Bearing Design Problems 1

[JimDuhBear]

Overview of the issue.

The outer race is 360 degrees with an opening for installing the ball bearings.
The inner race is machined for about 310 degrees.
There is no "spacer" of any sort to keep the ball bearings separated.

It only takes a small rotation to cause the bearing to "jam".

Is such a design workable? The designer things the balls should "slide".

 

[diamondjim]

Why isn't the raceway 360 degrees?
Is this true of both outer and
inner races? Sounds like a strange
design. Is this an axial bearing
or a radial bearing?

 

[volpegrigia]

The design you are referring to is called a "deep groove ball bearing with filling slot". This bearing is unsuitable for applications with any moment load or axial load. The design has been replaced by the "conrad" type. If you require larger load ratings that a "conrad" type bearing would allow, then you could use a full complement bearing with a split raceway. The key is that this only works with the outer ring (the one that is split) press fitted into a housing.