8482.91.00.50 - Tapered rollers

This classification covers tapered rollers, which are essential components used in various types of bearings, most notably tapered roller bearings. These rollers are characterized by their conical shape, meaning their diameter gradually increases or decreases along their length. This geometry allows them to accommodate both radial and axial loads simultaneously, making them suitable for heavy-duty applications such as in automotive wheel hubs, industrial machinery, and railway axle boxes. The material composition typically involves hardened steel alloys to withstand significant stress and wear.

Tapered rollers are distinguished from their siblings by their unique conical form. Unlike "Balls" (8482.91.00.00) which are spherical, or "Needles" (8482.91.00.40) which are cylindrical and have a very small diameter, tapered rollers possess a distinct taper. Similarly, they differ from "Other cylindrical rollers" (8482.91.00.80) in that they are not uniformly cylindrical and from "Spherical rollers" (8482.91.00.70) which are barrel-shaped with a curved profile. The specific tapering angle and dimensions are critical in determining the load-carrying capacity and operational characteristics of the bearing system.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subdivisions within the HTS classification for tapered rollers. Therefore, classification under 8482.91.00.50 is definitive for components that are specifically designed and manufactured as tapered rollers for use in bearings, irrespective of their specific dimensions or steel alloy composition, provided they are not more specifically classified elsewhere within the tariff schedule.