Prong Cage for an Angular Contact Ball Bearing and Method for Assembling an Angular Contact Ball Bearing
AssigneeThe Timken Company
InventorsFrank J. Damato, James M. Sanville
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An angular contact ball bearing cylindrical retainer element (100) with a reduced mass, reduced axial width, and a rigid “crown” shape. The rigid crown shape of the cylindrical retainer element (100) defines a plurality of uniformly spaced cylindrical ball receiving pockets (104) about the circumference of the cylindrical retainer (100), each receiving pocket partially open to a slot (108) on an axial end of the retainer (100) and enclosed at an opposite axial end to define a continuous axial side rail (110).
Claims15
An improved angular contact ball bearing retainer (100) configured for use in a bearing assembly (10) having an inner ring (10A), an outer ring (10B), and a plurality of ball elements (12) disposed there between, comprising:
- a cylindrical retainer body (102);
- a plurality of radially directed cylindrical ball pockets (104) arrayed around the circumference of the retainer body (102), an axis (X) of each cylindrical ball pocket (104) intersecting an axial centerline of the retainer body (102);
- wherein a sidewall (106) of each cylindrical ball pocket (104) includes a slot (108) which opens to one axial end of the retainer (100);
- wherein an outer surface of each of said ball elements (12) is fully disposed within a ball pocket (104) in an axial direction, parallel to said retainer body centerline (102);
- and
- wherein said sidewall (106) of each cylindrical ball pocket (104) is sufficiently rigid to prevent passage of said ball element (12) through said slot (108).
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method for assembling an angular contact ball bearing assembly (10) having a plurality of ball elements (12) positioned within ball pockets (104) of a bearing retainer (100) having slots (108) opening from a common axial surface into each of said ball pockets (104), and disposed between an inner ring (10A) and an outer ring (10B), comprising:
- installing the bearing retainer (100) onto a first of said inner and outer rings (10A, 10B) together with the plurality of ball elements (12), each of said ball elements (12) disposed fully within a ball pocket (104) of said bearing retainer (100) in an axial direction;
- and
- assembling the second of said inner and outer rings (10A, 10B) to radially retain said bearing retainer (100) and said plurality of ball elements (12) between said inner and outer rings (10A, 10B).
(canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.