Self-aligning ball bearings have a spherical outer ring raceway, the center of whose curvature meets that of the bearing itself, so that the inner ring, balls and cage continue to rotate, aligning themselves if they have become misaligned within design limits.

 

This type of bearing is suitable when the displacement of the centers around which the shaft and housing rotate and shaft deflection are likely to occur.

 

Bearings with a tapered bore can easily be fit to the shaft with an adapter assembly.