ONE-PIECE METALLIC BALL BEARING CAGE

摘要

A method of assembling a ball bearing assembly includes the steps of forming a one-piece metallic ball bearing cage having an initial configuration with ball pockets and bridge portions (16) between the ball pockets, at least a portion of the bridge portions (16) having a predetermined chordal length. The bearing balls (52) are positioned within an annulus between inner and outer bearing rings (68, 70), the bearing balls (52) being separated by an average chordal distance less than said predetermined chordal length and then the ball bearing cage is inserted into the annulus such that circumferential movement of the bearing balls (52) allows the bridge portions (16) of the ball bearing cage to pass between adjacent bearing balls (52) as the bearing balls (52) sequentially enter the ball pockets. <IMAGE>