TECHNICAL FIELD This invention pertains to anti-friction bearings having a plurality of rolling elements, such as balls, arranged between two races and normally used 5 to support a rotatable shaft, secured to the inner race, by a housing, secured to its outer race. BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART Precision ball bearings of this type, when employed for example with the gimbals of_ stabilized 10 platforms used in flight-control and guidance systems, may be secured to the surrounding housing and to the shaft by means of adhesive substances. Unfortunately, fastening the bearing races with adhesives prevents the subsequent removal of the bearings. 15 Whenever the bearing races are made of a material which is different from the material of the housing and the shaft, the races have a coefficient of thermal expansion which is different from that of the housing and the shaft. For example, it may be 20 desirable to fabricate the housing and the shaft of

A ^■* *< aluminum, but to fabricate the bearing races of steel.

Aluminum has a higher thermal coefficient of expansion as compared to that of steel. Consequently, when the

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temperature is decreased, the housing and the shaft pull away from the bearing races, while, when the temperature is increased, the housing and the shaft tighten onto the steel bearing races thus causing stresses in the aluminum housing and in the shaft. To avoid problems of differential thermal expansion in ball bearings, as the most common form of anti-friction bearings, while still using steel races in conjunction with an aluminum housing and a shaft of aluminum, cuts in the form of slots have been made across the races by removing a small segment of each race thereby to form a gap. The bearing races are axially loaded, so that the steel races continually load the balls and are urged into contact with both the aluminum housing and the shaft. Differential thermal expansion between the parts made of aluminum and of steel merely causes changes in the width of the gap in the races and varies the load angle on the balls. Thus, the races are maintained at a tight fit with both the shaft and the housing. Because of the space left by the segment removal, the bearings can easily be inserted into and removed from the housing, and the shaft can easily be inserted into and removed from the inner race. However, unfortunately, when the balls cross the gap formed by the slot in the races, a short- duration torque pulse is -observed between the races.

In accordance with an unpublished development, to avoid the torque pulses between the races, ramps were machined into the ball tracks where the balls contact the gap. Such ramps remove the torque pulses, particularly when the gaps in both of the races are radially aligned, because of the large spacing between the races in the region of the gaps. However, the ^' balls are unloaded, and, furthermore, such ramps are very difficult to machine. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is contemplated by this invention that a bearing with split bearing races, i.e., races wherein slots have been cut into each of the two bearing races, can be modified in a unique configuration to avoid torque pulses when the balls cross the gaps produced by the cuts.

The present invention is based upon the recognition that the torque pulses can be prevented by constructing the bearing races in such a manner that the two oppositely facing, i.e., oriented, ends of the bearing races which form the gap between themselves are operating as springs. It was reasoned that by rendering these oppositely facing ends of the bearing races resilient, these portions would exhibit the needed compliance to permit the rolling elements of an anti-friction bearing, usually the balls of a ball

bearing, to pass over the gaps without experiencing the undesirable torque pulses which sooner or later lead to destruction of the bearing. As will be seen from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, the springs are suitably flat springs which can relatively simply be provided by reducing the thickness of the bearing race material in the area -of the gaps.

In connection with this development of the inventive concept, it is of interest to note that the present invention is believed to teach away from the generally accepted, conventional rule requiring that bearing races must be rigid elements. In contrast, as explained above and described in more detail further below, the present invention, as is believed for the first, time, teaches split bearing races which exhibit resiliency in the area of the gap. This feature is believed to be characteristic of the first practically useful development which avoids or at least substantially alleviates torque pulses.

In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, there is provided an anti-friction bearing comprising rolling elements between an inner race and an outer race, each of the two races having a gap between two oppositely oriented end portions, wherein at least one of the end portions of at least one of the

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races is a spring whose resiliency, during operation, substantially alleviates torque pulses otherwise caused by the rolling elements when passing over the gaps.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, it is implemented by a ball bearing, i.e., the rolling elements are balls. Suitably, both end portions of at least one race, preferably both end portions of both races are springs.

It was found that in such practical embodiment the desired effect is suitably achieved when the end portions of a race constitute springs by-virtue of their thickness being reduced in the region of the gap. Specifically, the thickness reduction of the inner race may be the result of an enlargement of the inner radius of the inner race, preferably resulting from the provision of a recess in the inner surface of the inner race in the region of the gap, forming a substantially circularly cylindrical surface whose diameter is less than the radius of the inner surface of the inner race. For best results, the recess may be symmetrically disposed with respect to the gap in the inner race.

In analogy with the thickness reduction of the inner race, the thickness reduction of the outer race may be the result of a reduction of the outer radius of the outer race, preferably resulting from the provision of a substantially flat surface portion in the region

of the gap of the outer surface of the outer race, the flat surface portion extending along a chord of the outer diameter of the outer race. For best results, the flat surface portion may be symmetrically disposed with respect to the gap in the outer race.

