Static Characteristics of a Rolling Spherical Bearing

Abstract

About the rolling spherical bearing consisting of a sun ball, planetary balls, retainers and sockets, the stiffness, eccentricity of the sun ball and static load capacity are calculated with consideration of the scattering of elastic deformation at each contact point due to the dimensional errors of the bearing components. Then, the effects of pre-load upon the stiffness and the eccentricity are discussed theoretically and experimentally. Furthermore, about a spatial in-parallel actuated mechanism with the rolling spherical bearings, its stiffness and position repeatability are improved by giving appropriate pre-loads to the bearings.