An Analysis of the Flow of Oil Through a Tapered Roller Bearing

A theoretical analysis, based on boundary layer theory, is presented to predict the oil pumping ability of a tapered roller bearing. The momentum integrals for an assumed laminar boundary layer about the I.D. circumference of the outer race (cup) are derived and solved numerically. The resulting equations predict that the head, flow and viscous torque generated are dependent upon the bearing’s speed and geometry, as well as the viscosity and density of the oil in the bearing.