Calculation of the necessary level of external radial load for inner ring support on q rolling elements in a radial bearing with internal radial clearance

The load distribution on rolling elements is one of the most important operating characteristics of a bearing, with all its implications on its operating ability and condition of its operating accuracy of the same. One of the main problems in the calculation of a load distribution in the rolling bearing with the internal radial clearance represents a determination of the number of the active rolling elements participating in the transfer of the external radial load. In the load transfer, only the rolling elements having a contact with both bearing rings can participate, what is not very often case for the bearings with internal radial clearance. In order to cancel negative influence of the radial clearance it is necessary to accomplish certain level of a relative displacement between bearing rings. It is only possible if a certain degree of the contact deformations of the bearing elements is accomplished. However, a certain external radial load is also necessary for this. In this paper, a mathematical model for the calculation of the boundary necessary level of the external radial load for the inner ring support on q rolling bearing elements was derived and presented. The model considers two boundary positions of inner ring support on an even and an odd number of rolling elements. The developed model enables a very simple determination of the number of the active rolling elements participating in an external load transfer depending on a bearing type and the size of the internal radial clearance. The obtained results are compared with some result of the most frequently used model so far.