Ball bearing cage and ball bearing

Abstract

A two-part ball bearing cage includes two, in particular at least substantially identical, cage parts forming an even-numbered plurality of ball pockets for receiving a corresponding number of balls having a predeterminable ball diameter. Each cage part has an annular body on which substantially evenly distributed webs are disposed in the circumferential direction to form the ball pockets. A distance in the circumferential direction between two webs that are adjacent in the circumferential direction approximately corresponds to the sum of twice the ball diameter and a width of the web in the circumferential direction. A ball bearing having the ball bearing cage and a method for assembly of the ball bearing are also provided.

Claims

1. A two-part ball bearing cage, comprising: two cage parts forming an even-numbered plurality of ball pockets for respectively receiving a corresponding number of balls having a predefined ball diameter; each of said cage parts including a ring-shaped body having webs disposed thereon forming said ball pockets, said webs having a width and being distributed in a circumferential direction; each of said cage parts having a cylindrical inner circumferential surface in an axial direction and a conical surface in the axial direction, said conical surfaces each being located exclusively on an outer circumferential surface of a respective cage part; and each two of said webs disposed adjacent one another in said circumferential direction being spaced apart by a distance in said circumferential direction corresponding approximately to a sum of twice the predefined ball diameter and said width of one of said webs in said circumferential direction.

2. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein said cage parts are identical, and said webs are distributed uniformly in said circumferential direction.

3. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said cage parts has a cylindrical outer surface in an axial direction.

4. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein said conical surface has a cone angle between approximately 2° and approximately 20°.

5. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein said conical surface has a cone angle between approximately 7° and approximately 12°.

6. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said cage parts is formed at least in part of plastic material.

7. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 6, wherein said plastic material is polyether ether ketone, polyether ketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyamidimide, Polyimide, phenol resin or cotton-fabric-reinforced phenol resin.

8. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein said two cage parts are formed of an identical material or identical materials or at least in part or completely of different materials.

9. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein each two of said adjacent webs are spaced apart by a distance on said outer circumference that is greater than a distance on said inner circumference.

10. The two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein said cage parts are cut, additively manufactured, 3D-printed or injection molded.

11. A single-row radial deep groove ball bearing, comprising a two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1.

12. A ball bearing, comprising: a two-part ball bearing cage according to claim 1; an inner raceway; an outer raceway; and a multiplicity of balls with a predetermined ball diameter, said multiplicity of balls corresponding to said even-numbered plurality ball pockets formed by said two-part ball bearing cage, and each of said balls being received in a respective one of said ball pockets.

13. The ball bearing according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined ball diameter is less than 5 mm.

14. A dental instrument or dental turbine, comprising a ball bearing according to claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows the one cage half of a two-part snap cage with two identical cage halves according to a first realization (in perspective),

(2) FIG. 2 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to a first realization (side view),

(3) FIG. 3 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to a first realization (section through the side view),

(4) FIG. 4 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to a first realization (section through the front view),

(5) FIG. 5 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to an alternative first realization (section through the front view, “funnel shape”),

(6) FIG. 6 shows both cage halves of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to a first realization (in perspective),

(7) FIG. 7 shows both cage halves of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to a first realization with inner ring and balls (in perspective),

(8) FIG. 8 shows radial deep groove ball bearings with an inner-ring-guided two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to the first realization (section through the side view),

(9) FIG. 9 shows the one cage half of a two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to a second realization (in perspective),

(10) FIG. 10 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to the second realization (side view),

(11) FIG. 11 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to the second realization (section through the side view),

(12) FIG. 12 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to the second realization (section through the front view),

(13) FIG. 13 shows the one cage half of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to an alternative second realization (section through the front view, “funnel shape”),

(14) FIG. 14 shows both cage halves of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to the second realization (in perspective),

(15) FIG. 15 shows both cage halves of the two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to the second realization with inner ring and balls (in perspective),

(16) FIG. 16 shows radial deep groove ball bearings with an inner-ring-guided two-part snap cage with the two identical cage halves according to the second realization (section through the side view).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(17) Two-Part Ball Bearing Cage or Snap Cage 2 (FIGS. 1 to 16)

