A sheet metal bearing cage segment includes a first ring section, at least one second ring section, and a plurality of bridges connecting the first and second ring sections to each other and defining a plurality of pockets between the bridges. The bearing cage segment includes first and second circumferentially directed joint edges, the first joint edge is configured to connect to the second joint edge of the bearing cage segment or to a second joint edge of another sheet metal bearing cage segment, and the first joint edge includes at least one body of welding material projecting from the joint edge. The body of welding material may be pressed against the second joint edge while leaving a gap between the joint edges, and the welding material can be liquified by a resistance welding process to connect the joint edges.

A retained roller set includes first and second individual tube-shaped members each having first and second axially spaced rings connected by bar elements that define pockets therebetween, the tube-shaped members being coaxially arranged and radially spaced to define a circumferentially extending intermediate space therebetween in which a plurality of roller elements are received and retained by the pockets of the first and second tube-shaped members.

A method of assembling a multi-row thrust bearing cage is disclosed. The method includes providing an inner cage and an outer cage, the inner cage including a first retainer and a first alignment guide, and the outer cage including a second retainer and a second alignment guide. The method includes positioning the inner cage and the outer cage relative to each other such that the first alignment guide is circumferentially aligned with the second alignment guide. The method also includes inserting the inner cage relative to the outer cage such that the first retainer of the inner cage engages with the second retainer of the outer cage and the inner cage is retained with the outer cage.

A cage segment defines a single pocket of a multipart rolling-element bearing cage and includes first and second circumferentially spaced side walls connected by first and second end walls. The first and second side walls and the first and second end walls are formed by at least one sheet metal segment connected at at least one joint.

A method of forming a bearing cage segment includes determining a path of a periphery of the bearing cage segment along a metal sheet, punching a plurality of openings in the metal sheet inside the path to form a plurality of pockets separated by a plurality of bridges and separating the bearing cage segment from the metal sheet at the path. The separating includes laser cutting first and second joint edges at a first end of the row and third and fourth joint edges at a second end of the row, where the first joint edge is spaced from the second joint edge in a length direction of the bridges and the third joint edge is spaced from the fourth joint edge in the length direction of the bridges.

A retained roller set includes first and second individual tube-shaped members each having first and second axially spaced rings connected by bar elements that define pockets therebetween, the tube-shaped members being coaxially arranged and radially spaced to define a circumferentially extending intermediate space therebetween in which a plurality of roller elements are received and retained by the pockets of the first and second tube-shaped members.

A bearing cage is formed from a single piece of wire bent into shape and includes a first axial end ring, a second axial end ring including a distal end of the single piece of wire, a plurality of axially-extending bridge portions between the first and second axial end rings, and a plurality of circumferentially-extending connection portions interconnecting adjacent bridge portions. The connection portions are alternately positioned adjacent the first and second axial end rings.

A bearing cage is formed from a single piece of wire bent into shape and includes a first axial end ring, a second axial end ring including a distal end of the single piece of wire, a plurality of axially-extending bridge portions between the first and second axial end rings, and a plurality of circumferentially-extending connection portions interconnecting adjacent bridge portions. The connection portions are alternately positioned adjacent the first and second axial end rings.

A roller bearing includes a first race, a second race, and a cage disposed between the first and second races. The cage has an inner rim and a plurality of webs extending radially outboard from the inner rim and being circumferentially arranged around the inner rim to be spaced apart to define pockets. The webs have flanges that extend axially. Portions of the inner rim form inner guide surfaces of the pockets. The cage further includes a wavy outer rim circumscribing the inner rim. The outer rim has radially outer portions attached to the flanges and radially inner portions forming outer guide surfaces of the pockets. The outer rim and the flanges cooperate to define cutouts interleaved with the webs. Cylindrical roller elements are disposed in the pockets between the first and second races and have first ends adjacent the inner guide surfaces and second ends adjacent the outer guide surfaces.

A cage segment defines a single pocket of a multipart rolling-element bearing cage and includes first and second circumferentially spaced side walls connected by first and second end walls. The first and second side walls and the first and second end walls are formed by at least one sheet metal segment connected at at least one joint.