In spherical roller thrust bearings the load is transmitted from one raceway to the other at an angle to the bearing axis The bearings are therefore suitable to accommodate radial loads in addition to simultaneously acting axial loads. Another important characteristic of spherical roller thrust bearings is their self-aligning capability. This makes the bearings insensitive to shaft deflection and misalignment of the shaft relative to the housing.
Spherical roller thrust bearings incorporate a large number of asymmetrical rollers and have specially designed raceways with an optimum conformity. They can therefore support very heavy axial loads and permit relatively high speed operation.