(18) FIGS. 1 to 8 show (in various views, in perspective, in side view and sectional representations, and also installed in a single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40) a first realization of a two-part ball bearing cage or a two-part snap cage 2 (“two-part ball bearing cage or snap cage 2 with a cylindrical outer surface”); FIGS. 9 to 16 show (also in the corresponding, different views, in perspective, in side view and sectional representations, and once again installed in a single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40) a second realization of the two-part ball bearing cage or a two-part snap cage 2 (“two-part ball bearing cage or snap cage 2 with a conical outer surface”).

(19) Said two-part ball bearing cages or two-part snap cages 2 realize—with their two (approximately) identical (cage) parts 4, 6, i.e. two identical cage halves 4, 6,—ball pockets 8 which serve for receiving balls 10 of a ball bearing 40 or—in this case—of a single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40 (cf. FIGS. 7 and 8 or 15 and 16).

(20) In this case, each configured ball pocket 8 of the two-part ball bearing cage or snap cage 2 receives one ball 10. All balls 10 accommodated in the configured ball pockets 8 of the two-part ball bearing cage or snap cage 2 are also designated as a whole as ball set 50 (of the ball bearing or single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40).

(21) The balls 10 of the ball set 50 used comprise a predefinable ball diameter 12, for example 1 mm, as a result of which—in this case—the corresponding ball bearing 40 (with said balls 10 or ball set 50) then falls within the range of a miniature application, for example a dental application, such as in the case of a dental turbine.

(22) Two-Part Ball Bearing Cage or Snap Cage 2 with a Cylindrical Outer Surface 26, 28 (FIGS. 1 to 8)

(23) FIGS. 1 to 5 each show a cage half 4, 6 of the two-part ball bearing cage 2 or two-part snap cage 2 (abbreviated below to only snap cage 2) according to the first realization (“cylindrical outer surface 26, 28”). Both cage halves 4, 6 of the snap cage 2 are configured identically to one another (cf. FIGS. 6 and 7).

(24) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in each case—as an example—for the one of the two (identical) cage halves 4, 6, each cage half 4, 6 comprises a ring-shaped cage back 14, 16 and—distributed approximately uniformly in a circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or the cage halves 4, 6—webs 18 which are arranged thereon projecting axially 54 (or in the width direction 54 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage half 4, 6).

(25) The webs 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 7, which in their axial or width direction 54 comprise a biconcave progression/a biconcave form, the bulges/curvatures of which are each (“inwardly”) adapted to the ball cross section (“circle/circular arc” of the balls 10, thus (together) realize the ball pockets 8 by delimiting a ball pocket 8 in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage half 4, 6.

(26) The widths 64 of the configured ball pockets 8 (in the axial direction 54) are in each case slightly larger than the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10.

(27) As FIGS. 1 to 7 also show, the cage part 4, 6 comprises a cylindrical outer surface 26, 28 in the axial direction 54. Said first realization or said cage design can preferably be used in such single-row radial deep groove ball bearings 40 where spherical lugs do not bend outward conditional on the speed as a result of centrifugal forces arising in the single-row radial deep groove ball bearings 40.

(28) Deviating from or differently to in the case of a snap cage customary up to now or to a cage part in such a case having webs realizing ball pockets, here, i.e. in the case of the present snap cage half 2 or in the case of the present cage half 4, 6, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 to 5,—the distance 20—in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage halves 4, 6—between in each case two of the webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 corresponds to the sum of twice the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10 provided for the ball pockets 8 and a width 22 of the or of such a web 18 in the circumferential direction 24. Possible tolerances and/or a ball pocket play can be added or taken into consideration (to/in the sum).

(29) As a result, i.e. in the case of such a distance 20 in the case of/between the webs 18 of the or in the case of the cage halves 4, 6, two ball pockets 8 can be realized and thus two balls 10 received—in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage halves 4, 6—between in each case the two webs 18 of the cage halves 4, 6 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 (differing from the otherwise usual approach).

