THRUST BEARINGS
SE / SEmSelf equalising thrust bearings
Eight tilting thrust pads. A continuous equalising linkage. A compact split assembly that distributes thrust around the collar while maintaining the axial position of the shaft.
THE DESIGN
Self equalising thrust bearings.
The SE bearing combines retained tilting pads with a closed ring of mechanical equalising segments. The linkage transfers the thrust from the pad faces to the machine seating and evens the pressure around the thrust surface. Each half assembly can be handled with its pads retained in position. Explore separate metric SEm and English SE dimensional ranges, each with its stated units.
INSIDE THE BEARING
Construction & operating principle
01Equalisation
Upper and lower segments form a continuous pivoting linkage beneath the thrust pads. This distributes load between pads without using a spring mounted thrust arrangement.
02Centre and offset pivots
Centre pivots are the standard catalogue arrangement. Offset pivots promote a thicker, cooler oil film in the intended direction of rotation. Include reverse rotation and its operating duty in the technical enquiry.
03Split construction
Thrust pads are positively retained in the ring. Half assemblies can be handled during installation, and lifting holes are described for SE10.5 and larger sizes.
04Axial adjustment
Optional steel liners are secured behind the retaining ring and supplied with machining allowance. Nominal finished and supplied liner thicknesses are separate from bearing thickness f.
Flooded or directed oil supply
In a flooded arrangement, oil circulates around the collar and pads. In the low-loss arrangement, oil enters an annulus and is directed through angled jet holes towards the leading edges of the pads. Oil leaving the trailing edges drains away. Reduced collar churning lowers power loss; the actual benefit depends on the operating duty.
Explore shaft, collar & ring-stop details
THE DIMENSIONAL RANGE
Explore. Filter. Select.
Choose directly from the dimensional table. Select a bearing for its full dimensions and technical details.
Read the drawing with the table.
The drawing symbols correspond to the dimensional table. Fit limits, signed deviations and clearances are shown explicitly.
10 entries SE / SEm · Metric table
| Bearing reference | Shaftmm | Specialmm | Areamm² | MPDmm | amm | bmm | cmm | dmm | emm | fmm | gmm | hmm | Housingmm | Shortlist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 63.5 | 8023 | 100.4 | 127 | 63.5 | 70 | 129 | 136.53 (-0.05 / -0.09) | 44.45 ± 0.13 | 12.7 | 23.8 | 136.53 (+0.03 / +0) | ||
| 70 | 76.2 | 11553 | 120.48 | 152.4 | 76.2 | 82.5 | 151 | 161.93 (-0.05 / -0.09) | 52.4 ± 0.13 | 14.2 | 28.8 | 161.93 (+0.03 / +0) | ||
| 83 | 88.9 | 15537 | 140.06 | 177 | 88.9 | 95 | 171.5 | 187.33 (-0.05 / -0.09) | 60.33 ± 0.13 | 17.5 | 31.68 | 187.33 (+0.04 / +0) | ||
| 96 | 101.6 | 20835 | 160.96 | 204 | 101.6 | 109.5 | 193.5 | 212.73 (-0.05 / -0.1) | 68.28 ± 0.13 | 20.5 | 35.06 | 212.73 (+0.05 / +0) | ||
| 108 | 114.3 | 25994 | 180.72 | 228.6 | 114.3 | 124 | 219 | 238.12 (-0.05 / -0.1) | 76.2 ± 0.13 | 22.2 | 39.71 | 238.12 (+0.05 / +0) | ||
| 127 | 133.35 | 35380 | 210.84 | 266.7 | 133.35 | 144.5 | 254 | 279.400 (-0.05 / -0.1) | 85.73 ± 0.13 | 25.4 | 44.45 | 279.400 (+0.05 / +0) | ||
| 140 | 152.4 | 46211 | 240.97 | 304.8 | 152.4 | 165 | 294 | 317.5 (-0.05 / -0.1) | 95.25 ± 0.13 | 30.2 | 47.59 | 317.5 (+0.05 / +0) | ||
| 159 | 171.45 | 58486 | 271.090 | 342.9 | 171.45 | 185.6 | 330 | 355.6 (-0.05 / -0.12) | 107.95 ± 0.13 | 36.5 | 52.4 | 355.6 (+0.08 / +0) | ||
| 178 | 190.5 | 72206 | 301.210 | 381 | 190.5 | 206 | 368 | 393.7 (-0.05 / -0.12) | 117.48 ± 0.13 | 35 | 61.84 | 393.7 (+0.08 / +0) | ||
| 200 | 215.9 | 92744 | 341.37 | 431.8 | 215.9 | 233 | 419 | 447.67 (-0.05 / -0.12) | 133.35 ± 0.13 | 46 | 63.54 | 447.67 (+0.08 / +0) |
Dimensions use the units shown in each column. “—” indicates a value that is not applicable or is available on request. Fit limits and signed deviations retain their distinct meanings. Absolute limit filters use the upper limit.
