Split-inner-ring ball bearing with lubrication structure

In a split-inner-ring ball bearing comprising an outer ring having an outer ball raceway, an inner ring comprised of two annular, adjacent, ring parts which mate to define an inner ball raceway, a plurality of bearing balls located between said inner and outer rings and disposed in said raceways for rolling therealong and a bearing ball retainer located between said inner and outer rings for retaining or spacing said bearing balls, the improvement which comprises:

• both of said inner ring parts have a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, axially extending grooves in the radially inner surfaces thereof, a lubricant supply for supplying lubricant to said grooves in one said ring part, said ring parts have abutting adjacent axial end surfaces forming a radially inner annular chamber located between them out of communication with said inner ball raceway but in communication with the adjacent axial ends of the grooves in both ring parts so that lubricant flowing from the grooves in said one ring part flows into said chamber and thence into the grooves in the other ring part, said one ring part having one or a plurality of first passageways extending outwardly from a selected one or ones of said grooves therein to the inner ball raceway for intercepting a portion of the lubricant flowing in the grooves of said one ring part before it reaches said radially inner annular chamber and the grooves of the other ring part.