Motion of a Ball in Angular-Contact Ball Bearing

Abstract

The author carried out an experimental investigation on the motion of a ball in an angular-contact ball bearing under thrust load by measuring change in magnetic flux induced by a magnetized ball. The observed data of the angular velocity of the ball and that of the cage were adequate for analyzing the kinematical condition in the bearing. It is noted that the ratios of the angular velocities of the rolling elements are closely related to the parameter zF_e/P_a, where z, F_e and P_a denote the number of balls in the bearing, the centrifugal force acting on a ball and the magnitude of thrust load, respectively. In the range zF_e/P_a > 0.1, the deviation of the observed data from the values theoretically predicted based upon a simple assumption neglecting the gyroscopic moment is remarkable. In order to explain the experimental results reasonably, it is necessary to consider the gyroscopic moment along with the effect of the centrifugal force.