(30) Said “distance” 20 between the two webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 is dimensioned i.e. can be measured, as illustrated, in particular in FIGS. 1 to 5, at an axial 54, i.e. the extension of the/a ball pocket 8 in the axial direction 54 (also width direction 54) of the snap cage 2 or of the cage half 4, 6, center 58 of the/a ball pocket 8 and at a central radial 56, i.e. the extension of a web 18 radially 56 toward or away from a center point M 62 of the snap cage 2, height 60 of a web 18 or of the webs 18—and is the length 20 of the corresponding circular arc (circular arc length 20) realized in this respect between the two adjacent webs 18 (cf. in particular FIGS. 1 to 5).

(31) The “width” 22 of the/a web 18 means the extension 22 thereof, put clearly a (circular arc) length 22, in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage halve 4, 6—here then at the axial center 58 of the/a ball pocket 8 and at the central radial height 60 of the/a web 18 or the webs 18 (cf. in particular FIGS. 1 to 5).

(32) Put clearly and simply, in each case two webs 18 of the cage half 4, 6 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 (arranged on the cage back 14, 16 of the respective cage half 4, 6) are spaced apart or removed from one another (by such an amount) in such a manner—in the circumferential direction 24—(according to the distance 20 provided), that two ball pockets 8 (for receiving two balls 10) can be realized between them (with the snap cage 2 mounted—cf. FIGS. 6 and 7), particularly when or particularly as a result of—when the two cage halves 4, 6 snap against one another into the ball set 50 (cf. FIG. 7) during or after mounting of the snap cage 2—one web 18 of the one cage part 4, 6 “enters” axially into or comes to rest (approximately centrally) between the two webs 18 of the other cage part 4, 6 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24.

(33) Put another way, the webs 18 of the one cage part 4, 6 and the webs 18 of the other cage part 4, 6 delimit, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7,—with the snap cage 2 in the mounted state—the individual ball pockets 8 in the snap cage 2 in a mutual or in each case an alternate manner.

(34) The snap cage 2 thus provides the two identical cage halves 4, 6, the two cage halves 4, 6 of which—with the snap cage 2 mounted—can snap against one another into the ball set 50 of the ball bearing 40 (“(snap” lock/“snap locking”), the—even number of—ball pockets 8 of the snap cage 2—once the snap cage 2 or the cage halves 4, 6 have been mounted in the ball bearing 40—being configured in this manner.

(35) FIGS. 4 and 5 show two possible alternative (sub) design forms of the first realization of the snap cage 2, i.e. in the case of the snap cage 2 with the cylindrical outer surface 26, 28.

(36) As shown in FIG. 4—as an example for the one cage half 4,6 of the two identical cage halves 4, 6 of the snap cage 2, said first (sub) design form provides that a distance 72 between the in each case two webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction is approximately the same size in the circumferential direction 24 on an outer circumference 32, 34 of the cage half 4, 6 as a distance 74 between the two webs 18 on an inner circumference 36, 38 of the cage half 4, 6, i.e. the distance 20 also corresponds approximately to the sum of twice the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10 provided for the ball pockets 8 and one width 22 of the or such a web 18 in the circumferential direction 24.

(37) As FIG. 4—said dimensioning—illustrates (in section) (FIG. 4 is a (cross) section of the snap cage 2 parallel to the radius R 68 of the snap cage 2 in the axial center 58 of the ball pocket 8), the walls 66 of the/a web 18, which delimit the ball pockets 8 in the circumferential direction 24, extend in the direction of the center point M 62 of the snap cage 2 in a converging manner to the extent that the (imaginary) elongations 70 thereof in the radial direction of the snap cage 2 intersect “in front of” the center point M 62 thereof.

(38) In contrast, it is provided in the case of the second alternative (sub)design form, as shown in FIG. 5—once again as an example for the one cage half 4,6 of the two identical cage halves 4, 6 of the snap cage 2—that the distance 72 between the in each case two webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 is—in this case—greater in the circumferential direction 24 on the outer circumference 32, 34 of the cage half 4, 6 than the distance 74 between the two webs 18 on an inner circumference 36, 38 of the cage part 4, 6, (notwithstanding and without prejudice to the provided distance 20 corresponding approximately to the sum of twice the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10 provided for the ball pockets 8 and the width 22 of the or such a web 18 in the circumferential direction 24—at the axial center 58 of the/a ball pocket 8 and at the mean radial height 60 of a web 18 or the webs 18).

