Thrust ball bearing with ball rings - has rings with protrusions between successive balls to hold them apart

摘要

The thrust bearing has rings radially inside and outside the row of balls between the races. The ring cross-sections are such that the balls cannot escape. One or both of the rings (1,2) have protrusions (5) between successive balls (3), ending short of the pitch circle of the latter, and holding the balls apart. The protrusions can be formed on the outer ring, while each ball fits between two side edges formed in the inner one. The protrusions can comprise corrugations in the one ring.