The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 01, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 04, 1995
Shinji Abe, Osaka, JP;
Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A ball bearing assembly is provided with a ball retainer having a radially extending guide portion that serves to guide the ball retainer relative to either an inner or an outer ring of the ball bearing assembly. The ball retainer is provided with a series of ball pockets with each of the ball pockets having a central cylindrical portion that transitions smoothly into inner and outer portions having spherical configurations. The diameter of the central cylindrical portion is smaller than the diameters of the inner and outer spherical portions. The configurations of the ball pockets ensures that a clearance will be maintained between each of the balls and the edge portions of the ball pockets even when the ball retainer is deflected relative to the inner and outer rings of the ball bearing assembly. The internal configuration of the ball pockets ensures that the amount of lubricant retained within the ball pockets is optimized. The optimization of the amount of lubricant retained within the ball pockets results in a desired level of frictional torque generated by the ball bearing assembly and the elimination of abnormal noises generated during high speed rotation of the ball bearing assembly.