Bearing assembly for electrical switch

A high-voltage electric switch comprising:

• a first electrical terminal configured to be supported on a frame member;
• a second electrical terminal configured to be supported on the frame member;
• a conducting member for providing electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal;
• and
• a shaft assembly supporting one of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal for pivoting movement to move the conducting member between a first position and a second position, the conducting member providing electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal while the conducting member is in the first position, electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal being interrupted while the conducting member is in the second position, the shaft assembly including a housing, a shaft extending at least partially through the housing and coupled to the one of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal, and a pair of bearing assemblies supporting rotation of the shaft relative to the housing, each of the bearing assemblies including,
• an inner race coupled to the shaft;
• an outer race including a body and a recess defined in the body;
• a cage including a planar body having a first planar side, an opposite second side, an outer radial edge, an inner radial edge, and a plurality of openings, the first planar side extending between the outer radial edge and the inner radial edge, the cage further including a plurality of projections protruding from the first planar side of the planar body, each projection of the plurality of projections includes a width less than a width of the first planar side between adjacent openings, the cage positioned between the inner race and the outer race, a thickness of the planar body between the first planar side and the second side being less than a distance between the outer radial edge and the inner radial edge of the planar body each of the plurality of projections including an inner end and an outer end disposed radially outwardly from the inner end, and each inner end being spaced apart radially outwardly from the inner radial edge, each of the plurality of openings includes an inner opening edge disposed radially within the outer radial edge and radially outward from the inner radial edge, wherein the outer radial edge and each inner opening edge at least partially form an outermost perimeter of the planar body:
• and
• a plurality of balls, each of the plurality of balls being received in an associated one of the plurality of openings, the plurality of balls positioned between the inner race and the outer race,
• wherein the cage is positionable within the recess such that the projections and the balls extend beyond an axial edge of the body of the outer race.

A high-voltage electric switch comprising:

• a first electrical terminal configured to be supported on a frame member;
• a second electrical terminal configured to be supported on the frame member;
• a conducting member for providing electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal;
• and
• a shaft assembly supporting one of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal for pivoting movement to move the conducting member between a first position and a second position, the conducting member providing electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal while the conducting member is in the first position, electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal being interrupted while the conducting member is in the second position, the shaft assembly including a housing, a shaft extending at least partially through the housing and coupled to the one of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal, and a pair of bearing assemblies supporting rotation of the shaft relative to the housing, each of the bearing assemblies including,
• an inner race coupled to the shaft;
• an outer race;
• a cage including a planar body having a first planar side, an opposite second side, an outer radial edge, an inner radial edge, and a plurality of openings, the first planar side extending between the outer radial edge and the inner radial edge, the cage further including a plurality of projections protruding from the first planar side of the planar body, each of the projections extends partially between the outer edge and the inner edge and includes a width less than a width of the first planar side between adjacent openings, a thickness at the inner radial edge of each projection being less than a thickness at the outer radial edge, the cage positioned between the inner race and the outer race each of the plurality of projections including an inner end and an outer end disposed radially outwardly from the inner end, and each inner end being spaced apart radially outwardly from the inner radial edge, each of the plurality of openings includes an inner opening edge disposed radially within the outer radial edge and radially outward from the inner radial edge, wherein the outer radial edge and each inner opening edge at least partially form an outermost perimeter of the planar body;
• and
• a plurality of balls, each of the plurality of balls being received in an associated one of the plurality of openings, the plurality of balls positioned between the inner race and the outer race.