Bearing assembly with lubricant retainers

A bearing assembly comprising:

• an inner ring having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and opposing axial ends, the outer circumferential surface providing a bearing inner race;
• an outer ring disposed about the inner ring so as to define a bearing annular space, the outer ring having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and opposing, first and second axial ends, the inner circumferential surface providing a bearing outer race spaced radially outwardly from the bearing inner race, one of the bearing inner and outer rings being rotatable with respect to the other one of the bearing inner and outer rings about a central axis;
• a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings so as to roll simultaneously upon the inner and outer races;
• and
• first and second lubricant retainers, each one of the first and second retainers including an annular body having an outer radial end coupled with the outer ring and an inner radial end spaced radially outwardly from the inner bearing ring such that an annular gap is defined between the inner radial end of each retainer and the bearing inner ring, the gap being sized to permit lubricant to be directed into the bearing annular space from a source external to the bearing, the first retainer being disposed at least generally adjacent to the first axial end of the outer ring and the second retainer being disposed at least generally adjacent to the second axial end of the outer ring, the first and second lubricant retainers being configured such that lowermost portions of the first and second retainers retain the quantity of lubricant within the bearing annular space when both of the inner and outer rings are non-rotatable about the central axis;
• wherein the outer ring has a first annular groove extending radially outwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring and located adjacent to the first axial end of the outer ring, the outer radial end of the first retainer being disposed within the first annular groove, and a second annular groove extending radially outwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring and located adjacent to the second axial end of the outer ring, the outer radial end of the second lubricant retainer being disposed within the second annular groove;
• and
• wherein each one of the first and second lubricant retainers has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, deflectable arcuate engagement sections formed at the outer radial end of each one of the first and second retainers and configured to releasably engage with a separate one of the first and second annular grooves of the outer ring.

A bearing assembly comprising:

• an inner ring having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and opposing axial ends, the outer circumferential surface providing a bearing inner race;
• an outer ring disposed about the inner ring so as to define a bearing annular space, the outer ring having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and opposing, first and second axial ends, the inner circumferential surface providing a bearing outer race spaced radially outwardly from the bearing inner race, one of the bearing inner and outer rings being rotatable with respect to the other one of the bearing inner and outer rings about a central axis;
• a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings so as to roll simultaneously upon the inner and outer races;
• a radial barrier surface located adjacent to the first axial end of the outer ring, extending circumferentially about the central axis and extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the outer ring and toward the outer surface of the inner ring;
• and
• a lubricant retainer disposed at least generally adjacent to the second axial end of the outer ring, the retainer including an annular body having an outer radial end coupled with the outer ring and an inner radial end spaced radially outwardly or/and axially outwardly from the inner bearing ring such that an annular gap is defined between the inner radial end of the retainer and the bearing inner ring, the retainer and the barrier surface being configured to retain a quantity of liquid lubricant within the bearing annular space.