In the self-aligning ball bearing, two rows of rolling elements are supported in two raceway grooves in the inner ring. The raceway on the outer ring has a curved form. The cage combines the two rows of balls and the inner ring to form a unit that can align itself by swivelling relative to the outer ring.

Due to the curved raceway on the outer ring, self-aligning ball bearings are tolerant of misalignment between the shaft and housing and deflections of the shaft. They can thus compensate static and dynamic angular defects within certain angular limits in a rotating shaft system.

They are used particularly in sectors such as agricultural machinery, conveying equipment, simple woodworking machinery and ventilators.

Self-aligning ball bearings are better suited to higher speeds on account of their point contact, than barrel roller bearings with line contact. The bearings run more quietly and at lower temperatures than bearings with comparable specified characteristics.