8482.40.00.00 - Needle roller bearings, including cage and needle roller assemblies

HTS Code 8482.40.00.00 specifically classifies needle roller bearings. These bearings are characterized by their use of long, thin cylindrical rollers (needles) which are typically much longer than their diameter. This design allows for a high load-carrying capacity within a compact radial space. This category also encompasses assemblies where these needle rollers are integrated with a cage, or full needle roller assemblies, which maintain the precise alignment and spacing of the needles.

Distinguishing needle roller bearings from their siblings, ball bearings (8482.10) utilize spherical rolling elements, while tapered roller bearings (8482.20.00) feature conical rollers and races designed to handle combined radial and axial loads. Spherical roller bearings (8482.30.00) are designed with barrel-shaped rollers and are self-aligning. Other cylindrical roller bearings (8482.50.00.00) use cylindrical rollers but typically have a larger diameter relative to their length compared to needle rollers. Combined ball/roller bearings (8482.80.00) incorporate both types of rolling elements.

As a leaf node within the HTS structure, 8482.40.00.00 does not have further subdivisions. Therefore, classification within this code relies on identifying the core characteristics of needle roller bearings, including their needle-shaped rollers and integrated cage or full assembly. Exclusions from this category would typically be any bearings that do not exclusively utilize needle rollers as their primary rolling element.