Two-piece pressed metal bearing race with means for resilient mounting

Claim 2

A resilient radial antifriction bearing race comprising a first pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a first annulus with a first concave raceway thereon, a plurality of first segments continuous with said first annulus, said first segments having substantial axially disposed first portions spaced radially from said first annulus in a direction from said first raceway through said first annulus, said first portions having first surfaces on the side thereof remote from said first raceway lying in a first imaginary cylindrical surface, a second pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a second annulus with a second concave raceway thereon, a plurality of second segments continuous with said second annulus, said second segments having substantial axially disposed second portions spaced from said second annulus in a direction from said second raceway through said second annulus, said second portions having second surfaces on the side thereof remote from said second raceway lying in a second imaginary cylindrical surface congruent with said first imaginary cylindrical surface, and said first and second segments being interposed and overlying said second annulus and first annulus respectively with sufficient spacing therebetween to permit limited movement of said first annulus and said second annulus in the radial direction when said first and second surfaces are in intimate contact with a cylindrical surface corresponding substantially to said first and second imaginary cylindrical surfaces.

Claim 3

The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second portions are arcuate in cross section and extend for a majority of the length of said first and second segments respectively.

Claim 4

The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second segments have retention surfaces operatively associated with the annulus it overlies to prevent separation of the pieces during handling.

Claim 5

The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second pieces are identical and said first and second segments are equally circumferentially spaced.

Claim 6

The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second pieces are axially coextensive and each have a flange at the end thereof remote from their respective segments.

Claim 7

The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said race constitutes a split ball bearing race and said first and second raceways form a track for a single complement of balls.

Claim 8

The combinaTion comprising a support having a radial shoulder and a contiguous cylindrical surface, a resilient radial antifriction bearing race mounted on said support, said race comprising a first pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a first annulus with a first concave raceway thereon, a plurality of first segments continuous with said first annulus abutting said shoulder, said first segments having substantial axially disposed first portions extending for a majority of their length spaced radially from said first annulus in a direction from said first raceway through said first annulus, said first portions having first surfaces on the side thereof remote from said first raceway in intimate contact with said cylindrical surface, a second pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a second annulus with a second concave raceway thereon abutting said shoulder, a plurality of second segments continuous with said second annulus, said second segments having substantial axially disposed second portions extending for a majority of their length spaced from said second annulus in a direction from said second raceway through said second annulus, said second portions having second surfaces on the side thereof remote from said second raceway in intimate contact with said cylindrical surface, said first and second segments being interposed and overlying said second annulus and first annulus respectively with sufficient spacing therebetween to permit limited movement of said first annulus and said second annulus in the radial direction with respect to said support, and antifriction means rollably engaging said raceways.

Claim 9

The combinaTion comprising a support having a radial shoulder and a contiguous cylindrical surface, a resilient radial antifriction bearing race mounted on said support, said race comprising a first pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a first annulus with a first concave raceway thereon, a plurality of first segments continuous with said first annulus abutting said shoulder, said first segments having substantial axially disposed first portions extending for a majority of their length spaced radially from said first annulus in a direction from said first raceway through said first annulus, said first portions having first surfaces on the side thereof remote from said first raceway in intimate contact with said cylindrical surface, a second pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a second annulus with a second concave raceway thereon abutting said shoulder, a plurality of second segments continuous with said second annulus, said second segments having substantial axially disposed second portions extending for a majority of their length spaced from said second annulus in a direction from said second raceway through said second annulus, said second portions having second surfaces on the side thereof remote from said second raceway in intimate contact with said cylindrical surface, said first and second segments being interposed and overlying said second annulus and first annulus respectively with sufficient spacing therebetween to permit limited movement of said first annulus and said second annulus in the radial direction with respect to said support, and antifriction means rollably engaging said raceways.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said first and second pieces are identical, said first and second segments are equally circumferentially spaced and said first and second portions respectively thereof cumulatively total substantially 360 arc degrees.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and second pieces each have first and second flanges respectively at the end thereof remote from their respective segments wherein said second flange abuts said shoulder and further including radially extending means mounted on said support engaging said second segments and said first flange.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said race constitutes a split ball bearing race and said first and second raceways for a single track and wherein said antifriction means is a single complement of balls.