The Torrington Company

Maksimilijan Godec

Walter P Waskiewicz

John A Larson

James L Lawson

A ball bearing assembly includes a polymer outer bearing ring molded over and partially enclosing a metal annular outer raceway. The metal annular outer raceway may be economically formed from sheet metal or wire. The polymer outer bearing ring may be mounted within a metal housing to provide support and/or self-alignment capability.

Ball bearing assembly with polymer bearing ring

Material is first formed into a flat ring. Ball retaining pockets are then formed in the flat ring leaving bridge material between adjacent pockets. Bearing balls are inserted into the ball retaining pockets and bridge material between adjacent pockets is then reshaped such that the bridge material wraps partially around the balls, thereby retaining the balls and forming a rigid bridge between adjacent ball pockets. The bridge is proximate a line common to the centers of adjacent balls.

Method of making retainers for ball bearings

A bearing assembly has a stationary housing with a bore with a constant inside diameter. The non-metallic or powdered metal outer assembly is fixedly retained in the housing. A non-metallic or powdered metal inner assembly ring is slidably retained in the outer assembly ring. A ball bearing is retained by the inner assembly ring.

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Torrington, CT, United States of America

Maksimilijan Godec