A Study on the Contact Mechanism in the Cage Pocket of an Angular Ball Bearing

A contact probability model for the cage pocket of an angular ball bearing is developed in this study using a multi-body dynamic analysis and a cylindrical surface grid method. The model is used to analyze the contact probability of the cage pocket surface generated by the ball/pocket contact in a typical angular ball bearing under different working conditions. It is found that the contact collision takes place mainly on two sides of the cage pocket surface in the direction of the cage rotation. The study also shows that the front side of the cage pocket in the direction of the cage rotation has a higher contact probability than the back side under the given working conditions, thus the front side of the cage pocket is likely to bear the wear damage.