Ball bearing with spherical segment inner ring and divided outer ring

Abstract

To produce an inexpensive small size ball bearing, the inner ring races are formed of spherical segments which are connected to each other at flattened connection places. A row of balls is guided by a respective inner ring race contact point on each of the segments in the region of the attachment place between two segments. In a four point ball bearing, the single row of balls contacts two contact points, one on each spherical segment, that define the inner race and contacts two races formed in the outer ring. In a three point bearing, there are two axially spaced apart rows of balls and three spherical segments in an axial row, two of the spherical segments of the inner ring define two of the inner race contact points for one of the ball rows and two other spherical segments of the inner ring defined two of the inner race contact points for the other row of balls. In both embodiments, the outer ring is split into two parts, each having one contact point on it. Axial adjustment of the outer ring parts adjust the position of the outer races and the contact points and takes up play in the bearing. The axially outermost spherical segments continue spherically outward to housings at opposite sides of the bearing. The housings include depressions that receive the extended parts of the spherical segments therein.