Abstract: A ball bearing which includes a cage which defines recesses for receiving balls in a single row. The cage is in the form of a ring obtained by casting or machining and is intended to be interposed between an inner ring and an outer ring of the bearing. The cage includes recesses of a first group each having an opening for positioning a ball located on a first side of the cage, while recesses of a second group each have an opening for positioning a ball located on a second side of the cage, opposite the first side.

Abstract: It is intended to suppress rattling in the fitted state of segments to improve operating efficiency in bonding the segments together. A cage composed of a plurality of arcuate segments, wherein a joining projection formed in the bonding section of one of adjacent segments is fitted in a joining recess formed in the bonding section of the other to thereby annularly bond the segments. In this cage, said joining projection and joining recess have tapered fitting surfaces as seen in a radial section, and the two fitting surfaces are closely contacted and joined together.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a bearing device, a head support device, and a magnetic recording/reproducing device which can be used in a HDD or the like for a long period of time and are able to meet the purposes such as size reduction, high performance, low noise, high speed, and low cost.

Abstract: It is intended to suppress rattling in the fitted state of segments to improve operating efficiency in bonding the segments together.

Abstract: A needle roller bearing includes a plurality of needle rollers that each have first and second end portions and that are disposed circumferentially around a shaft, a cylindrical first retainer member having a plurality of first notches each respectively adapted to rotatably support the first end portion of a respective one of the rollers, and a cylindrical second retainer member located spaced apart from and opposite the first retainer member and having a plurality of second notches each respectively adapted to rotatably support the second end portion of a respective one of the rollers. A plurality of voids are provided to form grease-containing spaces between the adjacent rollers and between the first and second retainer members so that the roller bearing is sufficiently lubricated.

Abstract: A retainer for a ball bearing formed in a generally annular shape and having a plurality of pockets arranged in a circumferential direction, respectively, to rollably hold a plurality of balls along a pitch circle, respectively, the pockets each having an inner peripheral surface comprising a radially inner section which is located inward of the pitch circle of the balls in the radial direction of the retainer, and has an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the balls, such that the gap between the radially inner section of the inner peripheral surface of the pockets and the rolling surface of the balls gradually increases toward the opening of the pockets on the inner side in the radial direction of the retainer, and that the maximum inscribing circle of the opening of the pockets on the outer side in the radial direction of the retainer has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the balls.

Abstract: A ball bearing construction including a plurality of balls supported in a cage and each ball within a row is off-set relative to each other. In certain applications the rolling surface of the balls bear against the rotating shaft and the case enclosing the bearing. The number of balls and the number of rows are predicated on the particular application. This invention is particularly efficacious for use for medical instruments. In other embodiments an inner race and/or outer race can be utilized with this configured balls and cage.

Abstract: A gear assembly for a power tool. The gear assembly includes a gear assembly housing, a ring gear supported by the gear assembly housing, one of the gear assembly housing and the ring gear having an end defining a first bearing race, a planetary gear carrier member supported for rotation relative to the ring gear and defining a second bearing race, the carrier member being drivingly engageable with a tool element to drive the tool element, a plurality of planet gears supported by the carrier member and drivingly connectable to the gear end of the drive shaft of the motor, the plurality of planet gears interacting with a ring gear to rotatably drive the carrier member, and a plurality of bearing members supported between the first bearing race and the second bearing race.

Abstract: A cage is made of a low carbon steel and is for use in a rolling bearing which includes an outer ring, an inner ring and a plurality of rolling elements disposed rotationally between the outer ring and the inner ring. The cage includes a plurality of pockets for retaining the rolling elements in an equi-distribution in the rotating direction of the rolling elements. The low carbon steel is a steel containing from 0.02 to 0.10% by weight of C and from 0.10 to 0.45% by weight of Mn and is subjected to plastic working. The hardness for the pocket surface at least at a portion in contact with the rolling element is Hv 190 to 270, and the hardness for the core portion in the cage section is Hv 110 to 170.

Abstract: A separator for a bearing comprising a frame including a plurality of cavities for receiving rolling elements and further including a lubrication channel in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of cavities. This separator may be a component of a bearing including an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed in each of the plurality of cavities of the separator and set to be in movable contact with the outer race and inner race of the bearing. A lubricant is introduced into the lubrication channel and flows into each of the plurality of cavities which provides evenly distributed lubrication to each rolling element of the bearing assembly.

