Spherical Bearing is designed to handle heavy loads and allow smooth movement even when the shaft is slightly misaligned. It is commonly used in heavy machinery, conveyors, agricultural equipment, and industrial machines.
Shree Balaji Export is a trusted manufacturer, supplier and exporter of precision-engineered spherical bearings — including spherical roller bearings, spherical plain bearings, rod ends, and a full range of related industrial bearing solutions. Serving customers in Sri Lanka, South Africa, the UAE, Nigeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, Kuwait, and markets worldwide, the company delivers components that meet stringent international quality and dimensional standards. With certified manufacturing partnerships, rigorous incoming quality inspection, and a responsive global supply chain, Shree Balaji Export ensures that every spherical bearing it supplies performs reliably in the most demanding real-world operating conditions. Whether you need a single replacement bearing or a large-scale procurement contract, Shree Balaji Export provides the range, expertise, and logistical capability to fulfil your requirements — correctly specified, competitively priced, and delivered on time to your facility anywhere in the world.
Product Details:
| Bore Size | 300 mm |
|---|---|
| Type | Ball Bearing |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Shape | Round |
| Color | Silver |
| Packaging Type | Box |
| Model No | 22320 |
| Brand | SKF |
What is a Spherical Bearing?
A bearing is a special kind of bearing that is made to work even when the shaft and the housing are not perfectly lined up. This is something that regular bearings cannot do. The special thing about a bearing is that it has a curved surface that is shaped like a sphere. This lets the outer parts of the bearing tilt and turn without getting damaged.
This ability to adjust itself makes spherical bearings very good for jobs where the shaft might bend or where the housing is not perfectly aligned. It is also good for things that need to move in a controlled way like a linkage or a pivot joint.
Types of Spherical Bearings and Common Sizes
There are kinds of spherical bearings and they come in different sizes. They are made to handle kinds of loads and movements.
-
1. Spherical Roller Bearings: These bearings are very strong. Can handle very heavy loads. They have two rows of rollers that run between an outer ring. They can adjust themselves to compensate for shaft deflection and housing misalignment. They come in sizes from 20 mm to over 800 mm. Are used in things like paper mill rolls and mining conveyor drives.
2. Spherical Plain Bearings (Maintenance-Requiring): These bearings have a hardened steel ring with a curved surface that runs against a hardened steel outer ring. They need to be lubricated with grease. They are used in things like construction equipment and agricultural machinery.
3. Maintenance-Free Spherical Plain Bearings: These bearings use a liner that provides permanent lubrication. They do not need to be lubricated which makes them good for jobs where it is hard to get to the bearing. They are used in things like crane runway pivots and bridge expansion bearings.
4. Rod End Bearings (Spherical Bearings in Rod End Housings): These bearings have a bearing inside a threaded housing. They can be screwed directly into a connecting rod or hydraulic actuator. They are used in things like steering linkages and suspension systems.
5. Angular Contact Spherical Plain Bearings: These bearings are made to handle axial loads in one direction along with radial loads and angular misalignment. They are used in things like worm gear presses and heavy-duty actuators.
6. Spherical Thrust Roller Bearings: These bearings are made to handle high axial loads in one direction along with moderate radial loads and shaft misalignment. They are used in things, like pumps and heavy machine tool tables.
Common Bore Sizes and Standards
| Type | Typical Bore Range (mm) | Key Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Spherical Roller Bearing (22/23xxx Series) | 20 – 800+ mm | ISO 15, DIN 635 |
| Spherical Plain Bearing — Steel/Steel (GE Series) | 5 – 360 mm | ISO 12240-1, DIN ISO 12240 |
| Maintenance-Free Plain Bearing (GE..TXE / GX Series) | 5 – 200 mm | ISO 12240-1 |
| Rod End Bearing (SI/SA/SIL Series) | 5 – 140 mm | ISO 12240-4, DIN ISO 12240 |
| Angular Contact Spherical Plain (GE..SW Series) | 20 – 200 mm | ISO 12240-3 |
| Spherical Thrust Roller Bearing (29xxx Series) | 45 – 600+ mm | ISO 15, DIN 728 |
Benefits of Using a Quality Spherical Bearing
Choosing a quality spherical bearing from a trusted supplier like Shree Balaji Export gives you many benefits:
- Self-Aligning Capability. The Main Benefit:: The best thing about spherical bearings is that they can handle misalignment between the shaft and housing. This happens when the shaft bends under load or when it gets hotter or colder or when things are not made perfectly. This self-alignment stops pressure, reduces stress and makes the bearing last much longer than other types.
- Exceptional Load Capacity: Spherical roller bearings can handle heavy loads. They have a contact area that helps to spread the load. This makes them a popular choice for industrial machines.
- Shock Load Resistance: Spherical roller bearings are good at handling impacts. This makes them suitable for jobs, like mining, quarrying and construction.
- Controlled Angular Motion: Spherical plain bearings are special because they can move in a controlled way. They can be used as a pivot or swivel which helps with the design of machines.
- Long Service Life Under Conditions: Good-quality spherical bearings are made from strong steel and are precision-made. They can last a long time even in dirty, wet or vibrating environments. This means you have to do maintenance, and it saves you money.
- Operating Temperature Range: Spherical bearings can work well in very cold or very hot temperatures. They can be used in storage, refrigeration plants, furnace drives and hot-strip mill machinery.
- Reduced Structural Loading: Spherical plain bearings and rod ends allow for some movement. This reduces stress on the parts and makes the whole machine last longer.
