A rolling-element bearing cage includes a plurality of pockets each configured to receive a rolling element, and retaining elements associated with each of the plurality of pockets, each of the retaining elements being configured to secure the rolling elements against falling out of the pockets in a radially inward direction while permitting the rolling elements to be inserted into the pockets in a radially outward direction.

An object of the present invention to provide a tapered roller bearing in which a flange portion is formed at a large-diameter end of an outer ring track surface of an outer ring, capable of providing high moment stiffness and long life without extremely decreasing its pure axial load capacity. The tapered roller bearing comprising: an outer ring 12 having an outer ring track surface 12a on its inner circumferential surface; an inner ring 13 having an inner ring track surface 13a on its outer circumferential surface; a plurality of tapered rollers 14 rotatably disposed between the outer ring track surface 12a and the inner ring track surface 13a; and a retainer 15 having a plurality of pockets for retaining the plurality of tapered rollers 14 at a predetermined interval; the outer ring track surface 12a of the outer ring 12 having a small-diameter end and a large-diameter end, the inner ring track surface 13a of the inner ring 13 having a small-diameter end and a large-diameter end, and, of these four ends, a flange portion 12b that protrudes radially inwardly is formed at the large-diameter end of the outer ring track surface 12a of the outer ring 12; wherein the tapered roller bearing has a contact angle greater than 35° and a roller angle not greater than 3.5°.

A bearing cage is disclosed that includes a first ring and a second ring with a plurality of crossbars extending therebetween to define a plurality of rolling element pockets. The first ring and the second ring each include a plurality of radially outward protrusions, a plurality of reliefs, and a plurality of axially extending protrusions extending into the plurality of rolling element pockets. The plurality of crossbars each include a plurality of retention tabs configured to engage rolling elements in the plurality of rolling element pockets.

A cage for a tapered roller bearing includes a large-diameter-side annular portion circumferentially extending along large end surfaces of a plurality of tapered rollers; a small-diameter-side annular portion circumferentially extending along small end surfaces of the tapered rollers; and a plurality of pillars coupling together the large-diameter-side annular portion and the small-diameter-side annular portion. The large-diameter-side annular portion has large-diameter-side pocket surfaces opposed to the large end surfaces of the respective tapered rollers. The large-diameter-side pocket surfaces include oil retaining holes including blind holes, and being configured to receive and retain lubricating oil by capillary action.

In the tapered roller bearing, at least any one of an outer ring, an inner ring, and a plurality of tapered rollers includes a nitrogen enriched layer. An oil retaining hole is provided in a larger annular portion of a cage. A value of a ratio R/R.sub.BASE is not smaller than 0.75 and not greater than 0.87 where R represents a set radius of curvature of a larger end face of the tapered roller and R.sub.BASE represents a distance from a point which is an apex of a cone angle of the tapered roller to a larger flange surface of the inner ring. A ratio R.sub.process/R is than not lower 0.5 where R.sub.process represents an actual radius of curvature after grinding of the larger end face of the tapered roller and R represents a set radius of curvature.

A tapered roller bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of tapered rollers, and an annular cage having a plurality of cage pockets. Each of the cage pockets has a retainer configured to permit displacement of the tapered roller in a direction with a component in a radial direction, and restrict detachment of the tapered roller to an outer side in the radial direction by bringing the retainer into contact with a part of an outer peripheral surface of the tapered roller. The cage pockets include a first cage pocket having a first retainer with which a permissible amount of the displacement is a first displacement amount, and a second cage pocket having a second retainer with which the permissible amount of the displacement is a second displacement amount smaller than the first displacement amount.

An object of the present invention to provide a tapered roller bearing in which a flange portion is formed at a large-diameter end of an outer ring track surface of an outer ring, capable of providing high moment stiffness and long life without extremely decreasing its pure axial load capacity. The tapered roller bearing comprising: an outer ring 12 having an outer ring track surface 12a on its inner circumferential surface; an inner ring 13 having an inner ring track surface 13a on its outer circumferential surface; a plurality of tapered rollers 14 rotatably disposed between the outer ring track surface 12a and the inner ring track surface 13a; and a retainer 15 having a plurality of pockets for retaining the plurality of tapered rollers 14 at a predetermined interval; the outer ring track surface 12a of the outer ring 12 having a small-diameter end and a large-diameter end, the inner ring track surface 13a of the inner ring 13 having a small-diameter end and a large-diameter end, and, of these four ends, a flange portion 12b that protrudes radially inwardly is formed at the large-diameter end of the outer ring track surface 12a of the outer ring 12; wherein the tapered roller bearing has a contact angle greater than 35° and a roller angle not greater than 3.5°.

A clutch assembly includes a clutch hub, a clutch drum disposed about the clutch hub, a first gear connected to the clutch drum, the first gear configured to be coupled with a first shaft, the clutch hub configured to be coupled with a second shaft, a clutch pack disposed between the clutch hub and the clutch drum, and an air-actuated piston assembly for selective actuation of the clutch pack to connect or disconnect two drive axles in a tandem axle assembly. The clutch assembly includes a plurality of lever arms disposed between the piston assembly and the clutch pack. Each lever arm extending to engage the piston and the clutch pack. Each lever arm may be pivotally mounted to a lever carrier plate or to a fixed portion of the piston housing.

A thrust roller bearing includes a plurality of rollers and a cage including a plurality of cage pockets for housing the rollers. The rollers each include a cylindrical portion, an outer crowning portion, and an inner crowning portion. The cage pockets each include an outer surface, an inner surface facing a second end surface of the roller, and a pair of side surfaces facing an outer peripheral surface of the roller. The side surfaces each include a recessed surface that is not contactable with the roller, and flat surfaces that are provided on the outer side in the radial direction and on the inner side in the radial direction, respectively, and are contactable with the roller. A first dimension is larger than a second dimension.

Two projecting portions (45a and 45b) configured to guide a tapered roller (3) on distal end surfaces thereof are formed on a side surface (43a) of a pillar portion (43) of a retainer (4) so as to be separated apart from each other in a roller axis direction. The projecting portions (45a and 45b) are separated apart from each other in the roller axis direction with respect to both a small-diameter-side annular portion (41) and a large-diameter-side annular portion (42). The projecting portions (45a and 45b) each have a force-fit margin (F).