This INA thrust needle roller and cage assembly has a steel cage and is suitable for applications with high dynamic loads in one direction. It has a smaller cross-section than a standard thrust bearing for use in restricted spaces. The steel cage provides guidance and even spacing of the rollers for reduced friction, vibration, and noise when operated at high speeds. The needle rollers are made of through-hardened, high-carbon chromium steel for durability and heat tolerance under heavy loads. This thrust needle roller and cage assembly meets American Bearing Manufacturers Association standard ABMA 21.2-1988 for quality assurance, and is used in various applications, such as automotive and truck transmissions, agricultural and construction equipment, pumps and compressors, and two-cycle engines, among others.
Roller bearings use rolling elements to maintain a separation between moving parts to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. These elements can be one of the following types: ball, cylindrical, spherical, barrel, needle, spindle, or tapered. Roller bearings can be open on both ends (a shaft can pass through) or open on one end and closed on the other. An open end can be sealed or shielded to protect the bearing from solid contaminants and moisture that could reduce its lifespan. If an end is sealed, the sealing component is an elastomer lip that contacts the shaft. If it is shielded, the shielding is a non-contact lip, usually made of metal. Rolling bearings are used in a range of applications from agricultural machinery to conveying equipment, robotics, dental equipment, elevators, rolling mills, ship rudder shafts, and aggregate crushers, among others.
INA manufactures bearings for automotive and industrial applications. The company is part of the Schaeffler Group, founded in 1946 in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and meets International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards 9001:2008 and TS 16949:2009 for quality assurance.