Abstract: A sheet-metal cage for rolling-contact bearings, comprising at least one cage segment which is bent into a circular shape, of a punched-out sheet-metal strip which interlocks in a dovetailed manner at the joint between segment ends, the joint being fixed with a plastic locking part.

Abstract: The pockets 61 to 72 in the bearing 3 are arranged along the circumference (A), and the central points (P1˜P12) of the pockets 61 to 72 are displaced from the uniform arrangement points of the pockets, that is from the central points on the circumference (A) of the pockets 61 to 72 when the arrangement space of the pockets 61 to 72 is uniform, on the side remote from the reference point (P0) on the circumference (A).

Abstract: In a double-row angular contact ball bearing comprising an outer ring (1), an inner ring (2) and two ball crown rings (3, 4) formed by bearing balls (3.1, 4.1) guided in two separate cages (3.2, 4.2) and supported on shoulders (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2) of said inner and outer rings, ball raceways of the bearing having different diameters, the cages (3.2, 4.2) are made of plastic and configured as window-type cages comprising pockets for receiving the bearing balls (3.1, 4.1), and one of the cages (3.2, 4.2) comprises on an axially inward oriented end, a plurality of spacers (3.5, 4.5) uniformly spaced from one another in peripheral direction, said one cage further comprises a plurality of retaining lugs (3.4, 4.4) uniformly spaced from one another in peripheral direction, which retaining lugs engage a corresponding groove (2.3, 1.3) of one of the inner (2) and the outer ring (1), and the spacers (3.5, 4.5) of the one cage (3.2, 4.2) prevent an axial displacement of the other cage (4.2, 3.2).

Abstract: Strength and rigidity are provided to a retainer so as to prevent the retainer from being deformed by force and sliding friction generated by rolling elements thereby preventing occurrence of retainer noise of a rolling bearing and aggravation of NRRO. A retainer is entirely formed of synthetic resin, and a highly elastic synthetic resin is used for the claws which are required to be highly elastic. A part below a boundary L of a body portion is formed of resin with sufficient strength and rigidity to prevent deformation due to force and sliding friction of rolling elements, thus preventing decline in strength of the retainer as a whole which may occur because of the use of resin with high elasticity for the claws. The strength of the retainer as a whole is fully ensured by the body portion, thus improving various functions, contributed by the rolling bearing.

Abstract: The frequencies generated based on the undulations existing on the inner and outer ring raceways 8, 10 and on the rolling surface of the balls 11, 11 are out of coincidence with the rotational frequency itself of the rotation member supported by the rolling bearing, and with a frequency component which is a multiple of the rotational frequency, or kinds of frequencies generated due to the undulations are out of coincidence with each other in the natural frequency domain of a rotation system which is a rotation supporting portion having the rolling bearing incorporated therein, whereby without using a special grease, the self-excited frequency of the rolling bodies hardly grows to abnormal vibration, and a rolling bearing having sufficient durability and causing no abnormal vibration and noise even if used at low temperature is realized.

Abstract: A deep channel type of radial ball bearing having a retainer. The bearing has an outer ring and an inner ring. Running channels are formed on the mutually opposing orbiting surfaces of the outer ring and inner ring. A specified number of balls are fit into the running channels. The retainer having pockets is placed between the outer ring and the inner ring. Each ball is captured in one of the pockets. A ball contact surface is formed on the inner surface of each edge on the opening side of the pockets. A curved ridge line forms the boundary between the inner surface of the pocket and the contact surface. This curved ridge line that forms the boundary is substantially parallel to the direction of rotation of the balls. A channel is formed at the bottom surface of the pocket. The channel extends from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter of the retainer.

Abstract: The designing of an annular integral type is established by forming a cage of a resin material that satisfies the condition (a) that the ratio of its linear expansion coefficient to that of bearing steel is not more than 2 or the condition (b) that its water absorption percentage is not more than 0.5%, or both conditions (a) and (b), thereby preventing the occurrence of abnormal sounds by stabilizing the behavior of a segment type cage for an ultrathin-walled rolling bearing.