Industry Applications of Spherical Bearings
The versatility, load capacity, and misalignment tolerance of the spherical bearing have established it as an essential component across a remarkably wide range of global industries. Shree Balaji Export serves customers in all of the following sectors — from heavy industrial operators in Nigeria and Kuwait to precision machinery manufacturers in the UAE and Sri Lanka:
| Industry Sector | Spherical Bearing Application |
|---|---|
| Mining & Quarrying | Conveyor drive drums, crusher shaft support, vibrating screen mounts, bucket wheel drives |
| Construction Equipment | Excavator arm pivots, hydraulic cylinder rod ends, concrete mixer drum bearings, crane wheel drives |
| Agricultural Machinery | Tractor PTO shaft support, combine harvester straw walker drives, three-point linkage pivots, header drives |
| Steel & Metals Processing | Rolling mill roll neck bearings, coiler drive shafts, continuous casting machine rolls, reheating furnace fans |
| Pulp, Paper & Printing | Paper machine roll supports, calendar rolls, dryer section rolls, high-load press section bearings |
| Marine & Offshore | Stern tube bearings, rudder stock supports, deck crane pivots, offshore platform structural joints |
| Automotive & Commercial Vehicles | Steering linkage rod ends, suspension pivot bushings, trailer coupling pivots, driveshaft support |
| Renewable Energy | Wind turbine main shaft bearings, tidal generator shaft support, large solar tracker pivot joints |
| Civil & Structural Engineering | Bridge expansion joints, structural bearing pads, tower crane mast pivots, dam gate linkages |
| Industrial Conveyors & Material Handling | Head and tail pulley shaft bearings, heavy belt conveyor drives, bucket elevator shaft support |
Conclusion
The spherical bearing is one of the most indispensable and technically sophisticated components in modern industrial engineering. Whether in the form of a heavy-duty spherical roller bearing supporting a mining conveyor drive in South Africa, a maintenance-free spherical plain bearing in a bridge expansion joint in Indonesia, or a precision rod end bearing in a hydraulic actuator in the UAE, the common thread is the same: the spherical bearing provides the self-aligning flexibility, load capacity, and durability that demanding real-world applications require. For engineers, procurement managers, and maintenance professionals across every industry sector, selecting the right spherical bearing — and sourcing it from a reliable supplier — is a decision that directly impacts machine performance, operational safety, and long-term cost efficiency.
Get the right spherical bearings for heavy-load applications, replacement needs, and bulk export orders. Share your requirements with our team and get competitive pricing for worldwide supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although both are types of spherical bearing and share the same self-aligning principle, they are fundamentally different in construction and application. A spherical roller bearing uses two rows of barrel-shaped rolling elements running between precision-ground raceways within a hardened steel inner and outer ring. It is designed for continuous rotation at moderate to high speeds under very high radial and combined loads — typical applications include industrial gearboxes, conveyor drives, and mill rolls. A spherical plain bearing, by contrast, uses direct sliding contact between a convex inner ring sphere and a matching concave outer ring, with no rolling elements. It is designed for oscillating, swivelling, and tilting movements rather than continuous rotation, and is found in structural joints, hydraulic actuator mounts, linkages, and pivot applications.
The misalignment capacity of a spherical bearing varies by type. Spherical roller bearings typically accommodate misalignment of 1° to 2.5° (depending on series and bore size), which is sufficient to compensate for shaft deflection under load and normal installation imperfections in industrial machinery. Spherical plain bearings offer much greater angular freedom — typically 6° to 12° of total tilting angle depending on the series — which allows them to function as genuine pivot and swivel elements in linkages and actuator mounts. Angular contact spherical plain bearings have a more restricted angular range (typically 4° to 6°) due to their asymmetric contact geometry, but offer superior axial load capacity in one direction.
A maintenance-requiring spherical bearing plain type uses metal-to-metal (hardened steel on steel) sliding contact and requires periodic re-lubrication with grease injected through a grease nipple to prevent excessive friction, wear, and corrosion between the contact surfaces. The maintenance-free variant incorporates a PTFE composite or similar self-lubricating liner bonded to the inner surface of the outer ring. This liner continuously provides a microscopic film of solid lubricant during operation, eliminating the need for grease entirely. Maintenance-free variants are preferred in applications where re-lubrication access is impractical, where contamination of the environment with grease is unacceptable, or where the total cost of maintenance over the bearing's life justifies the higher initial unit cost.
A rod end bearing is a self-contained assembly that combines a spherical bearing plain element with a threaded shank housing — forming a complete, ready-to-install bearing unit that screws directly into the end of a connecting rod, hydraulic cylinder, or actuator. The spherical element within the rod end accommodates angular misalignment at the connection point, preventing binding and structural overload as the mechanism moves through its operating range. Rod ends are available in male and female thread versions, in right-hand and left-hand configurations, and in both maintenance-requiring steel and maintenance-free PTFE-lined variants. Common applications include steering linkages in commercial vehicles, three-point linkage connections in agricultural tractors, hydraulic cylinder mounting joints in construction equipment, and actuator connections in industrial automation systems.
Shree Balaji Export provides a combination of quality assurance, product range, and global supply capability that sets it apart: (1) All spherical bearings are sourced from certified manufacturers conforming to ISO 12240 (plain bearings) and ISO 15 (roller bearings) dimensional and performance standards; (2) As an established international exporter, Shree Balaji Export serves customers across Sri Lanka, South Africa, the UAE, Nigeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, Kuwait, and worldwide with consistent availability and competitive export pricing; (3) The company stocks all major spherical bearing types — from small rod end units to large-bore spherical roller bearings — across the full size range; (4) Experienced technical staff assist customers with bearing selection, cross-referencing to OEM specifications, and application-specific recommendations; and (5) Reliable packaging and established export documentation procedures ensure your order arrives safely, correctly certified, and on schedule wherever your facility is located.
Shree Balaji ExportsSpecialize in delivering top-quality bearings and related solutions to meet the diverse needs of various industries.