UNDERSTAND THE RANGE
Catalogue load characteristics
Tabulated normal operating thrust load against shaft diameter, for the current table and condition.
Offset pivot · normal operation · tabulated load characteristics
OPERATING PERFORMANCE
Selection & performance charts
Bearing performance curves with their operating conditions and units.
Graph A basis. ISO VG 46 oil, 46 cSt at 40°C. Amber curves show offset pivots and blue curves show centre pivots; labels identify the SE size. Loads are shown in lbf. Consult Michell outside the stated limits and in the marked low-speed region where higher oil viscosity may be needed.
Read curves with their stated operating conditions. Request calculated performance for your actual speed, load, lubricant and temperature; chart readings support preliminary selection.
ENGINEERING GUIDANCE
Technical guide
Explore the materials, operating requirements and arrangement details for SE / SEm bearings.
Preliminary selection and operating conditions
Select the thrust ring against both the required thrust load and collar speed, then check the available shaft diameter and installation space. Centre and offset pivots have separate operating limits.
The preliminary selection curves use ISO VG 46 oil, with a viscosity of 46 cSt at 40°C. Duties outside the indicated operating limits, including the low-speed region, require an engineering assessment and may require a different oil viscosity.
- State the normal, starting and peak thrust loads, shaft speed and direction, oil grade, inlet temperature and inlet pressure. Identify a special large-shaft arrangement explicitly.
Power loss and cooling oil
Oil-film shear and collar-rim churning are separate contributions to power loss. The following relationships are approximate guides for the stated lubrication arrangement.
HP₁ is the shear-loss contribution, HP₂ is the collar-rim contribution and K₃ is the oil-viscosity correction factor. The collar-rim relationship uses ISO VG 46 oil at 40°C as its reference condition.
- Flooded double thrust bearing
- Total power loss = HP₁ + 2 × (HP₂ × K₃).
- Flooded single thrust bearing
- Total power loss = 0.95 × HP₁ + 1.5 × (HP₂ × K₃).
- Low-loss double thrust bearing
- Total power loss = HP₁.
- Low-loss single thrust bearing
- Total power loss = 0.95 × HP₁.
- The approximate cooling-oil quantity assumes 40°C inlet oil and a 17°C rise between inlet and outlet.
- A low-loss double thrust bearing requires twice the oil quantity of a low-loss single thrust bearing because each thrust face has a separate oil feed.
- Ask our engineers to establish oil-film thickness, temperature, power loss and oil quantity for the actual duty.
Axial adjustment and liners
Optional steel adjusting liners are secured behind the retaining ring by countersunk screws. They provide a means of setting the axial position of the thrust face relative to the machine housing.
Liners are supplied with machining allowance for finishing during machine assembly. The supplied thickness, nominal finished thickness and bearing thickness f are separate dimensions; use the selected size and unit range when checking the axial stack.
Materials used in standard manufacture
The ASTM and DIN designations are near equivalents to the British materials; composition and properties can differ.
- Retaining ring and adjusting liners
- Steel: BS 970-070 M20 / ASTM A576 AISI C1022 / Werkstoff No. 1,0724; or BS 4360 GR43A / ASTM A284 GR B.
- Thrust-pad steel
- BS 4360 GR43A / ASTM A284 GR B; or BS 3146 CL A13 / AISI 4615.
- Thrust-pad whitemetal
- BS 3332/2 / ASTM B23 GR2 / DIN 1703 Lg Sn 89.
- Retaining-ring stops
- Steel: BS 970-080 M40 / AISI 1039 or 1040 / Werkstoff No. 1,5038.
- Equalising segments
- Steel: BS 3146 CL A13 / AISI 4615.
Understanding the bearing code
- SE / SEm
- The type and size identify the English or metric range; m denotes the metric version.
- F / D
- F: flooded housing. D: directed, low-loss lubrication.
- L / R / C
- L: left-hand rotation. R: right-hand rotation. C: centre-pivoted pads.
- H / W
- H: retaining ring in halves. W: whole retaining ring.
- A / B
- A: without adjusting liners. B: with adjusting liners.
- Give the number of thrust rings required and the duty for each face. Code meanings describe the requested arrangement; our engineers confirm the complete bearing specification.
BEFORE YOU SELECT
Technical notes
- 01
Standard and special shaft limits are distinct. A special pad bore changes the thrust surface area and load capacity; request a rating for the selected shaft arrangement.
- 02
Normal operating thrust ratings distinguish centre and offset pivots. Check speed, temperature, oil supply, start-up and reverse duty as well as the tabulated load.
- 03
English SE dimensions use inches, square inches and pounds-force. Select the required range and units before comparing dimensions.
- 04
Overall thickness f carries its own symmetric tolerance: ±0.13 mm in the metric table and ±0.005 in in the English table. Ring and housing deviations remain signed deviations about their nominal diameter.