A split bearing cage for a rolling-element bearing assembly includes a first bearing cage segment and a second bearing cage segment each having two side ring sections axially spaced apart by a plurality of bridges. Adjacent pairs of the bridges define rolling-element receiving pockets for receiving rolling elements of the rolling-element bearing assembly and for holding the rolling elements spaced apart from each other and for guiding the rolling elements. The first bearing cage segment is connected to the second bearing cage segment via a swivel joint that may be formed of a bolt element on a first end of the first bearing cage segment and an at least partial eyelet on the first end of the second bearing cage segment.

By using a forming die having a fixed die and a movable die moving along a parting surface on the fixed die and by moving the movable die along the parting surface, to press and hold a sintered part between the movable die and the fixed die, to form a cavity around the sintered part except parts which abut on the fixed die and the movable die by the forming die, and to fill the cavity with melted material which becomes an exterior part, so that the sintered part and the exterior part are integrated by insert molding.

A steering device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft, an outer column, and an inner column. The inner shaft has a sliding portion configured to be capable of being inserted into the outer shaft, and a bearing-mounting portion that is connected to the sliding portion in an axial direction thereof and is configured not to be capable of being inserted into the outer shaft. In the bearing-mounting portion, rear bearings are disposed with an interval therebetween in the axial direction.

In a first process, a resin molded article having a predetermined shape is molded. Next, in a second process, a surface of the resin molded article is treated with plasma in a vacuum to provide irregularities in the surface of the resin molded articles. In the second process, discharge ignition is performed in inert gas to generate plasma, and while a degree of vacuum is maintained, raw material gas is then replaced by air.

A self-lubricating composite material is disclosed. The self-lubricating composite material can include discontinuous polymer fiber segments dispersed within a woven matrix of semi-continuous thermoplastic fiber. The woven matrix can be embedded within a thermosetting resin. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the self-lubricating composite material.

A casing of a bearing unit for food applications may include a base having at least one hole for housing at least one fixing bolts, a spherical seat for housing the bearing unit, and at least one reinforcement rib located between the hole and the spherical seat.

A ball joint is manufactured by molding a holder through casting by using a ball as a core and joining a shaft member to the ball after the casting through electric resistance welding. The ball joint includes: the ball; a resin sliding contact member including a first opening portion and a second opening portion that expose a spherical surface of the ball in opposite directions; the holder molded through the casting by using the ball and the resin sliding contact member as a core, the holder being obtained by integrally molding a closing portion that is held in contact with a part of the ball, which projects from the second opening portion of the resin sliding contact member; and the shaft member joined to another part of the ball, which is exposed from the first opening portion of the resin sliding contact member, through the electric resistance welding.

A bearing including a body having a first axial end and a second axial end; and at least one flange projecting radially from the second axial end of the body, where the at least one flange includes a first region, second region, and a stepped transition region between the first and second regions, where the second region is elevated axially above the first region so as to protrude axially outwardly, where 1) the second region extends partially circumferentially around the flange to form at least one segment, and/or 2) the first region extends from the body to the stepped transition region.

Casing of a bearing unit for food applications, made of polymeric material and provided internally with a spherical seat for housing the bearing unit, the casing having a reinforcement in the form of a metal ring co-moulded inside the casing and accommodated around the spherical seat of the casing.

A linear motion guide unit 1 includes a rail 10 having a pair of first rolling surfaces extending parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, a slider 100 that fits over the rail in a relatively movable manner and has a pair of second rolling surfaces opposing the pair of first rolling surfaces, respectively, and a plurality of spheres as rolling elements 200 that roll while contacting the first and second rolling surfaces. The unit 1 has a loop path composed of a load-carrying race 102 formed with the first and second rolling surfaces, a first circulation passage 103 parallel to the load-carrying race and formed in the slider, and two second circulation passages 104 connecting the load-carrying race 102 and the first circulation passage 103, and the rolling elements 200 circulate through the loop path. The load-carrying race 102 has a load-carrying race first portion 102a at a boundary with the second circulation passage 104, and a contact angle θ.sub.1 of the rolling element 200 with the second rolling surface in the load-carrying race first portion 102a is greater than a contact angle θ.sub.2 of the rolling element with the second rolling surface in a portion of the load-carrying race 102 other than the load-carrying race first portion. The slider 100 includes a carriage 110, a pair of end caps 120 disposed to sandwich the carriage 110 therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the rail 10, and a spacer 130 disposed between at least one of the pair of end caps 120 and the carriage 110. The spacer 130 has the second rolling surface constituting the load-carrying race first portion 102a.