Abstract: A ball bearing construction including a plurality of balls supported in a cage and each ball within a row is off-set relative to each other. In certain applications the rolling surface of the balls bear against the rotating shaft and the case enclosing the bearing. The number of balls and the number of rows are predicated on the particular application. This invention is particularly efficacious for use for medical instruments. In other embodiments an inner race and/or outer race can be utilized with this configured balls and cage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rolling bearing that prevents retainer noise and NRRO deterioration thereof by imparting strength and rigidity to a retainer so as to prevent it from being deformed by force from rolling elements and sliding friction. An annular plate is connected to a retainer by bosses. Due to the rigidity of the annular plate, the strength and rigidity of the retainer can be improved. Additionally, since the bosses are fixed to grease reservoirs arranged at an equal spacing therebetween on the circumference of the retainer, the strength and rigidity of the retainer can be equally improved over the entire circumference thereof.

Abstract: A ball bearing comprising an inner ring having an outer peripheral surface formed with an inner ring raceway thereon, an outer ring having an inner peripheral surface formed with an outer ring raceway thereon, a cage made of synthetic resin and rotatably disposed relative to the inner ring and outer ring and having a plurality of pockets formed therein, and a plurality of balls held in the pockets, respectively, to be rotatably disposed between the inner ring raceway and outer ring raceway, wherein in the state before the cage is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and where the balls held in the pockets are displaced toward the radially inside of the cage until the rolling contact surface of the balls comes in contact with the inner surface of the respective pockets to produce a circumscribed circle with a diameter with respect to the balls, the diameter of the circumscribed circle is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer ring raceway by an amount in the range 10 &mgr;m to 60 &mgr;m.

Abstract: In the typical embodiments described in the specification, a rolling element bearing arrangement includes an inner raceway with a curved outer surface facing in one lateral direction, an outer raceway with a curved inner surface facing in the opposite lateral direction, an array of rolling elements such as balls engaging the curved surfaces of the inner and outer raceways, a retaining ring in which the array of balls is received, and a retaining ring stabilizer urging the retaining ring in a lateral direction with respect to one of the raceways to inhibit vibration of the components. In addition, a vibration inhibiting outer ring member which may contain a heavy metal or a resilient material, is retained against the outer surface of the outer raceway by a composite wrap which may be a fiber-reinforced organic or inorganic polymer composite made by a dry layup, resin transfer molding, wet filament winding or preimpreganted filament winding technique.

Abstract: An angular contact ball bearing includes an outer ring having an outer ring race formed on an inner surface thereof, an inner ring having an inner ring race provided on the outer surface thereof, a plurality of rolling elements provided between the outer ring and the inner ring, an annular cage for retaining the rolling elements, and seals provided on openings between the respective ends of the inner and outer rings. The cage is made of a synthetic resin material and is supported through the guide of the rolling elements. The cage includes a plurality of cylindrical pockets arranged peripherally for retaining the rolling elements and a reduced diameter portion formed at ends of the pocket for regulating the radial movement of the cage while being in contact with the rolling element.

Abstract: A cage for use in a rolling bearing made of low carbon steel for use in a rolling bearing comprising an outer ring, an inner ring and a plurality of rolling elements disposed rotationally between the outer ring and the inner ring and having pockets for retaining the rolling elements in an equi distribution in the rotating direction of the rolling element is constituted with a steel containing from 0.02 to 0.10% by weight of C and from 0.10 to 0.45% by weight of Mn, in which the hardness for the surface at least at a portion in contact with the rolling element is Hv 190 or more and the hardness for the inside is Hv 110 to 170, the cage for use in the rolling bearing described above being a high strength cage causing less deformation or fracture and having a stable performance.

Abstract: A window-type cage for an angular contact ball bearing. Lubricant pockets are provided in the spherical pocket surfaces which are provided for guiding the balls. These lubricant pockets are all arranged in regions which lie outside the bearing points between the ball and the cage in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction, such that the wall thickness of the cage at the bearing points is not reduced by the position and design of the lubricant pockets.

Abstract: A constant velocity fixed joint comprising an outer joint part forming an annular member with a first longitudinal axis and comprising first ball tracks. The first ball tracks extend at a distance from the first longitudinal axis and each form a first angle of crossing therewith. The joint also includes an inner joint part forms a hub with a second longitudinal axis and comprising second ball tracks. The second ball tracks extend at a distance from the second longitudinal axis and each form a second angle of crossing therewith. The first ball tracks and the second ball tracks are circurnferentially distributed and associated with one another in pairs, with the first angles of crossing and the second angles of crossing of the pairs of ball tracks being identical in size and opening in opposite directions relative to the longitudinal axes. When the longitudinal axes coincide, the points of intersection of the pairs of ball tracks form a central joint plane.

