A follower bearing 1 includes: a shaft 30 having an outer peripheral surface including an annular first raceway surface 11; an outer ring 60 having an inner peripheral surface including an annular second raceway surface 41 facing the first raceway surface 11; and a plurality of rollers 70 disposed on an annular raceway along the first raceway surface 11 and the second raceway surface 41 to be in contact with the first raceway surface 11 and the second raceway surface 41. The outer ring 60 includes an annular first member 40 made of steel and an annular second member 50 made of a resin and covering outer peripheral surfaces 44A and 44B of the first member 40. The first member 40 includes a cylindrical portion 42 having a hollow cylindrical shape and including the second raceway surface, and a projection 43 extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion 42. Ends of the projection 43 in the axial direction are filled with the second member 50.

A mechanism including a first pair of races having a first pair of raceways and a first rolling element operable to roll between the first pair of raceways, wherein at least one of the first pair of raceways has a substantially variable curvature along at least a portion of a path of the first rolling element. A program product that determines a solution by adjusting the curvature of a first pair of raceways on opposite sides of a rolling element, at least one of the first pair of raceways having a substantially variable curvature along the contact points in the direction of the corresponding range of motion for the rolling element.

A mechanism including a first pair of races having a first pair of raceways and a first rolling element operable to roll between the first pair of raceways, wherein at least one of the first pair of raceways has a substantially variable curvature along at least a portion of a path of the first rolling element. A program product that determines a solution by adjusting the curvature of a first pair of raceways on opposite sides of a rolling element, at least one of the first pair of raceways having a substantially variable curvature along the contact points in the direction of the corresponding range of motion for the rolling element.

A snap ring for guiding rolling elements between an inner ring and an outer ring of a bearing assembly includes an annular body having an axially facing side surface and a radially extending flange. The body is circular and has a circumferential gap between a first end of the body and a second end of the body and a recess in the side surface near the gap. The recess is configured such that a tool is introducible into the recess from outside the bearing assembly in order to remove the snap ring from the bearing assembly.

A snap ring for guiding rolling elements between an inner ring and an outer ring of a bearing assembly includes an annular body having an axially facing side surface and a radially extending flange. The body is circular and has a circumferential gap between a first end of the body and a second end of the body and a recess in the side surface near the gap. The recess is configured such that a tool is introducible into the recess from outside the bearing assembly in order to remove the snap ring from the bearing assembly.

A rolling bearing is a tapered roller bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing, or a deep groove ball bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rolling element, each of the inner ring, the outer ring, and the rolling element being composed of a steel, the rolling bearing having a quench-hardened layer in at least one of an inner ring raceway surface of the inner ring, an outer ring raceway surface of the outer ring, and a rolling contact surface of the rolling element. A ratio of a total area of a plurality of martensite crystal grains in the quench-hardened layer is more than or equal to 70%. The plurality of martensite crystal grains are classified into a first group and a second group. An average grain size of the martensite crystal grains belonging to the first group is less than or equal to 0.97 μm.

A rolling bearing is a tapered roller bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing, or a deep groove ball bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rolling element, each of the inner ring, the outer ring, and the rolling element being composed of a steel, the rolling bearing having a quench-hardened layer in at least one of an inner ring raceway surface of the inner ring, an outer ring raceway surface of the outer ring, and a rolling contact surface of the rolling element. A ratio of a total area of a plurality of martensite crystal grains in the quench-hardened layer is more than or equal to 70%. The plurality of martensite crystal grains are classified into a first group and a second group. An average grain size of the martensite crystal grains belonging to the first group is less than or equal to 0.97 μm.

The invention relates to a method for determining shifts in position in at least two different spatial directions between a first element and a second element which are movable relative to each other, with at least two sensors which measure contactlessly and are spaced, in the at least two different spatial directions, from at least two standards which are fixed to the second element, sensor areas of the at least two sensors opposing the at least two standards in the respective spatial direction and sensing said standards, wherein: —the at least two sensors scan the at least two standards and generate, in interaction with the at least two standards, output signals with which in combination an absolute position of the second element is determined, said absolute position being associated with a linear movement in a further spatial direction or with a rotary movement, and —wherein the output signals of the at least two sensors are also used to determine values which characterise the distance between the respective sensor and the corresponding standard of the second element in the associated spatial direction, are corrected as a function of the determined absolute position of the second element, and from which the shift in position of the second element relative to the first element in the respective spatial direction is determined.

A guide assembly includes an annular guide body defining a cavity, and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted within the guide body. Each roller assembly includes an annular roller mounted onto a pin and arranged to rotate around the pin. The pins are arranged such that their axes define a ring around the interior of the guide body and the annular rollers arranged to protrude through respective openings in the guide body into the cavity. Each annular roller has a concave outer surface.

A guide assembly includes an annular guide body defining a cavity, and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted within the guide body. Each roller assembly includes an annular roller mounted onto a pin and arranged to rotate around the pin. The pins are arranged such that their axes define a ring around the interior of the guide body and the annular rollers arranged to protrude through respective openings in the guide body into the cavity. Each annular roller has a concave outer surface.