# US 2013/0156360 A1 · Rolling bearing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156360 A1 - Document ID: US20130156360A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/818,722 - Filed: 2011-09-07 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-22 - Assignees: Ntn Corporation - Inventors: Tomohisa Uozumi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156360A1 ## CPC - F16C 33/3887: {Details of individual pockets, e.g. shape or ball retaining means} - F16C 33/3875: {made from plastic, e.g. two injection moulded parts joined by a snap fit} - F16C 33/6674: {related to the amount supplied, e.g. gaps to restrict flow of the liquid} - F16C 33/7893: {mounted to a cage or integral therewith} - F16C 33/80: Labyrinth sealings {(F16C33/761 takes precedence)} - F16C 19/06: with a single row or balls - F16C 2208/52: Polyphenylene sulphide [PPS] (F16C2208/58 takes precedence) - F16C 2226/74: with snap-fit, e.g. by clips - F16C 2240/30: Angles, e.g. inclinations - F16C 2240/40: Linear dimensions, e.g. length, radius, thickness, gap - F16C 2240/60: Thickness, e.g. thickness of coatings - F16C 2380/26: Dynamo-electric machines or combinations therewith, e.g. electro-motors and generators - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract Provided is a rolling bearing, comprising: an inner race (2) and an outer race (3), which rotate relative to each other; a plurality of balls (4), which are interposed between the inner race (2) and the outer race (3); a retainer (5), which is arranged between the inner race (2) and the outer race (3), for retaining the plurality of balls (4) equiangularly, the retainer (5) comprising two annular members (10) which face each other in an axial direction and have opposing surfaces each including hemispherical pockets (12) formed in a plurality of circumferential positions, for receiving the plurality of balls (4), the two annular members (10) being coupled together so that the opposing surfaces are brought into abutment on each other; a flange portion (18), which extends radially and is provided on a radially inner side or a radially outer side of an axial end portion of each of the two annular members (10); and a recessed groove (20, 21), which is formed in a region of the inner race (2) corresponding to the flange portion (18) or a region of the outer race (3) corresponding to the flange portion (18) so as to form a labyrinth (19) together with the flange portion (18). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rolling bearing, comprising: an inner race and an outer race, which rotate relative to each other; a plurality of rolling elements, which are interposed between the inner race and the outer race; a retainer, which is arranged between the inner race and the outer race, for retaining the plurality of rolling elements equiangularly, the retainer comprising two annular members which face each other in an axial direction and have opposing surfaces each including hemispherical pockets formed in a plurality of circumferential positions, for receiving the plurality of rolling elements, the two annular members being coupled together so that the opposing surfaces are brought into abutment on each other; a flange portion, which extends radially and is provided on at least one of a radially inner side and a radially outer side of an axial end portion of each of the two annular members; and a recessed groove, which is formed in a region of the inner race corresponding to the flange portion or a region of the outer race corresponding to the flange portion so as to form a labyrinth together with the flange portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion has an axial thickness of 0.15 mm or more, and the axial thickness is set to 20% or less of a diameter of each of the plurality of rolling elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion extends obliquely with respect to a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises: a radially-outer-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially outer side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of one of the two annular members, the radially-outer-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with one of the plurality of rolling elements; a radially-inner-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially inner side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the one of the two annular members; a radially-inner-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially inner side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of another one of the two annular members, the radially-inner-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with the one of the plurality of rolling elements; and a radially-outer-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially outer side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the another one of the two annular members, wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion are engaged with each other in the axial direction so that the radially-outer-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-outer-side recess and the radially-inner-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-inner-side recess, and wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an engaging surface, and the engaging surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction so that a distal end side of the radially-outer-side protrusion or the radially-inner-side protrusion is thicker than a proximal end side thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A rolling bearing according to claim 5, wherein the engaging surface of the radially-outer-side protrusion and the engaging surface of the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an inclination angle of 5° or more. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A rolling bearing according to claim 5, wherein the radially-inner-side protrusion is thicker than the radially-outer-side protrusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A rolling bearing according to claim 5, wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side recess are formed at one circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets, and the radially-inner-side protrusion and the radially-outer-side recess are formed at another circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the two annular members are made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the two annular members are made of one synthetic resin selected from PPS, PA66, and PA46. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A rolling bearing according to claim 2, wherein the flange portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) A rolling bearing according to claim 2, wherein the flange portion extends obliquely with respect to a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) A rolling bearing according to claim 2, wherein the retainer comprises: a radially-outer-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially outer side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of one of the two annular members, the radially-outer-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with one of the plurality of rolling elements; a radially-inner-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially inner side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the one of the two annular members; a radially-inner-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially inner side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of another one of the two annular members, the radially-inner-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with the one of the plurality of rolling elements; and a radially-outer-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially outer side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the another one of the two annular members, wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion are engaged with each other in the axial direction so that the radially-outer-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-outer-side