SKF has developed a bearing carrier unit for main and layshaft bearings in gearboxes. The unit decouples the bearing from the housing, thus giving a stiff and firm bearing position in spite of the housing’s thermal expansion. Also, force and torque from the two shafts are transmitted to a large surface of the housing. Another advantage is lower assembly cost.

The bearing unit consists of two specially designed, sealed, deep groove ball bearings pressed into a sheet metal carrier. The bearings are neither mounted nor located in the gearbox housing, but rather contained in the carrier plate. This plate positions the bearings relative to each other and transmits the forces and bending moments of the shaft to the housing.