(39) As FIG. 5—said dimensioning—illustrates (also in section) (FIG. 5 is also a (cross) section of the snap cage 2 parallel to the radius R 68 of the snap cage 2 in the axial center 58 of the ball pocket 8), the walls 66 of the/a web 18, which delimit the ball pockets 8 in the circumferential direction 24, extend in the direction of the center point M 62 of the snap cage 2 in a converging manner to the extent that the (imaginary) elongations 70 thereof in the radial direction of the snap cage 2 intersect in the center point M 62 thereof.

(40) Said different distance dimensioning (in the case of the second alternative (sub)design form) at the inner 32, 34 or outer circumference 36, 38 then results in particular—with the snap cage 2 mounted—in the configured ball pockets 8 (with the snap cage 2 mounted) each having different ball pocket lengths (in the circumferential direction 24) at the outer circumference 32, 34 or inner circumference 36, 38 of the snap cage 2 (ball pocket 8 with “funnel shape”).

(41) The snap cage 2 is produced from a high-grade plastics material such as, for example, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone (PEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamideimide (PAI) or Polyimide (PI).

(42) FIG. 8 shows the single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40 with the snap cage 2 installed holding the balls 10 in position—between an inner raceway 42 and an outer raceway 44.

(43) The snap cage 2 is realized as an inner-ring-guided ball bearing cage 2, i.e. the inner circumference 36, 38 of the snap cage 2 or the inner circumferences 36, 38 of the two cage halves 4, 6 slides/slide along an outer circumference 76 of the inner raceway 42.

(44) As a result of the fact that, in this case, each cage half 4, 6 of the snap cage 2 can be guided separately on an inner ring shoulder 78 of the inner raceway 42 in the case of the single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40, vibrations that arise can be damped in an advantageous manner.

(45) The outer raceway 44 and the inner raceway 42 of the single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40 are produced from chromium steel, such as, for example, from 100Cr6 (material number 1.3505), a steel with a content of approximately 1% carbon and 1.5% chromium.

(46) Method steps 100, 102, 104, 106 and 108 are described below and shown in parentheses in FIGS. 8 and 16 to indicate where the steps are carried out on the ball bearing cage.

(47) During the mounting 100 of the single-row radial deep groove ball bearings 40, first of all the balls 10 are moved 102 abutting against one another into the outer raceway 44.

(48) The inner raceway 42 is then first of all added into the outer raceway 44 from of an eccentric position and then moved 104 into an approximately concentric position in the outer raceway 44.

(49) In addition, the balls 10 are then distributed such that they are at approximately identical distances 106 from one another in the circumferential direction 24.

(50) After this, the two cage parts 4, 6 are inserted one after the other between the inner and the outer raceway 42, 44 from both sides 46, 48, snapping 108 against one another into the ball set 50.

(51) Two-Part Ball Bearing Cage or Snap Cage 2 with a Conical Outer Surface 26, 30 (FIGS. 9 to 16)

(52) FIGS. 9 to 13 each show a cage half 4, 6 of the two-part ball bearing cage 2 or two-part snap cage 2 (abbreviated below again to only snap cage 2) according to the second realization (“conical outer surface 26, 30”). Both cage halves 4, 6 of the snap cage 2 (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) are configured identically to one another (cf. FIGS. 14 and 15).

(53) As shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 in each case—as an example—for the one of the two (identical) cage halves 4, 6, each cage half 4, 6 (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) comprises a ring-shaped cage back 14, 16 and—distributed approximately uniformly in a circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or the cage halve 4, 6—webs 18 which are arranged thereon projecting axially 54 (or in the width direction 54 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage half 4, 6).

