Bearing Housings & Pillow Block Bearings
The bearing housing is the part that decides how long a conveyor idler or pulley actually lasts. It carries the shaft, holds the bearing, and — most importantly — keeps abrasive dust and washdown water out of the grease.
A bearing housing (also called a pillow block bearing, or a pillow bearing, in mirrored or foot-mounted form) is the sealed cartridge that supports a rotating shaft — the shaft of a conveyor roller or a pulley. It holds the bearing, the grease, and the seal system in one unit that presses into the roller end cap. On a conveyor, the housing is the difference between a roller that runs for years and one that seizes in a dusty month.
Common housing types
- TK housing — the standard stamped-steel cartridge for conveyor idlers (TK bearing housing). Pressed into the roller shell, sealed for life.
- Flanged / piloted housing — a bolt-on block with a flange that centres on the mounting face; used on pulleys and fixed shafts.
- Take-up / hanger housing — a pillow block with a slot or ring for shaft adjustment, used where the shaft position must move.
- Cast iron vs pressed steel — heavier duty blocks in cast iron for large shafts; light pressed steel for high-volume idlers.
Seals: labyrinth vs contact
The seal is the housing's real job. A labyrinth seal uses a maze of non-contact grooves to block dust and water with no friction — ideal for dry, abrasive plants. A contact (rubber lip) seal physically wipes the shaft and suits wet or washdown duty but adds a little drag. Many of our bearing housings combine both: a labyrinth ahead of a contact lip for mixed conditions.
How housing choice sets roller life
Most idler failures start at the seal, not the bearing. A housing with the right seal for your dust or water level keeps grease in and grit out, so the bearing runs to its rated L10 life. Specifying the wrong seal — a contact lip in a dry, abrasive mine, say — lets fine dust grind the bearing in weeks. We match the seal to the duty, not a one-size housing.
Sizing and materials
Housings are sized to shaft diameter and the radial load from belt tension and lump weight. Shell and cap material is pressed steel (idlers) or cast iron (pulleys); seals are steel-backed with a polymer or felt lip. For corrosive duty, specify stainless or coated housings and non-contact labyrinth seals throughout.
Related HBXM components
Frequently asked questions
What is a bearing housing on a conveyor?
A bearing housing is the sealed cartridge that supports the shaft of a conveyor idler or pulley. It holds the bearing and grease and — critically — seals out dust and water. The TK housing is the common stamped-steel type used in idlers.
What is the difference between a pillow block and a bearing housing?
They are the same component described two ways: a 'pillow block' is the foot-mounted block shape, while 'bearing housing' describes the sealed unit that carries the bearing. On conveyors the pressed TK cartridge is the usual form.
Labyrinth or contact seal for idler bearings?
Use a non-contact labyrinth seal for dry, abrasive duty (mines, cement) — it blocks dust with no friction. Use a contact (rubber lip) seal for wet or washdown duty. Many housings combine both for mixed conditions.
How do I choose a conveyor bearing housing?
Match it to shaft diameter, radial load, and the seal duty of your site. The seal choice — labyrinth vs contact — matters more than the block style, because most idler failures start at the seal letting grit into the grease.
Need a matched bill of materials?
Send us your belt width, speed and material — we size the full idler and pulley string.
Contact our engineers