Patent ID: 8167501
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A bearing assembly comprising: a first annular race defined within a planar surface of a first member; a second annular race defined with an opposing planar surface of a second member; an inner ring including an annular toroidal groove located on an outer diameter surface of the inner ring; an outer ring including an annular toroidal groove located on an inner diameter surface of the inner ring; a plurality of ball bearings concentrically disposed between the toroidal grooves of the inner and outer rings and rotatably engaging the first race and the second race; and a spacer positioned between each pair of adjacent ball bearings, the spacers each comprising: a body defining opposite first and second sides; a first substantially concave pocket located at the first side of the body; and a second substantially concave pocket located at the second side of the body, wherein the first and second substantially concave pockets each define a central region rotatably engaging a respective one of the ball bearings and having a first radius of curvature about a first center point and an outer region adjacent to and recessed relative to the central region that has a second radius of curvature about a second center point, wherein the first center point and the second center point are spaced from one another, and wherein the body includes a portion extending in between at least the respective central regions of the first substantially concave pocket and the second substantially concave pocket; wherein the outer ring includes: axially opposing first and second surfaces, the inner diameter surface extending between the first and second surfaces, wherein an axial distance between the first and second surfaces is less than a diameter of each of the plurality of ball bearings; a first opening defined at the inner diameter surface adjacent to the first surface and to the toroidal groove; and a second opening defined at the inner diameter surface adjacent to the second surface and to the toroidal groove, wherein the second opening is larger than the first opening to provide a clearance gap adjacent to the toroidal groove to allow bearing entry through the second opening for positioning the outer ring about the plurality of ball bearings.