A rolling bearing is mounted on a gear shaft, which extends along an axis and carries a first and a second toothing axially separated from each other by a cylindrical portion of the gear shaft. Such a cylindrical portion has an outer diameter smaller than that of the first toothing. The bearing is provided with rolling bodies, a cage with seats engageable by the rolling bodies, and an outer ring defining an outer rolling path for the rolling bodies. During assembly, the cage is fitted around the first toothing and axially displaced towards the second toothing until it is arranged around the cylindrical portion. In this step, the tenons of the cage pass in the slots between the teeth of the first toothing. Subsequently, the rolling bodies are radially inserted in the respective seats so as to be arranged against the cylindrical portion.

The invention relates to a bearing cage (1) for receiving rolling elements (6). In addition to two rings (2, 3), the bearing cage also has a plurality of webs (4) which run axially between the rings (2, 3). In order to prevent the rolling elements (6) from falling out of the pockets (5) formed between the rings (2, 3) and the webs (4), the webs (4) are at least provided with a groove (7a) which runs in the direction of the respective web (4). When the rolling elements (6) are inserted into the pockets (5), a tool (9) engages into the groove (7a) and bends the edge region (11) of the web (4) in a direction of the rolling elements (6) inserted into the pockets (5).

In a copper alloy machined cage for a thrust ball bearing, an inside surface of a pocket includes a cylindrical surface, a support surface which is continuous with the cylindrical surface and contacts a ball in an axial direction, and two protruding portions which are formed at an equal interval in a circumferential direction of the pocket, at a ball insertion side of the pocket which is opposite to the support surface in the axial direction and protrude from the cylindrical surface. The protruding portions prevent falling out of the ball from a ball insertion side opening of the pocket and are either elastically deformed or elastic-plastically deformed by the ball during insertion of the ball into the pocket.

A rolling-element bearing in which a rolling element is retained in each of retaining openings formed in a retainer and method for manufacturing the bearing are provided. Each retaining opening is defined by a pair of inner side faces facing each other, and a pair of inner end faces facing each other. In the manufacturing method, with a support die being brought into contact with one of the inner side faces and the inner end faces of one of the retaining openings, the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the retainer are pressed by an outer punch and an inner punch. Accordingly, on at least one of the inner side faces and the inner end faces, a first retaining piece and a second retaining piece for preventing the rolling element from falling off are formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the retainer, respectively.

A ball bearing includes an inner ring having an outer periphery in which an inner raceway groove is formed, an outer ring having an inner periphery in which an outer raceway groove is formed, a plurality of balls interposed between the inner raceway groove and the outer raceway groove, and an annular cage that holds the balls. The cage includes an annular portion positioned on one side in an axial direction with respect to the balls and a plurality of cage bar portions that extend from the annular portion toward the other side in the axial direction. Each cage bar portion has a guide portion that positions the cage by coming into contact with the inner raceway groove in a non-contact area other than an area in which the corresponding ball is in contact with the inner raceway groove.