Abstract: A computational model for a double row four-point-contact ball bearing with negative internal clearance is presented. Contact load distribution along the bearing raceways is calculated with Newton-Raphson iterative procedure when combined loads are applied on the double row four-point-contact ball bearing in different negative internal clearances. The relation between negative internal clearances and the contact force distribution is analyzed. The maximum contact loads calculated by the model and empirical formulas are compared. The results show that the calculation model is reasonable. With the increase of the absolute value of the negative clearance, the number of four-point contact balls increases until all balls in four-point contact and the maximum contact load decreases first and then increases. The maximum contact load along the bearing raceways in the upper row is larger than that in the below row.

Key words: Double row ball bearing, Four point contact, Negative internal clearance, Pitch bearing