The principle of bearings has been around for as long as the Pyramids of Giza. Bearings enable easy smooth movement between two objects, and the builders of the pyramids applied this principle by using rolling tree trunks laid under planks to move heavy loads in the construction of these wonders of the ancient world.
Early bearings were linear (allowing movement in a straight line, like the opening and closing of a drawer) and were made of wood, stone, sapphire, and glass. However, advances in technology demanded new and improved bearings to allow smoother mechanical movement.
In 1907 Swede Sven Wingquist (1876-1953) patented a design for a multi-row self-aligning ball bearing. Made of steel to lower friction, the bearing comprised two rows of balls in a concave raceway. Wingquist's design was structurally superior to earlier bearing designs and was rotary—allowing motion around a center, such as in wheel axles. Self-alignment meant the bearings had the lowest friction of all rolling bearings allowing them to run at high speeds and still keep cool. The self-aligning quality of the ball bearing also meant it could absorb some shaft misalignment without lowering its endurance. The ball bearing has come to be thought of as emblematic of the Machine Age of the 1920s and 1930s.
Wingquist's company SKF (Svenska Kullager- fabriken AB) was founded on the patent, and is now the world's largest bearing manufacturer. SKF are looking to produce energy-efficient bearings that will reduce the energy consumption of machines by up to 30 percent.
