Patent ID: 6345443
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a bearing assembly, comprising the steps of:forming an annular inner raceway groove (2a) directly in an outer peripheral surface of a large-diameter portion (1a) of a stepped-diameter shaft (1) having said large-diameter portion (1a) and a small-diameter portion (1b); mounting a plurality of first balls (4) in an annular space defined between said annular inner raceway groove (2a) of said stepped-diameter shaft (1) and an annular outer raceway groove (2b) formed in an inner peripheral surface of a single-piece outer race ring (3), said annular outer raceway groove (2b) being coaxially disposed around said large-diameter portion (1a) of said stepped-diameter shaft (1) so as to be oppositely disposed from said annular inner raceway groove (2a) of said stepped-diameter shaft (1); coaxially mounting a sleeve-like spacer (11) around said stepped-diameter shaft (1) so as to be spaced apart therefrom and to be aligned with said single-piece outer race ring (3), said sleeve-like spacer (11) having two axially opposite ends and having one end of its axially opposite ends fitted on an inner end surface of said single-piece outer race ring (3); mounting an outer race ring (7b) of a ball bearing unit (7) on the other end of said axially opposite ends of said sleeve-like spacer (11) so as to be aligned with said sleeve-like spacer (11), said ball bearing unit (7) being provided with a plurality of second balls (8b) and an inner race ring (7a), said ball bearing unit (7) having its inner race ring (7a) slidably mounted on said small-diameter portion (1b) of said stepped-diameter shaft (a); and bonding said inner race ring (7a) to said small-diameter portion (1b) of said stepped-diameter shaft (1) by connecting means in a condition in which a predetermined axially inward pre-load is applied to an outer end surface of said inner race ring (7a) or said outer race ring (7b); whereby said sleeve-like outer race ring (5), said plurality of first balls (4), said ball bearing unit (7) and said stepped-diameter shaft (1) are assembled into a bearing assembly.