Bearing retainer

A ball bearing retainer comprising:

• an annular body of open pore microporous foamlike material for storing lubricant and rigidizing means combined with said body for maintaining the dimensional integrity thereof, said annular body having a plurality of openings therein for receiving bearing balls and at least one projection on at least one circumferential surface thereof, for contacting at least one circumferential surface of a bearing ring, said openings being sized to have an interference fit with said bearing balls, said projection being sized to have an interference fit with said bearing ring.

A ball bearing retainer comprising:

• an annular body of open pore microporous foamlike material for storing lubricant and rigidizing means combined with said body for maintaining the dimensional integrity thereof, said annular body having a plurality of openings therein for receiving bearing balls and at least one projection on at least one circumferential surface thereof, for contacting at least one circumferential surface of a bearing ring said openings being sized to have an interference fit with said bearing balls, said projection being sized to have an interference fit with said bearing ring, said foamlike material comprising an open pore microporous nitrile elastomeric foam having a Shore A hardness of between 20 and 60.

A ball bearing including an inner and an outer ring with bearing balls therebetween to form load bearing metal-to-metal interfaces, and including a retainer for receiving and separating said balls, said retainer being made of a resilient, flexible foamlike material and having at least one projection on at least one circumferential surface thereof, said retainer having interference fits with said bearing balls and said projection having an interference fit with one of said rings.

A ball bearing including an inner and an outer ring with bearing balls therebetween to form load bearing metal-to-metal interfaces, and including a retainer for receiving and separating said balls, said retainer being made of a resilient, flexible foamlike material and having at least one projection on at least one circumferential surface thereof, said retainer having interference fits with said bearing balls and said projection having an interference fit with one of said rings, said foamlike material being capable of storing up to about 80 percent by volume of a lubricant, and from which a large fraction of lubricant stored therein is retrievable, said material having a Shore A hardness of between 20 to 60.