Articulating Joint Bearings

[kdlklm]

I'm building a utility vehicle that will have articulating center joint for steering. The photos show what I have now, but I don't like the design for the front part that has the downward force on the side of the bearing. I don't think they're really designed to take the load from the side. Any suggestions what I could use that is fairly cost-efficient and is more designed for that type of load. They will probably be about 1000 pounds on the joint at all times.

I'm presently using a Standard 4 Bolt Piloted Flanges Bearing for the front of the joint. That is the right-hand side of the photo.

 

[dodge85rc]

You could use a pin and Bushing set up. A little more "primitive" than a bearing but the bigger the pin the more load you can put on it.

 

[kdlklm]

I could but I would like stay with a bearing system.

 

[zzvyb6]

You need to box in the pin bracket. It will 'matchbox' if the joint gets a bending moment on it from single wheel impact loads. Yes this could 'impact' your steering/turn circle range, but that's the weakness I see...

 

[SandburRanch]

If I'm reading this correctly you are looking for a bearing that will tolerate axial thrust as well as radial thrust and probably more axial than radial. Tapered roller bearings come to mind and the front wheel bearings in older cars, pickup trucks and trailers seem to tolerate those loads well. Maybe you can determine a way to mount a wheel hub in that location.

 

[kdlklm]

If I'm reading this correctly you are looking for a bearing that will tolerate axial thrust as well as radial thrust and probably more axial than radial. Tapered roller bearings come to mind and the front wheel bearings in older cars, pickup trucks and trailers seem to tolerate those loads well. Maybe you can determine a way to mount a wheel hub in that location.

a wheel hub type system is definitely something I have thought about. And yes a tapered roller bearing might be my best option. And it should be fairly simple. Now just to find one that is designed to handle a sideload. Thanks

 

[Brad_Blazer]

You simply calculate the expected loads and select an appropriate bearing.

SKF provides detailed engineering information:
Principles of bearing selection and application - SKF.com / Products / Interactive Engineering Catalogue/Rolling bearings

And published load ratings for their bearings:
http://www.skf.com/skf/productcatal...bleName=1_14_1&presentationType=3&startnum=13

 

[mjncad]

If I'm reading this correctly you are looking for a bearing that will tolerate axial thrust as well as radial thrust and probably more axial than radial. Tapered roller bearings come to mind and the front wheel bearings in older cars, pickup trucks and trailers seem to tolerate those loads well. Maybe you can determine a way to mount a wheel hub in that location.

I was thinking tapered roller bearings too.

 

[sandman2234]

I just looked at my Steiner parts breakdown and it doesn't list it. It is a center articulating lawn tractor.
David from jax

 

[Mace Canute]

You could use a pin and Bushing set up. A little more "primitive" than a bearing but the bigger the pin the more load you can put on it.

Agreed! A pin & bushing is by far the better choice here. Bushings are an excellent support for heavy slow moving loads and have the advantage of conforming to the KISS principle...something which is not to be taken lightly.

 

[kdlklm]

I think I found a bearing that will work perfectly. It has a flanged edge that should allow me to just press and the bearing on the top and one on the bottom.

Part # 02473 - 02420-B, Tapered Roller Bearings - TSF (Tapered Single with Flange) Imperial on Timken Company, The

 

[davedj1]

look into the front hub cassette off a newer (87 up) jeep wrangler or wagoneer/cherokee. these handle loads great! I was running (and wheeling) a stock front axle with locker and 36" rubber and never broke a bearing cassette (unit bearing) and used ones can be had cheap.

 

[BHD]

there is what is called an "Angular contact thrust ball bearings".

they do both thrust as well as regular loads,

in my experience they are not cheap, but do a wonderful job for that there made for, (I had a grinder with a single row of balls and it got installed back wards and did not last or work well, but when put in correctly the grinder works wonderfully),

I under stand the twin row type is all pre loaded and works either direction,

Angular contact thrust ball bearings for screw drives - SKF.com / Products / Interactive Engineering Catalogue/High-/super-precision bearings

 

[Taylortractornut]

Cat skidders used a beefy bearing in the ocillation joint of their machines from the 518 up lines. WHen they wear out its usually customary to burn out the plate and reinstall a new one. THe big thing with this bearing is it allows the drive shaft to pass through it to provide an inline shaft to the pinions. You could find a set of bearings out of a floating rearend out of a semi truck or large dump.

 

[Baby Grand]

Agreed! A pin & bushing is by far the better choice here. Bushings are an excellent support for heavy slow moving loads and have the advantage of conforming to the KISS principle...something which is not to be taken lightly.

+1

Why don't equipment manufacturers use rolling element bearings in the joints of backhoes, FELs, etc? You want a bearing that will live in an environment where it never reaches sufficient speed to create the hydrodynamic wedge of lube that rolling element bearings need to survive.

-Jim

 

[JohnnyDB]

I say you call the Steiner Bro's at Ventrac, they would have some good experience with articulating joint bearings

Ventrac - Advantages: Center Oscillating/Articulating Tractor

 

[scrappy isb67]

+1

Why don't equipment manufacturers use rolling element bearings in the joints of backhoes, FELs, etc? You want a bearing that will live in an environment where it never reaches sufficient speed to create the hydrodynamic wedge of lube that rolling element bearings need to survive.

-Jim

That and there is not enough rotation to get the bearing to wear right, if the rollers don't make a complete revolution within their race they will wear and become oval. once that happens they get excessive play and wear out quickly. that is why U-joints in a driveshaft have to have some angularity to survive.

 

[Grand_Pooba]

Timken bearings are non sealed bearings so you would need to add external $eal$. Nothing about timkens is cost effective. I agree with others that pin and bushing is the best way to go, with greasable pins.

 

[BHD]

a bushing should last a long time,


the front axle of most farm tractors just have a bushing and maybe a thrush washer, and grease Zerk,

John Deere in there big 4 wheel drive tractors used bushings in there articulated hinges, and a grease zerk, to lubricate it,

My old 6600 JD combine on the rear Axel just has a bushing and a Zerk (yes I did replace the bushing when i first got it as the original owner apparent did not know what a Zerk was for, or how to use a grease gun, but I have had the machine for 30+ years, and it carries when full and additional 8000+ pounds when the bin is full plus the machine and that bushing on the rear Axel is doing just fine, I am reasonably sure your stress and loads will be less than the rear axle of that combine or of a big horse power 4 wheel drive articulated tractor,

and if you extend the points on the front hing, It would take a lot of the stress off the unit,

 

[evo803]

I used cat 1 toplinks and cut them down as needed. I did this so it can have the jackshaft for the pulley drive system line up with the pivot centerline so the belt tension will stay consistent throughout the joint movement. My setup here allows for about 7" obstacles under opposite corner tires and the belts stay tight and don't throw off the pulleys.

Ventrac uses a system similar to this for its articulation and oscillation for both 3000 and 4000 series tractors.

You could do a similar setup which would spread out the forces exerted on the joint.