(54) The webs 18, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 and 14 to 15, which, (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization), in their axial or width direction 54 comprise a biconcave progression/a biconcave form, the bulges/curvatures of which are each (“inwardly”) adapted to the ball cross section (“circle/circular arc” of the balls 10, thus (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) realize (together) the ball pockets 8 by delimiting a ball pocket 8 in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage half 4, 6.

(55) The widths 64 of the configured ball pockets 8 (in the axial direction 54) are (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) in each case slightly larger than the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10.

(56) As FIGS. 9 to 15 also show, the cage part 4, 6 comprises (deviating from the snap cage 2 according the first realization) a conical outer surface 26, 30 in the axial direction 54. Said second realization or said cage design can preferably be used in such single-row radial deep groove ball bearings 40 where spherical lugs bend outward conditional on the speed as a result of centrifugal forces arising in the single-row radial deep groove ball bearings 40, as a result of which the then outwardly bent spherical lugs can be prevented from contacting a shoulder or a running track of an outer raceway of the single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40.

(57) The cone angle 52 of said conical outer surface 26, 30 in the case of the cage part 4, 6 of the snap cage 2 is, as also illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 15, in particular FIGS. 10 and 11, in this case approximately 10°.

(58) Deviating from or differently to in the case of a snap cage customary up to now or to a cage part in such a case having webs realizing ball pockets, here, i.e. in the case of the present snap cage half 2 or in the case of the present cage half 4, 6, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 9 to 13, (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization)—the distance 20—in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage halve 4, 6—between in each case two of the webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 corresponds to the sum of twice the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10 provided for the ball pockets 8 and a width 22 of the or of such a web 18 in the circumferential direction 24. Possible tolerances and/or a ball pocket play can be added or taken into consideration (to/in the sum).

(59) As a result, i.e. in the case of such a distance 20 in the case of/between the webs 18 of the or in the case of the cage halve 4, 6, two ball pockets 8 can be realized and thus two balls 10 received—in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage halve 4, 6—between in each case the two webs 18 of the cage halves 4, 6 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 (differently to as otherwise customary and corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization).

(60) Said “distance” 20 between the two webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 is dimensioned (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization), i.e. can be measured, as illustrated, in particular in FIGS. 9 to 13, at an axial 54, i.e. the extension of the/a ball pocket 8 in the axial direction 54 (also width direction 54) of the snap cage 2 or of the cage half 4, 6, center 58 of the/a ball pocket 8 and at a mean radial 56, i.e. the extension of a web 18 radially 56 toward or away from a center point M 62 of the snap cage 2, height 60 of a web 18 or of the webs 18—and is the length 20 of the corresponding circular arc (circular arc length 20) realized in this respect between the two adjacent webs 18 (cf. in particular FIGS. 9 to 13).

(61) The “width” 22 of the/a web 18 means (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) the extension 22 thereof, put clearly a (circular arc) length 22, in the circumferential direction 24 of the snap cage 2 or of the cage halve 4, 6—here then at the axial center 58 of the/a ball pocket 8 and at the mean radial height 60 of the/a web 18 or the webs 18 (cf. in particular FIGS. 9 to 13).

(62) Put clearly and simply, in each case two webs 18 of the cage half 4, 6 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 (arranged on the cage back 14, 16 of the respective cage half 4, 6) are spaced apart or removed from one another (by such an amount) in such a manner—in the circumferential direction 24—(according to the distance 20 provided), that two ball pockets 8 (for receiving two balls 10) can be realized between them (with the snap cage 2 mounted—cf. FIGS. 14 and 15), particularly when or particularly as a result of—when the two cage halves 4, 6 snap against one another into the ball set 50 (cf. FIG. 15) during or after mounting of the snap cage 2—one web 18 of the one cage part 4, 6 “enters” axially into or comes to rest (approximately centrally) between the two webs 18 of the other cage part 4, 6 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24.

(63) Put another way, the webs 18 of the one cage part 4, 6 and the webs 18 of the other cage part 4, 6 delimit, (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15,—with the snap cage 2 in the mounted state—the individual ball pockets 8 in the snap cage 2 in a mutual or in each case alternating manner.

