Bearings – Rotary bearing – Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2001-09-11
Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287012
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a retainer for a roller bearing for holding a rolling member such as a ball, in which a flat portion is formed in a ball pocket having a spherical inner circumferential surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional retainer for a roller bearing (hereinafter simply referred to as a retainer) will now be described with reference to
FIG. 5
which shows an example of a retainer
1
used in a bearing to which a load is applied in an axial direction, i.e., a radial roller bearing. The retainer
1
is formed of a ring-shaped member. A plurality (eight in the drawing) of ball pockets
2
for holding rolling members (not shown) such as balls are formed on one side surface in the axial direction. Inner circumferential surfaces (concave surfaces) of these ball pockets
2
are formed into a spherical shape corresponding to the shape of the outer circumferential surfaces of the rolling members. The rolling members are mounted on the retainer
1
to thereby form a bearing body for the roller bearing.
In the above-described prior art, in which the retainer holds the rolling members only with the single concave surface (spherical surface) formed in each ball pocket, in order to reduce vibration of the retainer, it is effective to reduce a curvature of the concave surface of the ball pocket and to narrowly hold the rolling member, i.e., to use a method to hold of holding the rolling member so as not to generate any gap between the rolling member and the concave surface. However, in the above-described case, lubricant is not introduced in the space between the rolling member and the concave surface. In fact, in some cases, the lubrication for the rolling member would be sacrificed. Thus, there is a fear that a service life of a normal noise preventing function would be shortened.
Also, inversely, it is possible to increase the curvature of the concave surface of the ball pocket in view of sufficient lubrication to the rolling members. However, in such a case, an amount of movement of the retainer relative to the rolling member is increased and vibration is generated in the retainer when the bearing is rotated producing the fear that the service life of the noise preventing function that should be maintained normally would be degraded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the above-noted defects, an object of the present invention is to provide a rolling bearing retainer which has a sufficient lubrication function and in which vibration of the retainer is suppressed.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a rolling bearing retainer in which a plurality of ball pockets having opening portions on one side surface in an axial direction of a ring-shaped member are formed in an equal interval in a circumferential direction, and a plurality of rolling members are held by the ball pockets, wherein at least one flat portion, which is to be brought into contact with the rolling members, is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the ball pockets.
According to the first aspect of the invention, at least one flat portion, with which the rolling member is brought into contact, is formed in the inner circumferential surface of each ball pocket formed at the equal interval in the circumferential direction on one side surface in the axial direction of the ring-shaped member, whereby the movement of the rolling member engaged with the ball pocket at the flat portion is suppressed. Also, the gap between the concave surface (spherical surface), other than the flat portion, and the rolling member is formed largely to enhance the flow of the lubricant and thereby to enhance the lubrication of the rolling member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 980932 (1911-01-01), Eitner
patent: 1352110 (1920-07-01), Brakenhielm
patent: 3506316 (1968-04-01), McKee
patent: 4225199 (1980-09-01), Earsley
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 07-208482, Aug. 11, 1995.
Footland Lenard A.
Minebea Co. Ltd.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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