Toroidal roller bearings for paper machines and high-load applications

New toroidal roller bearings for paper machines have been developed to compensate for high loads, shaft deflection, and thermally induced axial expansion in high-speed paper industry applications. The bearing technology combines characteristics of spherical roller bearings and cylindrical roller bearings within a modular 2-in-1 design.

Rolling bearing technology for extreme operating conditions
Paper machines place high demands on rolling bearings, including exposure to moisture, high temperatures, vibration, high rotational speeds, and long maintenance intervals. FAG TORB toroidal roller bearings were specifically developed for applications such as dryer and Yankee cylinders as well as press and thermo rolls.

The bearings function as non-locating bearings and are typically combined with spherical roller bearings as locating bearings. This configuration enables compensation of thermal expansion and misalignment within shaft support systems while extending overall system service life.

Compensation of shaft deflection and axial displacement
The TORB raceway profile provides optimized stress distribution and reduces friction during operation. The self-aligning positioning of the rolling elements distributes the load evenly across the full roller length, improving stability and running behavior.

The bearing design enables nearly friction-free compensation of axial displacement of up to ±10 percent of the bearing width. In addition, angular misalignment of up to 0.5° can be compensated without negatively affecting load capacity or expected bearing life.

This allows effective compensation of shaft deflection and alignment errors in high-performance machinery. At the same time, the bearings reduce axial vibrations throughout the system and contribute to low-noise and low-vibration operation.

High radial load capacity and reduced operating costs
The specialized internal geometry of the toroidal roller bearings provides high radial load capacity for continuously demanding applications. X-life premium quality reduces friction losses and contributes to lower lubricant and energy consumption.

By combining lower friction, reduced vibration, and increased load capability, the bearing technology supports higher machine availability and extended maintenance intervals. This directly affects the total cost of ownership (TCO) of paper machines.

ISO-compatible portfolio for industrial interchangeability
The portfolio includes multiple series for shaft diameters ranging from 75 mm to 850 mm. Additional sizes are available on request. The bearings are manufactured as catalog products in standardized ISO dimension series and are interchangeable with commonly used market solutions.

The main dimensions comply with DIN 616:2000 and ISO 15:2017 standards. Versions are available with cylindrical or tapered bores as well as variants with case-hardened inner rings. Bearing clearance classes include CN, C3, and C4.

The bearings are designed for operating temperatures up to +200 °C, addressing applications with high thermal loads in paper production and power transmission systems.

Applications in paper production and process industries
In addition to conventional paper machines, the bearings are suitable for industrial applications involving high radial loads, axial movement, and shaft deflection. Typical application areas include process plants, thermo rolls, energy-intensive production lines, and industrial drive systems.

By combining different bearing technologies within an integrated rolling bearing portfolio, Schaeffler supports operators in reducing unplanned downtime and optimizing machine availability and paper quality, even at high production speeds.

Additional Context: technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original announcement
In the toroidal roller bearing segment, manufacturers such as SKF with its CARB bearing technology offer comparable solutions for applications involving combined axial displacement and misalignment. These bearing technologies are widely used in paper machines, wind turbines, and heavy industrial systems.

Key benchmarking parameters in this market segment include maximum radial load capacity, axial displacement compensation capability, allowable misalignment angle, friction behavior, and temperature resistance. High-performance variants typically support operating temperatures between 150 °C and 250 °C and large shaft dimensions for heavy-duty applications.

The presented solution is differentiated primarily by the combination of ISO-compatible interchangeability, axial displacement compensation of up to ±10 percent of bearing width, support for large shaft diameters up to 850 mm, and integration into a comprehensive rolling bearing portfolio for paper machines and industrial process systems.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

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