Abstract: In the typical embodiments described in the specification, a rolling element bearing arrangement includes an inner raceway with a curved outer surface facing in one lateral direction, an outer raceway with a curved inner surface facing in the opposite lateral direction, an array of rolling elements such as balls engaging the curved surfaces of the inner and outer raceways, a retaining ring in which the array of balls is received, and a retaining ring stabilizer urging the retaining ring in a lateral direction with respect to one of the raceways to inhibit vibration of the components. In addition, a vibration inhibiting outer ring member which may contain a heavy metal or a resilient material, is retained against the outer surface of the outer raceway by a composite wrap which may be a fiber-reinforced organic or inorganic polymer composite made by a dry layup, resin transfer molding, wet filament winding or preimpreganted filament winding technique.

Abstract: An ultrathin walled rolling bearing in which the noise level is reduced and thus the sound characteristics are improved is provided. The rolling bearing is composed of an outer member having in its inner periphery a raceway surface, an inner member having in its outer periphery a raceway surface, a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the raceway surfaces of the outer and inner members, and a cage for circumferentially equi-spacing the rolling elements. In this bearing, the ratio of the diameter DB of the rolling element to the pitch circle diameter PCD of the bearing is equal to or less than 0.03. In addition, the ratio L/M falls within a range of 0.8 to 0.95 in which L is the radial thickness of the cage and M is the radius difference between the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and the outer peripheral surface of the inner member.

Abstract: A cage for a ball bearing, having a front face with cells adapted to hold a row of balls, and a rear face including a ring-shaped body with slots. The slots are adapted to interlock with slots of a second cage. The slots have teeth that extend towards the front face and separate the cells, and the teeth have sides with semispherical bearing surfaces oriented towards a center of a respective cell. The front face includes a closing ring linking the teeth, were the closing ring is adapted to be recessed in relation to an axial extremity of the balls. Additionally, a bearing is provided that includes an outer bushing, an inner bushing, a row of balls, and a cage configured to receive the row of balls, where the cage and the row of balls are received between the outer and inner bushings.

Abstract: A roller chain incorporating the roller bearings wherein a plurality of rollers are disposed between a roller that functions as an outer ring and a bush that functions as an inner ring comprises a substantially ring-shaped retainer disposed on both ends of the roller respectively. The retainer includes a plurality of pockets for guiding at least a part of each of the rollers on the inner side of the retainer.

Abstract: A ball bearing in which an annular cage with a plurality of pockets formed through the annular cage is incorporated between inner and outer rings, a ball is housed in each pocket, the annular cage is guided by the outer ring, and a relationship between a radial clearance (guide clearance) &agr; of the annular cage with respect to the outer ring and an axial clearance (pocket clearance) &bgr; of an inner wall face of the pocket with respect to the ball is set at &agr;≦&bgr;.

Abstract: A plastic snap cage for radial ball bearings includes thin-walled cup-like pocket elements spaced about the circumference and connected with each other in one piece through ribs, thereby forming pockets that are open in the axial direction to receive the balls. The radially inwardly and/or the radially outwardly extending boundary edge of the pockets is rounded in accordance with a selected rounding radius R.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rolling bearing that prevents retainer noise and NRRO deterioration thereof by imparting strength and rigidity to a retainer so as to prevent it from being deformed by force from rolling elements and sliding friction. An annular plate is connected to a retainer by bosses. Due to the rigidity of the annular plate, the strength and rigidity of the retainer can be improved. Additionally, since the bosses are fixed to grease reservoirs arranged at an equal spacing therebetween on the circumference of the retainer, the strength and rigidity of the retainer can be equally improved over the entire circumference thereof.

Abstract: In the retainer 10 for a rolling bearing having the retainer comprising a plurality of pockets 21 for supporting a plurality of rolling body in the circular direction at an equal spacing on one end side of the retainer, a plurality of recessed portions 23 and 24 in communicated with both of the back face and the periphery surface are formed, and after assembling the retainer on both ends of the bearing, the lubricant is applied from the recessed portion 23 of the back face to the recessed portion 24 of the periphery side and is made to flow in the bearing approximately uniformly in the circular direction to apply the sufficient amount of lubricant in the pocket 21 of the front of the retainer 20 and the connection portion 22 to solve the variation of the bearing torque and reduce.

