Patent ID: 7033081

Claim:
A ball bearing, comprising: a pair of bearing rings, concentrically disposed such that a first bearing ring of said pair, having a first radius, and a second bearing ring of said pair, having a second radius, said second radius being greater than said first radius, are positioned such chat said first bearing ring is radially inward of said second bearing ring; an annular cage, positioned between said first and second bearing rings, said annular cage having a plurality of cylindrical through pockets positioned around a circumference thereof, each said through pocket being oriented in a radial direction through said circumference of said annular cage; and a plurality of balls, corresponding in number to a number of said through pockets in said circumference of said annular cage, such that each ball is housed in a corresponding one of said through pockets, wherein said annular cage is guided by one of said bearing rings; a relationship between a guide clearance α and a pocket clearance β if is such that x+y<α<β+x, where said guide clearance of said annular cage with respect to said one bearing ring is α, said pocket clearance of a pocket inner wall face with respect to said bail is β, an expansion amount of said annular cage in said radial direction due to rotational centrifugal force is x, and an expansion amount of said annular cage in said radial direction due to thermal expansion is y; and such that said inner wall surface of said pockets of said cage does not interfere with said balls, even if said cage becomes off-centered.