A method of forming a bearing cage segment includes punching a plurality of openings in a sheet metal band to form a plurality of pockets separated by a plurality of bridges, the bridges having a length direction transverse to a length direction of the band and having a width in the length direction of the band and having a thickness in a direction perpendicular the length direction and to the width, and laser cutting the sheet metal band along one of the plurality of bridges transversely to the length direction of the band to form a joint edge.

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 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 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 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 cage for a thrust roller bearing is provided. The cage has first and second cage members each having an outer ring portion formed radially outside of a roller retention hole. The outer ring portion has a flange portion that extends, from a radially outer end of the outer ring portion, in an axial direction and is divided along the circumferential direction. The flange portion has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion. The first cage member and the second cage member are fastened to each other while the large diameter portion and small diameter portion of the first cage member overlap the small diameter portion and large diameter portion of the second cage member, respectively.

A sheet metal bearing cage segment includes a first sheet metal ring section, at least one second sheet metal ring section, and a plurality of bridges connecting the first ring section and the at least one second ring section to each other, adjacent pairs of the bridges forming pockets configured to receive at least one rolling element. At least one edge of the first ring section and/or at least one edge of the at least one second ring section and/or of one of the bridges is at least partially formed by laser cutting. Also a method of forming a sheet metal bearing cage at least partially by laser cutting.

A sheet metal bearing cage segment includes first and second ring sections, bridges connecting the ring sections to form pockets for rolling elements and a circumferentially facing joint edge configured to be connected to another circumferentially facing joint edge. The joint edge is disposed such that it will be located in one of the bridges after the joint edge is connected to the another circumferentially facing joint edge.

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.