ABSTRACT
Rolling-element bearings (this includes ball bearings, roller bearings, and their numerous derivatives) have been the subject of intensive research and development by government and industry alike for nearly 100 years. Their current state of refinement is a direct result of massive coordinated efforts in numerous fields. These include kinematics, materials science, tribology, manufacturing, and quality control, to name just a few. A complete description of the principles involved in the application of rolling-element bearings to machine designs is worthy of several volumes. We will make no attempt to duplicate the excellent references available on this subject. However, the configuration of bearings for reacting thrust, and some of the principles involved in their usage represent unique points and deserve our attention. There are a number of basic configurations of bearings that are suitable for use in reacting axial thrust. We shall examine several of them in turn.
