Abstract: A tapered roller bearing comprising inner and outer members and a plurality of frusto-conical rolling elements interposed between the members has means for controlling the skew angle of the rolling elements during operation of the bearing to lower overall friction in the bearing and to increase its service life. The profiles of the rolling elements and raceways are designed for skewing the rolling elements at a predetermined angle to cause the rolling elements to slide relative to the raceways during operation of the bearing. Optimum bearing performance is obtained when the element in the load zone is disposed at a positive skew angle which, by definition, occurs when the rotational axis of the rolling element and the bearing axis are not coplanar and the axial component of an external load applied to a bearing raceway tends to be counteracted by an oppositely directed axial component of a friction force applied to that raceway by the rolling element.

Abstract: A bearing comprising inner and outer members having inner and outer raceways spaced apart to define an annular space, a plurality of rolling elements in the annular space between the raceways, said rolling elements adapted to engage said members at inner and outer raceway contact zones, and means operable during operation of the bearing to cause at least the rolling elements in the load zone to assume a non-negative skew angle within a predetermined angular range; said rolling elements having a skew angle when the rolling element axis and the axis of the bearing are not coplanar and said skew angle being positive when the friction force components in the axial direction arising in each contact between a rolling element and said raceways and acting on the rolling element are so directed that they add onto or are codirectional to the axial component of the normal contact force load carried by said rolling element at that contact.

Abstract: A bearing comprising inner and outer members such as rings having inner and outer raceways spaced apart to define an annular space therebetween and a plurality of rolling elements in the annular space. A cage circumferentially spaces the rolling elements. Skew control means associated with the cage operates during operation of the bearing for a predetermined relative movement of the rings and rollers, to cause at least the rollers in the load zone to assume a nonnegative skew angle within a predetermined angular range. The rollers have a skew angle when the roller axis and the axis of the bearing are not coplanar. The skew angle is defined as being positive when the friction force components in the axial direction arising between the rollers and raceways and acting on a raceway are so directed that they counteract the axial load component of the external load acting on said raceway.