How roller bearing (Timken) came about

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ranger Mike
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bearing Roller
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The roller bearing, which offers increased surface area and reduced friction, has a history spanning over 2000 years. The development of ball races began in the late 1860s for bicycles. Heinrich Hertz conducted pivotal elasticity calculations on ball and roller bearings between 1881 and 1882, establishing the foundational principles for reliable rolling bearings. Henry Timken, a German immigrant, founded the Timken Roller Bearing Company in 1899, enhancing rolling bearings and introducing tapered roller bearings for wheeled transport.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical elasticity principles
  • Familiarity with the history of mechanical engineering
  • Knowledge of bearing types, specifically roller and ball bearings
  • Awareness of the evolution of transportation technologies
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of classical elasticity as applied to mechanical systems
  • Explore the history and development of roller bearing technology
  • Study the innovations introduced by Henry Timken and their impact on transportation
  • Investigate modern applications of tapered roller bearings in various industries
USEFUL FOR

Mechanical engineers, historians of technology, and anyone interested in the evolution of transportation and bearing technology will benefit from this discussion.

Ranger Mike
Science Advisor
Messages
2,453
Reaction score
442
TL;DR
why roller bearing vs ball bearing
Roller bearing has more area, less friction and how it evolved.
 
Reply
  • Informative
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Juanda and Tom.G
Engineering news on Phys.org
Roller bearings have existed for more than 2000 years, ball races were developed and first employed in the late 1860s for bicycles.

Heinrich Hertz, now of frequency fame, was an experimental physicist and applied mathematician who did the classical elasticity calculations on ball and roller bearings, published in 1881-1882. He calculated the loads, deflection, and fatigue limits, that made reliable rolling bearings possible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_mechanics

Henry Timken, was a German immigrant to the USA, who improved rolling bearings and founded the Timken Roller Bearing Company in 1899. He applied the tapered roller bearings to wheeled transport.
 
Reply
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: Juanda, DeBangis21, Tom.G and 2 others
In my Michigan use Timken Roller Bearings advertised heavily. I can still sing the chorus of their jingle.
 

Similar threads

Cylindrical roller thrust bearing: Inherent sliders?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
1K
Struggling with one way roller mechanism
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
How to obtain Axial Load Capacity from Tapered Roller Bearings Catalog
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Clarification on McMaster Rollers
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Automotive Calculating radial and axial loads for a tapered roller bearing
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Cam forces acting on a linear motion bearing with nonlinear forces
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
Trying to estimate the force required to roll form a strip of aluminum
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Is the Power Calculation for Ring Roller Mechanics Conceptually Correct?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replace a Track roller bearing with a Sleeved Bush bearing
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Bearing loads for roller skates or skateboards
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K