Abstract: A single row tapered roller bearing enables an axle shaft to rotate in an axle housing and further confines the shaft axially with respect to the housing. The bearing includes a cup that is fitted into the housing and a cone that is fitted around a bearing seat on the shaft and also tapered rollers located between raceways on the cup and cone. Radial loads and thrust loads in one axial direction are transferred to the rollers at the raceways. Thrust loads in the other axial direction are transferred to the rollers at a confining surface on the cup at the large ends of the rollers and at another confining surface on a backing collar located at the small ends of the rollers. The backing collar fits over the bearing seat on the shaft with an interference fit and captures the cone on the bearing seat.

Abstract: A ball bearing comprising an inner ring having an outer peripheral surface formed with an inner ring raceway thereon, an outer ring having an inner peripheral surface formed with an outer ring raceway thereon, a cage made of synthetic resin and rotatably disposed relative to the inner ring and outer ring and having a plurality of pockets formed therein, and a plurality of balls held in the pockets, respectively, to be rotatably disposed between the inner ring raceway and outer ring raceway, wherein in the state before the cage is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and where the balls held in the pockets are displaced toward the radially inside of the cage until the rolling contact surface of the balls comes in contact with the inner surface of the respective pockets to produce a circumscribed circle with a diameter with respect to the balls, the diameter of the circumscribed circle is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer ring raceway by an amount in the range 10 &mgr;m to 60 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Annular housing device intended for maintaining the circumferential spacing of the rolling elements, in particular balls, in a rolling bearing, having at least one row of balls arranged between two rolling tracks, the housing having a rear face and a front face which are axially offset and having a multiplicity of substantially spherical cells, in each of which a ball is arranged, the cells issuing axially on the front face and radially on the two sides, the front face having a multiplicity of pairs of opposite tabs for maintaining the balls in the cells. The front face comprises two surfaces axially offset relative to one another, of which an outer first surface has the tabs projecting from it and is located in a plane in front of the radial plane passing through the centers of the cells, and of which an inner second surface is located in a plane passing substantially through the centers of the cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic resin crown-shaped retainer for ball bearing, which permits the reduction in the deformation of pawls and the prevention of scattering over of grease.

Abstract: A bearing supports a rotating element. The bearing comprises an inner annular body and an outer annular body about the inner annular body. A bearing surface, which is located between the inner annular body and the outer annular body, supports the outer annular body for rotation about the inner annular body. A cage supports the bearing surface during rotation of the outer annular body about the inner annular body. The cage includes a material that imparts increased flexural modulus that resists deformation during rotation.

Abstract: An ultrathin walled rolling bearing in which the noise level is reduced and thus the sound characteristics are improved is provided. The rolling bearing is composed of an outer member having in its inner periphery a raceway surface, an inner member having in its outer periphery a raceway surface, a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the raceway surfaces of the outer and inner members, and a cage for circumferentially equi-spacing the rolling elements. In this bearing, the ratio of the diameter DB of the rolling element to the pitch circle diameter PCD of the bearing is equal to or less than 0.03. In addition, the ratio L/M falls within a range of 0.8 to 0.95 in which L is the radial thickness of the cage and M is the radius difference between the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and the outer peripheral surface of the inner member.

Abstract: A rolling bearing for a rotary shaft of a disk memory device which can maintain high-accuracy optical or magnetic recording ability over a long period of time. The rolling bearing supports a rotary shaft of a disk of disk memory device or a rotary shaft of an arm of a head, and has an inner ring having an inner diameter of 8 mm or less, and a retainer formed by molding an oil-containing resin composition comprising 40-94 wt % of a synthetic resin, 1-40 wt % of oil conducting material, and 5-30 wt % lubricating oil. Lubricating oil is dispersed uniformly in the composition, and can bleed onto the surface through the fibrous oil conducting material.

Abstract: A bearing retainer of a synthetic resin, which can be injection molded out of a material obtained by mixing at least particles of a heat resisting reins with a thermoplastic resin, and which can thereby be manufactured at a low cost without compromise in suitability for high-rotational-speed and high-temperature applications.