recess and the radially-inner-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-inner-side recess, and wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an engaging surface, and the engaging surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction so that a distal end side of the radially-outer-side protrusion or the radially-inner-side protrusion is thicker than a proximal end side thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) A rolling bearing according to claim 3, wherein the retainer comprises: a radially-outer-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially outer side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of one of the two annular members, the radially-outer-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with one of the plurality of rolling elements; a radially-inner-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially inner side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the one of the two annular members; a radially-inner-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially inner side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of another one of the two annular members, the radially-inner-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with the one of the plurality of rolling elements; and a radially-outer-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially outer side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the another one of the two annular members, wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion are engaged with each other in the axial direction so that the radially-outer-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-outer-side recess and the radially-inner-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-inner-side recess, and wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an engaging surface, and the engaging surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction so that a distal end side of the radially-outer-side protrusion or the radially-inner-side protrusion is thicker than a proximal end side thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) A rolling bearing according to claim 4, wherein the retainer comprises: a radially-outer-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially outer side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of one of the two annular members, the radially-outer-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with one of the plurality of rolling elements; a radially-inner-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially inner side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the one of the two annular members; a radially-inner-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially inner side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of another one of the two annular members, the radially-inner-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with the one of the plurality of rolling elements; and a radially-outer-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially outer side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the another one of the two annular members, wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion are engaged with each other in the axial direction so that the radially-outer-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-outer-side recess and the radially-inner-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-inner-side recess, and wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an engaging surface, and the engaging surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction so that a distal end side of the radially-outer-side protrusion or the radially-inner-side protrusion is thicker than a proximal end side thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A rolling bearing according to claim 11, wherein the retainer comprises: a radially-outer-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially outer side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of one of the two annular members, the radially-outer-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with one of the plurality of rolling elements; a radially-inner-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially inner side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the one of the two annular members; a radially-inner-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially inner side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of another one of the two annular members, the radially-inner-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with the one of the plurality of rolling elements; and a radially-outer-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially outer side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the another one of the two annular members, wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion are engaged with each other in the axial direction so that the radially-outer-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-outer-side recess and the radially-inner-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-inner-side recess, and wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an engaging surface, and the engaging surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction so that a distal end side of the radially-outer-side protrusion or the radially-inner-side protrusion is thicker than a proximal end side thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A rolling bearing according to claim 12, wherein the retainer comprises: a radially-outer-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially outer side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of one of the two annular members, the radially-outer-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with one of the plurality of rolling elements; a radially-inner-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially inner side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the one of the two annular members; a radially-inner-side protrusion, which is formed through axially extending a radially inner side of a circumferential end portion of each of the hemispherical pockets of another one of the two annular members, the radially-inner-side protrusion having an inner peripheral surface capable of being held in contact with the one of the plurality of rolling elements; and a radially-outer-side recess, which is formed through recessing a radially outer side of the circumferential end portion of the each of the hemispherical pockets of the another one of the two annular members, wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion are engaged with each other in the axial direction so that the radially-outer-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-outer-side recess and the radially-inner-side protrusion is inserted into the radially-inner-side recess, and wherein the radially-outer-side protrusion and the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an engaging surface, and the engaging surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction so that a distal end side of the radially-outer-side protrusion or the radially-inner-side protrusion is thicker than a proximal end side thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A rolling bearing according to claim 13, wherein the engaging surface of the radially-outer-side protrusion and the engaging surface of the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an inclination angle of 5° or more. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A rolling bearing according to claim 14, wherein the engaging surface of the radially-outer-side protrusion and the engaging surface of the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an inclination angle of 5° or more. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A rolling bearing according to claim 15, wherein the engaging surface of the radially-outer-side protrusion and the engaging surface of the radially-inner-side protrusion each have an inclination angle of 5° or more.