(64) The snap cage 2 thus provides (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) the two identical cage halves 4, 6, the two cage halves 4, 6 of which—with the snap cage 2 mounted—can snap against one another into the ball set 50 of the ball bearing 40 (“(snap” lock/“snap locking”), the—even number of—ball pockets 8 of the snap cage 2—once the snap cage 2 or the cage halves 4, 6 have been mounted in the ball bearing 40—being configured in this manner.

(65) FIGS. 12 and 13 show (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) two possible alternative (sub)design forms of the second realization of the snap cage 2, i.e. in the case of the snap cage 2 with the conical outer surface 26, 30.

(66) As shown in FIG. 12—as an example for the one cage half 4,6 of the two identical cage halves 4, 6 of the snap cage 2, said first (sub)design form provides (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) that a distance 72 between the in each case two webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction is approximately the same size in the circumferential direction 24 on an outer circumference 32, 34 of the cage half 4, 6 as a distance 74 between the two webs 18 on an inner circumference 36, 38 of the cage part 4, 6, i.e. the distance 20 also corresponds approximately to the sum of twice the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10 provided for the ball pockets 8 and one width 22 of the or such a web 18 in the circumferential direction 24.

(67) As FIG. 12—said dimensioning—illustrates (also in section) (FIG. 12 is a (cross) section of the snap cage 2 parallel to the radius R 68 of the snap cage 2 in the axial center 58 of the ball pocket 8), the walls 66 of the/a web 18, which delimit the ball pockets 8 in the circumferential direction 24, extend in the direction of the center point M 62 of the snap cage 2 in a converging manner to the extent that the (imaginary) elongations 70 thereof in the radial direction of the snap cage 2 intersect “in front of” the center point M 62 thereof.

(68) In contrast, it is provided in the case of the second alternative (sub)design form, as shown in FIG. 13—once again as an example for the one cage half 4,6 of the two identical cage halves 4, 6 of the snap cage 2—that (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) the distance 72 between the in each case two webs 18 adjacent in the circumferential direction 24 is—in this case—greater in the circumferential direction 24 on the outer circumference 32, 34 of the cage half 4, 6 then the distance 74 between the two webs 18 on the inner circumference 36, 38 of the cage part 4, 6, (notwithstanding and without prejudice to the provided distance 20 corresponding approximately to the sum of twice the ball diameter 12 of the balls 10 provided for the ball pockets 8 and the width 22 of the or such a web 18 in the circumferential direction 24—at the axial center 58 of the/a ball pocket 8 and at the mean radial height 60 of a web 18 or the webs 18).

(69) As FIG. 13—said dimensioning—illustrates (also in section) (FIG. 13 is also a (cross) section of the snap cage 2 parallel to the radius R 68 of the snap cage 2 in the axial center 58 of the ball pocket 8), the walls 66 of the/a web 18, which delimit the ball pockets 8 in the circumferential direction 24, extend in the direction of the center point M 62 of the snap cage 2 in a converging manner to the extent that the (imaginary) extensions 70 thereof in the radial direction of the snap cage 2 intersect in the center point M 62 thereof.

(70) Said different distance dimensioning (in the case of the second alternative (sub)design form) at the outer 32, 34 or inner circumference 36, 38 then results—with the snap cage 2 mounted—in particular (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) in the configured ball pockets 8 (with the snap cage 2 mounted) each having different ball pocket lengths (in the circumferential direction 24) at the outer circumference 32, 34 or inner circumference 36, 38 of the snap cage 2 (ball pocket 8 with “funnel shape”).

(71) The snap cage 2 (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) is produced from a high-grade plastics material such as, for example, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone (PEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamideimide (PAI) or Polyimide (PI).

(72) FIG. 16 (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) shows the single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40 with the snap cage 2 installed holding the balls 10 in position—between an inner raceway 42 and an outer raceway 44. The snap cage 2 (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) is realized as an inner-ring-guided ball bearing cage 2, i.e. the inner circumference 36, 38 of the snap cage 2 or the inner circumferences 36, 38 of the two cage halves 4, 6 slides/slide along an outer circumference 76 of the inner raceway 42.

