearings

and Taper Roller Bearings. Check out their full product line

of ball

bearings and roller bearings.