BALL BEARINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 18

BALL BEARINGS

Of all branches of engineering, the automobile employs a greater quantity of ball and roller bearings than any other. Gear box, rear axles, steering, etc., are universally equipped, but in very few cases arc thoy employed in tho construction of engines. However, it has been conclusively proved by experience that many of the most successful racing engines have been thus fitted with ball or roller bearing crankshafts. The advantages are important; nevertheless, mechanical construction difficulties have made it impossible for them to be adopted for standard models. Ball bearings permit a considerable saving in volume, and consequently weight. Another important point in favour of ball bearings is\ the extreme simplicity of lubrication and the absence of danger of the bearing seizing immediately through insufficient oil or v momentary stoppage in the oil circulation. Some engineers say that plain bearings, when supplied with an efficient supply of oil, offer less frictional resistance than a ball bearing, duo to the film of oil between the two surfaces, but there cannot be a very serious difference between the two types as applied to any standard engine working under normal touring conditions.