231 Series Spherical Roller Bearings

The 231 Series Spherical Roller Bearings are medium-thick, wide-section, double-row spherical roller bearings designed to deliver an optimal balance between load capacity and compact installation requirements. Positioned between the lightweight 230 series and the heavy-duty 232 series, the 231 series serves as a versatile, general-purpose solution for large-scale industrial equipment.

With an optimized outer ring thickness and advanced roller geometry, the 231 series provides enhanced load-bearing performance while maintaining a relatively compact cross-section. This makes it one of the most widely used bearing series in heavy-duty industrial applications where both durability and installation efficiency are critical.

The self-aligning spherical design enables automatic compensation for shaft deflection, mounting errors, and housing misalignment, ensuring stable operation even under continuous heavy-load conditions.

BY Bearings offers the 231 series in multiple cage configurations, including CC stamped steel cage, E optimized design, and CA/MB machined solid brass cages, supporting different speed, lubrication, and load requirements.

Bearing Designation Example

23160 CAK/W33

• 231 – Series code

• 2: Double-row spherical roller bearing

• 31: Medium-thick, wide-section, large-bore series

• 60 – Bore code

• Corresponds to a bore diameter of 300 mm

• CA – Machined split solid brass cage

• K – Tapered bore (1:12) for adapter sleeve mounting

• W33 – Outer ring lubrication groove and oil holes for centralized relubrication

• C4 – Extra-large internal clearance for high-temperature and heavy-load conditions

Features and Benefits

• Balanced Load and Weight Design

  The 231 series offers a balanced structural design, providing higher load capacity than the 230 series while remaining lighter and more compact than the 232 series.

• High Load-Carrying Performance

  Optimized double-row roller configuration enables stable performance under continuous heavy radial loads and low-frequency impact loads common in industrial environments.

• Superior Self-Aligning Capability

  The spherical raceway design accommodates shaft deflection and installation misalignment, ensuring smooth operation in large-scale rotating machinery.

• Wide Range of Industrial Sizes

  The 231 series covers a complete range of large bore sizes, making it a standard choice for metallurgical, mining, and heavy industrial applications.

• Reliable Continuous Operation

  Lubrication groove-equipped designs support centralized lubrication systems, making the series suitable for 24/7 continuous industrial production.

• Multiple Cage Options

  Available cage types (CC, E, CA, MB) allow customization for different speed, temperature, and lubrication requirements.

Typical Applications

The 231 Series Spherical Roller Bearings are widely used in heavy industrial and large rotating equipment, including:

• Cement rotary kiln support rollers

• Metallurgical hot rolling mill backup rolls

• Large mining ball mills

• Paper machine dryer cylinders

• Rotary drying furnaces

• Heavy-duty port conveyor pulleys

• Bulk material handling systems

• Large building material rotary equipment

• Industrial mixers and agitators

• Continuous processing rotary machinery

Technical Advantages

• Double-row spherical roller structure

• Medium-thick outer ring design for balanced performance

• High radial load capacity with moderate axial load capability

• Excellent self-aligning performance

• Centralized lubrication compatibility (W33 design)

• Suitable for heavy-load, low-speed applications

• Long service life with reduced maintenance requirements

• Flexible cage and clearance configurations

The 231 Series Spherical Roller Bearings are a reliable and versatile solution for medium-to-large industrial equipment requiring strong load capacity, stable alignment compensation, and long-term operational durability.