Bearing assembly

• US 5,642,945 A
• Filed: 08/04/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Abe, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US08/511,615
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 384/523, 384/527, 384/528, 384/531, 384/533, 384/470
• US Class Current: 384/470
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2370/12 Hard disk drives or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/416 made from plastic, e.g. injection moulded comb cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/418 Details of individual pockets, e.g. shape or ball retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6614 in recesses or cavities provided in retainers, races or rolling elements

Abstract

A ball bearing assembly is provided with a ball retainer having a radially extending guide portion that serves to guide the ball retainer relative to either an inner or an outer ring of the ball bearing assembly. The ball retainer is provided with a series of ball pockets with each of the ball pockets having a central cylindrical portion that transitions smoothly into inner and outer portions having spherical configurations. The diameter of the central cylindrical portion is smaller than the diameters of the inner and outer spherical portions. The configurations of the ball pockets ensures that a clearance will be maintained between each of the balls and the edge portions of the ball pockets even when the ball retainer is deflected relative to the inner and outer rings of the ball bearing assembly. The internal configuration of the ball pockets ensures that the amount of lubricant retained within the ball pockets is optimized. The optimization of the amount of lubricant retained within the ball pockets results in a desired level of frictional torque generated by the ball bearing assembly and the elimination of abnormal noises generated during high speed rotation of the ball bearing assembly.

Claims

1. A ball bearing assembly comprising:

an inner ring;

an outer ring;

a plurality of balls disposed between said inner and outer rings;

an annular ball retainer mounted between said inner and outer rings with a portion of said annular retainer forming a radially extending shoulder for guiding said annular retainer relative to one of said inner ring or said outer ring;

said annular retainer defining a plurality of pockets for supporting said balls in spaced relationship, with each of said pockets having a central cylindrical portion and inner and outer portions with spherical configurations such that said central cylindrical portion transitions smoothly into said inner and outer portions and such that the diameter of said central cylindrical portion is smaller than the diameters of the inner and outer portions so that a clearance is always maintained between said inner and outer portions of said pockets and associated balls when said ball retainer is deflected relative to said inner and outer rings.