It will thus be seen that a practical implementation of the fundamental concept of the present invention involves reducing the thickness of both races in their region adjacent the gap, i.e., where the slots have been or will be made. In the region of the gaps, the outer radius of the outer race is reduced, and the inner radius of the inner race is increased. The reducing of the outer radius of the outer race produces a space between the outer race and the housing in the region of the gap in the outer race, and both ends of the split .outer race become canti- levered springs. Similarly, the increase of the inner radius of the inner race produces a space between the inner race and the shaft in the region of the gap in the inner race; and both ends of the split inner race become also cantilevered springs. In this embodiment the cantilevered springs are flexed as the balls pass over the gaps, and no torque pulses are produced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become better understood from the following detailed description of one

embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a shaft mounted upon a pair of loaded ball bearings supported by a housing;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a ball bearing assembly according to this invention;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the top portion of Figure 2, illustrating the region around the gaps in the ball races. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Anti-friction bearings, and especially- ball bearings, of this invention are particularly useful in assemblies of the type shown in Figure 1, illustrating two loaded ball bearings 10 and 12. The ball bearings may be loaded by a Belleville spring 14 positioned between a flange.16 on a shaft 18 and the inner race 20 of the ball bearing 10. The inner race 21 of the ball bearing 12 engages a shoulder 17 of the shaft 18, so that the spring 14 loads both bearings 10 and 12. The outer races 22 and 23 of ball bearings 10 and 12 are pressed into contact with a housing 24. It will be realized that the housing 24 symbolizes any supporting structure which, at the same time, may assume the

protective function of what may conveniently be called a housing.

The illustrated embodiment of a ball bearing of this invention is better shown in Figures 2 and 3, together with the enlarged portion of Figure 4. Only the ball bearing 10 is illustrated and described, because the bearing 12 is of identical construction ^* .

The ball bearing 10 has a plurality of balls 26 between the outer race 22 and inner race 20. Alternate balls may support spacers 27 which may be made of the material known and available under the trademark TEFLON. The balls 26 are loaded, so that the points of contact between the balls 26 and the- channels 28, 30 are staggered, as is conventional in the art and shown at 32, 34 in exaggerated view in Figure 3. Both - the inner race 20 and the outer race 22 are split, i.e., each has a slot cut therethrough to form gaps 36 and 38. For convenience, gaps 36, 38 are shown in an aligned configuration in Figures 2 and 4, but they will usually not be aligned.

To prevent the balls 26 from producing the undesirable torque pulses between the races 20 and 22 as they cross the gaps 36 and 38 and thus engage the edges of the gaps, it is contemplated by this invention to render the oppositely oriented ends of the races resilient which is accomplished in the illustrated

embodiment by increasing the inner radius of the inner race 20 in the region of the gap 38, as shown at 40, and by reducing the outer radius of the outer race 22 in the region of the gap 36, as shown at 42, see Figure 4. The inner radius of the inner race 20 may be increased conveniently under use of a rotary machine tool which machines a recess 60 into the inner surface of the inner race, and the outer radius of the outer race 22 may be decreased conveniently by forming the substantially planar surface 42 substantially along a chord of the nonreduced outer diameter. This reduction of the outer radius of race 22. forms a space 50 between the race 22 and the housing 24, so ^" that the oppositely oriented, i.e., facing ends 52 and 54 of the race 22 are cantilevered springs. The increase of the inner radius of the race 20 forms the recess 60 between the race 20 and the shaft 18 so that the oppositely oriented ends 62 and 64 of the race 20 are also canti¬ levered springs. Note that the surface 42 is preferably substantially normal to gap 36, so that springs 52 and 54 are of substantially identical shape. Note also that the substantially circularly cylindrical surface 40 of recess 60 has a diameter which is preferably less than the nonenlarged radius of the inner race 20. The axis of the cylindrical surface 40 is preferably substantially parallel to the axis of the

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inner race 20, and it is preferably symmetrical with respect to the gap 38 to cause the springs 62 and 64 to be of substantially identical shape. The alterations of the races 20, 22 may also be made by an electrical forming tool.

During operation, as the balls 26 cross over the gap 36, the springs 52 and 54 flex outwardly to" avoid producing any substantial torque between the races 20 and 22. Similarly, as the balls 26 cross over the gap 38, the springs 62 and 64 flex inwardly, also to avoid producing any substantial torque between the races 20 and 22.

It is noted that in vicinity of the gaps 36 and 38, i.e., in the region extending over the partial circumference of the spaces or recesses 50 and 60, the load-carrying capacity of the bearing is weakened. For that reason, it may be desirable that the length of these partial circumferences be minimized. These circumferences, however, should be long enough to allow the springs 42, 54, 62 and 64 to flex sufficiently to avoid or at least alleviate producing torques between the races 20 and 22 whenever the balls 26 cross the gaps 36 and 38.

Typical dimensions of one embodiment of a ball bearing are:

Ball diameter: 0.32 cm nominal;

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Nonreduced diameter of outer race 22: 5.08 cm; Nonenlarged diameter of inner race 20: 3.90 cm; Radius of Surface 49: 0.96 cm nominal; Minimum thickness between the ball channel and the outer diameter of race 22, and minimum thickness between the ball channel and the inner diameter of race 20: 0.025 cm;

Nominal nonreduced thickness of races 20 and 22: 0.2 cm; Circumferential width of gaps 36 and 38: 0.013 cm.

The above dimensions are given by way of example only.

It will thus become apparent that the invention provides anti-friction bearings, such as ball bearings, wherein the undesirable phenomenon of torque pulses between the bearing races, created by the rolling elements, such as the balls when crossing the gaps, is prevented by providing the cantilevered springs which flex as the rolling elements, or balls, cross the gaps.

Although one embodiment of the invention is described in detail above, it is not intended that the invention be limited by that description of the embodiment.

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