Abstract: A cage for a ball bearing, having a front face with cells adapted to hold a row of balls, and a rear face including a ring-shaped body with slots. The slots are adapted to interlock with slots of a second cage. The slots have teeth that extend towards the front face and separate the cells, and the teeth have sides with semispherical bearing surfaces oriented towards a center of a respective cell. The front face includes a closing ring linking the teeth, were the closing ring is adapted to be recessed in relation to an axial extremity of the balls. Additionally, a bearing is provided that includes an outer bushing, an inner bushing, a row of balls, and a cage configured to receive the row of balls, where the cage and the row of balls are received between the outer and inner bushings.

Abstract: A cage for a radial ball bearing formed generally in an annular shape and provided with a plurality of pockets with openings arranged in a circumferential direction to rotatably hold a plurality of balls adapted to rotate around a rolling central axis in the pockets, each of the pockets having an inner surface portion which includes a peripheral edge portions along the opening on the peripheral surfaces of the cage and is formed with an axial cylindrical surface having a central axis placed in the rolling central axis of the ball.

Abstract: The ball rolling surfaces 11 and 12 of the pocket 7 holding the ball 5 are set in the two spherical surfaces which have a radius larger than the one of the ball 5 and the centers of which are deflected at an equal space from the center of the pocket on the pitch circle of the pocket disposing, and on the inside portions from the edge 9a of the width direction of the pocket and the edge 9b of the height direction of the pocket the contact portions 14 and 15 where the rolling surfaces of the balls and the balls which are positioned at the displacing end contact to form the gaps 16 and 17 on the area determined from the contact portions 14 and 15 to the edge side and make the lubricant G entered through the gaps 16 and 17 into the ball rolling surfaces 11 and 12.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricative composition obtained by polymerizing a monomer or prepolymer for a thermosetting resin or by crosslinking a crosslinking resin, the polymerization and crosslinking being conducted in either a lubricating oil or a grease containing the lubricating oil as a base oil. The lubricative composition is usable at high temperatures, free from lubricating-oil or grease deterioration, and excellent in mechanical strength and moldability and in the amount of the lubricating oil held therein.

Abstract: A cage-guided seal is provided with an annular support body, formed preferably from sheet metal, and punched-out retention sections that are adapted to engage the side ring of a standard commercial cage. The peripheral edges of the support body extend close to the sealing surfaces of the inner and outer bearing races and are provided with sealing lips of vulcanized elastomers that engage the inner and outer bearing races.

Abstract: The invention has plural plate-like members, each molded by a metal die using a synthetic resin material in a shape having pockets for retaining rolling elements. A shape obtained by mutually connecting each of the plural plate-like members with connecting portions at both ends is a substantially cylinder shape. A shape of a section between both end portions of each plate-like member has a convex warped shape constituting a part of the cylinder by being subjected to a distortion action owing to heat contraction after being molded by the metal die.

Abstract: A cylindrical roller bearing comprises an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of cylindrical rollers disposed between the inner race and the outer race, and a cage disposed between the inner race and the outer race and provided with pocket portions in which the plurality of cylindrical rollers are respectively accommodated. The cylindrical roller bearing satisfies a following relations 1.5×10−3D≦H≦9.0×10−3D and A/B=0.6˜1.

Abstract: A rotary bearing assembly (10) for a motor vehicle water pump employs a spindle (11) with a central region (14) surrounded by an outer bearing ring (15). The ring (15) and spindle central region (14) have axially spaced complementary raceways (16, 17) on their confronting surfaces in angular contact with sets of balls (18). The spindle central region (14) adjoins one end region (12) with the same diameter as the central region and an opposite end region (13) of smaller diameter. The end region (12) is driven by a belt-and-pulley of the vehicle engine while the smaller end region (13) drives an impeller of the water pump. The set of balls (18) adjacent the driven end region (12) has a full complement of balls (18) in mutual contact while the smaller diameter end region (13) has the balls spaced apart with a cage (22).

Abstract: A ball bearing cage fitted in a pulley main body having peripheral surface to be contacted by a belt. The pulley bearing includes a raceway surface and grease. The cage has pockets for receiving balls which are circumferentially disposed with unequal pitch such that when some of the vibrating balls impart channeling to the grease on the raceway surface, the other balls ride on the grease on the raceway surface. This suppresses or prevents the occurrence of cold peculiar sound.