A bearing assembly includes a bearing unit configured to support a rotating component relative to a stationary component and having a first stationary bearing ring configured to be connected to the stationary component in a rotationally fixed manner by a bearing carrier and a second rotatable bearing ring configured to be connected to the rotating component. The bearing carrier includes at least one electrical conductor configured to make electrical contact with the bearing unit and to make electrical contact with the stationary component or to be electrically connected to the stationary component when the bearing carrier is mounted to the stationary component.

A non-locating bearing assembly includes a bearing unit configured to support a rotating component relative to a stationary component, and the bearing unit includes a first stationary bearing ring and a second rotatable bearing ring that is fixedly connectable to the rotating component. The assembly also includes a bearing carrier to which the stationary bearing ring is attached in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner, and the bearing carrier is configured to be fixedly connected to the stationary component.

A non-locating bearing assembly includes a bearing unit configured to support a rotatable component relative to a stationary component, the bearing unit including a first stationary bearing ring and a second rotatable bearing ring. The rotatable bearing ring is fixedly connectable to the rotatable component, and a bearing carrier is attached to the stationary bearing ring in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner by a combination of a friction fit and an interference fit. The bearing carrier is configured to be fixedly connected to the stationary component.

A non-locating bearing assembly includes a bearing unit configured to support a rotatable component relative to a stationary component, the bearing unit including a first stationary bearing ring and a second rotatable bearing ring. The rotatable bearing ring is fixedly connectable to the rotatable component, and a bearing carrier is attached to the stationary bearing ring in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner by a combination of a friction fit and an interference fit. The bearing carrier is configured to be fixedly connected to the stationary component.

A rolling bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of rolling elements being arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring is provided. The inner ring and the outer ring each include a raceway for the plurality of rolling elements. Each raceway encompasses the plurality of rolling elements symmetrically. The rolling bearing further includes an asymmetric cage being arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring for holding the rolling elements. The rolling bearing is lubricated by a lubricant being arranged on each axial side of the plurality of rolling elements. The raceways are offset in the same axial direction from the axial center of the inner ring and the outer ring such that the shear rate acting on the lubricant is equal on each axial side of the rolling bearing.

A constant velocity universal joint includes an inner ring and an outer ring. A cage is disposed between an outer spherical surface of the inner ring and an inner spherical surface of the outer ring, and has windows in which respective balls are received. The cage has ball contact surface areas with which the balls come into contact, and includes soft portions that are lower in hardness than the ball contact surface areas. The soft portions are formed by local heat treatment at portions of the windows that are kept out of contact with the balls or surface portions around the windows.

A constant velocity universal joint includes an inner ring and an outer ring. A cage is disposed between an outer spherical surface of the inner ring and an inner spherical surface of the outer ring, and has windows in which respective balls are received. The cage has ball contact surface areas with which the balls come into contact, and includes soft portions that are lower in hardness than the ball contact surface areas. The soft portions are formed by local heat treatment at portions of the windows that are kept out of contact with the balls or surface portions around the windows.

A rotating machine including a thrust bearing configured to receive an axial thrust exerted by a rotor. The thrust bearing may be configured to transfer the axial thrust from the rotor to a housing or other structural component of the rotating machine using a plurality of ball bearings. The rotating machine includes a magnetic apparatus configured to cause the rotating machine to exert an axial force on the thrust bearing in the direction of the axial thrust of the rotor, such that the magnetic apparatus loads the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust. The magnetic apparatus may be configured to generate a magnetic field causing a first magnetic component of the magnetic apparatus to repel or attract a second magnetic component of the apparatus. The first magnetic component may be configured to rotate relative to the second magnetic component.

A rotating machine including a thrust bearing configured to receive an axial thrust exerted by a rotor. The thrust bearing may be configured to transfer the axial thrust from the rotor to a housing or other structural component of the rotating machine using a plurality of ball bearings. The rotating machine includes a magnetic apparatus configured to cause the rotating machine to exert an axial force on the thrust bearing in the direction of the axial thrust of the rotor, such that the magnetic apparatus loads the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust. The magnetic apparatus may be configured to generate a magnetic field causing a first magnetic component of the magnetic apparatus to repel or attract a second magnetic component of the apparatus. The first magnetic component may be configured to rotate relative to the second magnetic component.

A combined electrical insulator and conductor assembly for a bearing disposable between a shaft and a housing includes an annular insulator disposable about the bearing outer ring and configured to prevent electric current flow between the outer ring and the housing and including a plurality of projections extending axially along and spaced circumferentially about a centerline. A conductor includes a conductive disk with an outer radial end engageable with the housing inner surface, an inner radial end defining a central opening for receiving the shaft and openings each receiving a separate one of the plurality of projections of the insulator such that the disk is axially displaceable relative to the insulator. An annular conductive brush subassembly is coupled with the conductive disk and includes a plurality of electrically conductive fibers contactable with the shaft outer surface so as to provide a conductive path between the shaft and the disk.