Ball separator for ball bearings

Abstract

A primarily radial load ball bearing includes an assembly of outer and inner race rings having confronting raceways for a plurality of balls and a unitary ball separator fabricated of a moldable resilient material, having an annular base and annularly spaced fingers defining an interrupted cylindrical rib which projects between the outer and inner race rings and provides pockets for confining each of the balls of the bearing. Each finger defines a pedestal supporting at least two ears which are integral extensions of the pedestal and which are radially separated from each other. One ear extends into one adjacent pocket, and the other ear extends into the opposite adjacent pocket. The distance between the confronting distal lips of the ears for one pocket is less than the diameter of the ball, so that the ears define a snap-in entry to the pocket. The ears, then, are designed to be resiliently yieldable relative to the supporting pedestals. In alternative design each finger pedestal may support three radially spaced ears, so that the ears associated with a respective pocket are symmetrical relative to a plane including the spherical center of the pocket. The design enables the maximum complement or capacity of balls with each pocket providing a snap-in entry.