Tapered roller bearings comprise an outer and inner ring with tapered raceways as well as tapered rollers in a window cage. These are single row individual bearings, usually of open design, which for technical reasons are always adjusted against a second tapered roller bearing in a mirror image arrangement. Open bearings are not self-retaining. As a result, the inner ring with the rollers and the cage can be mounted separately from the outer ring.

Tapered roller bearings can support high radial and axial loads in equal measure. Depending on the arrangement, they are suitable when precise axial guidance of the shaft is required (locating bearing function), or when the bearing arrangement must have very high axial rigidity and be operated clearance-free or under preload.

Tapered roller bearings are available as:

• single row tapered roller bearings of standard design
• matched tapered roller bearings (fitted in pairs in X, O or tandem arrangement, open design)
• integral tapered roller bearings (fitted in pairs, sealed on one side, not separable).