In needle bearings with flanges, the outer ring and needle cage form a self-retaining assembly. These radially low-profile, high-load rolling bearings are especially suitable for designs with limited radial installation space. The bearings are available without and with inner rings, as well as sealed and open versions. Needle bearings without inner rings are the best solution for bearing arrangements when the shaft can be hardened and ground. Needle bearings with inner rings are used when the shaft cannot serve as the raceway for the rolling bearing.
Needle bearings without flanges on the outer ring are not self-retaining. This allows the outer ring, needle cage, and inner ring to be installed separately, significantly simplifying bearing installation. Needle bearings without flanges are available without and with inner rings as single-row or double-row versions. Bearings without inner rings are used when the shaft can be hardened and ground.
Adjustable needle bearings have a raceway ring with a spherical outer surface and a hollow spherical support ring. This design compensates for static misalignments of the bearing axis up to 3°, but they are not suitable for accommodating tilting or wobbling movements. The bearings are available without and with inner rings. Bearings without inner rings are used when the shaft can be hardened and ground.
Combined needle bearings are radial bearings with a robust axial component. Combined needle bearings are used as support or fixed bearings and do not allow misalignment between the shaft and housing. The bearings are available without and with inner rings. Bearings without inner rings are used when the shaft can be hardened and ground.
Inner rings are used as rolling element or sealing lip raceways when the shaft cannot serve this purpose. For larger axial displacements between shaft and housing, the wider inner rings can be used.