The core function of the bearing sleeve is to provide a "supporting and protecting" precision match for the rotating shaft. Its functions are mainly reflected in:
● Bearing load and supporting rotation: this is its basic function. The shaft sleeve is sleeved on the rotating shaft to bear the radial load (i.e. the force perpendicular to the shaft direction) and provides a support surface with low friction for the rotation of the shaft. It can replace the rolling bearing with more complicated structure in some occasions (such as camshaft) with low rotating speed and large load but not requiring high rotating accuracy.
● Precise positioning to prevent movement: the shaft sleeve can accurately fix the shaft or gear and other parts on the preset position to prevent them from axial movement due to vibration during equipment operation (i.e. "movement"), to ensure accurate gear engagement and stable component operation.
● Sacrifice yourself and protect the main body: this is a very ingenious and economical design idea. The shaft sleeve is usually made of softer material than the shaft (such as copper alloy) and is low in cost and easy to replace. When inevitable wear occurs during equipment operation, wear will first occur on the shaft sleeve rather than the more valuable shaft itself. In this way, we only need to replace a cheap shaft sleeve, and the equipment can be restored as new, greatly reducing maintenance costs and downtime.
● Easy to assemble and disassemble, and loose the tolerance: in some complex box structures, it is very difficult to directly assemble the bearing. The installation of a bearing bush can greatly simplify the assembly and disassembly process. At the same time, the use of the bearing sleeve can reduce the requirements for the machining accuracy of the box to a certain extent and improve the production efficiency.
● Damping and noise reduction, auxiliary lubrication: the shaft sleeve made of soft material can absorb part of vibration and reduce operation noise. At the same time, the inner wall of the shaft sleeve is usually designed with an oil groove, which can store and distribute the lubricating oil during operation to ensure smooth rotation.
