Which statement correctly describes taper rolling bearings?

• A. They are designed for magnetic levitation.
• B. They use cylindrical rollers with equal diameter to length.
• C. They support radial loads only.
• D. They have tapered inner and outer ring raceways and tapered rollers designed to accommodate combined radial and axial loads.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how the geometry of tapered rolling bearings enables them to carry both radial and axial (thrust) loads. The inner and outer raceways are conical, and the rollers are tapered to match. This creates line contact and allows load components to be shared between radial and axial directions. The steeper the taper, the higher the axial load capacity, so these bearings are designed to handle combined loads in applications like wheel hubs and gearboxes.

Magnetic levitation isn’t part of this design. Cylindrical rollers with equal diameter to length describe a different bearing type that primarily handles radial loads and won’t provide the same thrust capability. A bearing that carries radial loads only ignores a fundamental feature of tapered designs, which is their ability to accommodate an axial load in addition to radial loading.