Ever since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has witnessed some truly remarkable feats of engineering, complemented by the brilliance of mechanical machinery. From aircraft and motor vehicles to factory machinery and construction equipment, each creation has helped to shape society as we know it today in one way or another.
As amazing as these creations are, they’re only as good as the components within. One such example is the humble tapered roller bearing. Though relatively small and hidden out of sight, were it not for these fantastic innovations, many of the machines, vehicles, and pieces of equipment we rely on today would not work as they should.
Tapered roller bearings are found in a wide range of vehicles, machines, and equipment, and in their most basic form, have been in use for more than three centuries. Unlike regular bearings, tapered roller bearings consist of rollers in the shape of small cones which are located within two tapered raceways – hence the name.
But just how important are these bearings? Here’s a look at 4 industrial applications of tapered roller bearings.

Construction Machinery and Equipment

Many heavy-duty pieces of construction machinery and equipment utilize tapered roller bearings in a wide range of different ways.
Excavators, bulldozers, loaders, crushers, rollers, and other pieces of equipment and machinery used in the construction industry rely heavily on these bearings. All of these devices work under intense axial and radial loads, not to mention extreme working conditions.
Tapered roller bearings help the machines and equipment to withstand these loads and conditions, while contributing to longevity and robustness at the same time.
Wheel Bearings and Gearboxes
Perhaps one of the most common uses of tapered roller bearings is in the automotive industry. Specifically, within the wheels and gearboxes.
Wheel hubs for example, tend to feature these rollers as they help to balance the radial weight from the vehicle itself, along with axial loads that are generated when the vehicle turns and accelerates.
Gearboxes are subject to both axial and radial loads as a result of how they’re designed. Tapered roller bearings help ensure that gearboxes function as they should, and remain in full working condition for longer.
Aircraft
The next time you’re on a plane, jetting off somewhere warm on your vacation, it’s worth remembering just how important tapered roller bearings are in the aerospace industry.
Different planes and aircraft utilize tapered roller bearings in many of their components. Landing gear components, for example, are often subject to heavy and unbalanced loads during takeoff, in-flight, and when landing. Tapered roller bearings help to distribute these loads more evenly and provide support for these essential aircraft components.
Wind Turbines
With so much emphasis now being placed on environmentally friendly green energy, wind turbines play a vital role when it comes to renewable energy.
Of course, there’s a lot more science to it than this, but the basic principle behind wind turbines is that they take kinetic energy from the wind as it flows over the blades and convert it into electricity.
Tapered roller bearings are found within the gearboxes of wind turbines to support axial and rotational forces that the turbine’s blades generate as they spin in the wind. The bearings allow the gears to function smoothly and efficiently, even in extreme winds and harsh environmental conditions.

Buy Your Tapered Roller Bearings Today

As you can see, tapered roller bearings play vital roles in a wide range of industrial applications, which is why quality is so important.
When you purchase tapered roller bearings, you need a product and company you can trust. Here at NSAR Bearings, we’ve many years of industry experience and have a reputation that speaks volumes. Our products are designed to the highest of specs, utilizing premium quality materials. This is reflected in the products we sell.
Pick up your tapered roller bearings today to see why we’re number one with what we do.