keep the three inner rings in contact with the driveshaft. Force on the upper, central ring is balanced by compressive forces on two lower, flanking rings. A four-ring actuator has two upper rings instead of one. Inner rings rotate with the shaft and outer rings are fixed to the translating housing. Inner rings set at an oblique angle to the driveshaft. Friction between the inner rings and rotating driveshaft produce axial thrust to drive the rings and attached housing. Direction of travel (and thrust) can be reversed with a simple mechanical switch. The switch flips rings to their mirror image angle at the desired reversal points. This action is triggered automatically by the motion of the actuator itself (again, through the application of friction and compression), and requires no external devices. And direction reversal
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Products & Services
Retaining Rings and Snap Rings
Retaining rings and snap rings are fasteners used to axially position a component on a shaft or in a bore.
Ceramic Bearings
Ceramic hybrid bearings, the most common type of ceramic bearing, are constructed of steel inner and outer rings with ceramic (typically Si3N4) balls in place of steel.  Common types of ceramic bearings are angular contact and conrad.
Thrust Bearings
Thrust bearings are designed for pure thrust loads, and can handle little or no radial load. The rolling element in a thrust bearing can be a ball, needle or roller.
Bearing Rings, Housings, and Flanges
Bearing rings, housings and flanges are bearing components that are used in the assembly of many different types of bearings. Bearing rings, which are sometimes referred to as bearing races, guide a rolling element such as a ball, roller, or needle roller. Bearing housings and flanges hold an insert bearing in position, support the load transferred from the bearing shaft through the bearing, and are used to mount the bearing to a surface.

Product Announcements
EZO SPB-USA, LLC - Precision Thrust Bearings
SPB-USA is a recognized leader in the manufacturing of precision thrust bearings in inch and metric dimension. All bearings are available in 52100 Chrome Steel or 440 Stainless Steel. (read more)
EZO SPB-USA, LLC - EZO Thrust Bearings from SPB-USA
SPB-USA is a recognized leader in the manufacturing of precision thrust bearings in inch and metric dimension. All EZO bearings are available in 52100 Chrome Steel or 440 Stainless Steel. (read more)
MW Industries - Rings
From clock springs to wire forms, coiled springs to washers & Bellevilles, constant and variable force to stamping and fourslide, electronic hardware to flat springs, racing components to SEMS or... (read more)
MW Industries - Coiled Rings & Snap Rings - Made in the USA
Diameters up to 40". MWI divisions utilize both coiling and stamping processes to manufacture rings. Our in-house wire shape rolling & ring grinding capabilities provide close tolerance rings... (read more)
SKF/North America - Slewing Rings & Turntable Bearings - Custom
SKF...Slewing bearings are large-sized bearings specifically designed to accommodate oscillating movements. They are comprised of an inner ring and an outer ring, one of which usually incorporates a... (read more)
Ringfeder Power Transmission USA Corporation - Standard Friction Springs
Ringfeder® Friction Springs consist of separate inner and outer mating tapered rings which stack together to form a column according to the customer's wish. These RING-spring® units are repeatedly... (read more)

Topics of Interest

Engineers can get rid of clutches, cams, and other mechanical controls by using rolling-ring bearings in autoreversing motion-control systems. Machines that turn, eject, cut, and spray rely on...

Cylindrical roller bearings have high radial capacity. Their low friction permits operation at high speed, and thrust loads of some magnitude can be carried through the flange-roller end contacts.

bearings are the most widely used ball bearings. In addition to radial loads, they carry substantial thrust loads at high speeds, in either direction. They require careful alignment between shaft and...

Retaining Rings for Tight Spaces Hoop-style retaining rings are well suited for use with cylinders and thin-wall tubing. The shaft or housing, not the ring, usually limits load capacity. Hoop-style...

Spiral-wound retaining rings consist of one or more turns of rectangular edge-wound wire. This provides a coil which can be installed or removed using automatic equipment or simple hand tools. When...