Segmented retainers

#This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in roller bearings, and more particularly to segmented retainers for roller bearings.

#Segmented retainers are known. Such retainers include side end or rings and separator bars. The connection between the bars, however, are restricted to relatively small cross sectional projections on the bars extending through mating openings in the side rings. The mechanical connections between the bars and the side rings are such so as not to fully restrain against forces on the bars which would tend to rotate them about their axes.

#In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide connections between the separator bars and side rings which are much stronger than those which were possible in the past. The connections may be in the form of special welds or in the form of special mechanical interlocks.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a fragmentary end view with parts broken away and showing a section of a roller bearing having incorporated therein a segmented retainer formed in accordance with this invention.

#FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and shows further details of the retainer.

#Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 a roller bearing construction embodying a segmented retainer of this invention. The roller bearing is generally identified by the numeral 20 and includes an inner race member 21, an outer race member 22 and a complement of rollers 23 disposed between the race members. The rollers 23 are retained in spaced relation with respect to one another by means of a segmented retainer, generally identified by the numeral 24.

#The segmented retainer 24 includes a pair of end or side rings 25 between which a plurality of circumferentially spaced separator bars 26 extend. The separator bars 26 are mechanically interlocked with the side rings 25 in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

#Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the separator bar 26 is of a cross section so as to include enlarged inner and outer portions 26, 27 separated by a reduced cross section central portion 30. At each side of the bar 26 there is an inner bearing surface 31, an outer bearing surface 32 and a lubricant pocket 33 separating the two bearing surfaces 31, 32. Each of the bearing surfaces 31, 32 is convex and preferably of a radius greater than the diameter of the associated rollers 23. The central portion 30 has the opposite sides thereof defined by flats 34 which, in turn, form a major wall of each lubricant pocket 33. The bearing surfaces 31, 32 do not intersect the flats 34, but terminate at inner and outer shoulders 35, 36 which, in combination with an associated flat, define each lubricant pocket 33.