Ball bearing
part · 1869 · Industrial Revolution
A bearing in which sliding friction is replaced by rolling balls. Jules Suriray’s 1869 patent was for the bicycle.
Principles and materials it uses
- Friction — uses. A bearing replaces sliding friction with far lower rolling friction.
- Steel — is made of. The rings and balls are made of bearing steel.
Where it is used
- Kick scooter — is part of. A scooter’s wheels turn on ball bearings.
- Bicycle wheel — is part of. The wheel hub turns on ball bearings.
- Car — is part of. The wheel hubs turn on bearings.
- Electric motor — is part of. The rotor turns on bearings.
- Crankshaft — is part of. The main journals of the shaft are bearings (in combustion engines usually plain bearings).
- Road wheel — is part of. The road wheels turn on bearings.
- Conveyor belt — is part of. The rollers turn on bearings.
- Bogie — is part of. Axle boxes with roller bearings.
- Skateboard — is part of. Wheels on bearings.
- Roller skates — is part of. Bearings.
- Hard disk drive — is part of. Bearings (later fluid-dynamic ones).
- Ballpoint pen — is part of. A ball in a socket — essentially a ball bearing.
- Washing machine — is part of. Drum bearings.
- CT scanner — is part of. The gantry turns on a bearing.
- Wheelchair — is part of. Bearings.
- Penny-farthing — is part of. Bearings.
- Joint replacement — is part of. A “ball in a cup” joint — like a plain bearing.
- Wheeled suitcase — is part of. Wheel bearings.
- Revolving door — is part of. The axis.
- Base isolation — is part of. Friction pendulum bearings.
- Trackball — is part of. The ball rotates on supports.
- Bicycle — is part of. Ball bearings in the hubs and bottom bracket let the wheels and pedals spin easily.
- Electric generator — is part of. Shaft bearings.
- Induction motor — is part of. Bearings.
- Gyroscope — is part of. Legs.