Analysis of Impact of Shaft Speed and External Load on the Radial Ball Bearing Lubrication Regimes

Abstract

Appropriate lubrication of the rolling bearing is needed to lower the friction between the surfaces in mutual contact and their wear. A lubricant should completely separate the rolling elements from the raceways. The values that affect the efficiency and regimes of lubrication are analyzed in the paper, after which it is introduced a lubrication regime coefficient. This coefficient makes it possible to choose in a simple and fast manner an optimum combination of rolling bearing and lubricant based on the known shaft speed, external load, and rolling bearing operating temperature. For certain bearings with radial contact and certain lubricants, the lubrication regime dependence on the shaft speed and contact load is shown.