(73) As a result of the fact that, in this case, (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) each cage half 4, 6 of the snap cage 2 can be guided separately on an inner ring shoulder 78 of the inner raceway 42 in the case of the single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40, vibrations that arise can be damped in an advantageous manner.

(74) The outer raceway 44 and the inner raceway 42 of the single-row radial deep groove ball bearing 40 are produced (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization) from chromium steel, such as for example from 100Cr6 (material number 1.3505), a steel with a content of approximately 1% carbon and 1.5% chromium.

(75) During the mounting 100 of the single-row radial deep groove ball bearings 40, (corresponding to the or as also in the case of the snap cage 2 according to the first realization), first of all the balls 10 are moved 102 abutting against one another into the outer raceway 44.

(76) The inner raceway 42 is then first of all added into the outer raceway 44 from an eccentric position and then moved 104 into an approximately concentric position in the outer raceway 44. In addition, the balls 10 are then distributed such that they are at approximately identical distances 106 from one another in the circumferential direction 24.

(77) After this, the two cage parts 4, 6 are inserted one after the other between the inner and the outer raceway 42, 44 from both sides 46, 48, snapping 108 against one another into the ball set 50.

(78) Although the detail of the invention has been illustrated and described more closely by the preferred exemplary embodiment or embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be deduced therefrom by the expert without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(79) 2 (Two-part) ball bearing cage, (two-part) snap cage 4 (First) cage part, (first) cage half 6 (Second) cage part, (second) cage half 8 Ball pocket 10 Ball 12 Ball diameter 14 Ring-shaped body/cage back of the first cage part/cage half 4 16 Ring-shaped body/cage back of the second cage part/cage half 6 18 Web 20 Distance, circular arc length (between two adjacent webs 18 of a cage half/cage part 4, 6) 22 Width of a web 18, extension of a web 18 along a circular arc (circular arc length) in the circumferential direction 24 24 Circumferential direction of the (two-part) ball bearing cage 2 or of the (two-part) snap cage 2 or of the cage half 4, 6 or of the ball bearing 40 26 Outer surface 28 Cylindrical outer surface 30 Conical outer surface 32 Outer circumference of the first cage part/cage half 4 or of the (two-part) ball bearing cage 2 or of the (two-part) snap cage 2 or of the ball bearing 40 34 Outer circumference of the second cage part/cage half 6 or of the (two-part) ball bearing cage 2 or of the (two-part) snap cage 2 or of the ball bearing 40 36 Inner circumference of the first cage part/cage half 4 or of the (two-part) ball bearing cage 2 or of the (two-part) snap cage 2 or of the ball bearing 40 38 Inner circumference of the second cage part/cage half 6 or of the (two-part) ball bearing cage 2 or of the (two-part) snap cage 2 or of the ball bearing 40 40 Ball bearing, (single-row) radial deep groove ball bearing 42 Inner raceway 44 Outer raceway 46 First side of the ball bearing 40 48 Second side of the ball bearing 40 50 Ball set 52 Cone angle 54 Axial direction, width direction 56 Radial direction 58 Axial center of a ball pocket 8 60 Mean radial height of a web 18 62 Center point M of the (two-part) ball bearing cage or of the (two-part) snap cage 2 or of the ball bearing 40 64 Width of a ball pocket 8 (in axial direction/width direction 54) 66 Wall of a ball pocket 8 68 Radius R 70 Elongation 72 Distance, circular arc length (between two adjacent webs 18 of a cage half/cage part 4, 6 on the outer circumference thereof) 74 Distance, circular arc length (between two adjacent webs 18 of a cage half/cage part 4, 6 on the inner circumference thereof) 76 Outer circumference of the inner raceway 42 78 Inner ring shoulder of the inner raceway 42 100 Method for the assembly of the ball bearing 40 102 Moving the balls 10 104 Moving and centering the inner raceway 42 106 Distributing the balls 10 108 Inserting the two cage parts/cage halves 4, 6 one after another and snapping them into the ball set 50