A cage for a ball bearing, including: a first annular flange; a second annular flange; a plurality of ball retention segments; and a plurality of spaces. Each ball retention segment includes: a first portion fixedly connected to the first annular flange; a second portion fixedly connected to the second annular flange; and, a middle portion connecting the first portion and the second portion. Each space is circumferentially bounded by a respective pair of circumferentially adjacent ball retention segments, and arranged to receive a ball of the ball bearing. A cross-section, including the first annular flange, the second annular flange, and a ball retention segment of the plurality of ball retention segments is in a shape of an M.

A rolling bearing including a cage is provided. The cage includes, on its outer peripheral surface, a plurality of ridges protruding radially outwardly, and circumferentially spaced apart from each other. The ridges extend in the axial direction or in an oblique direction or directions relative to the circumferential direction. The ridges are capable of coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring through lubricating oil.

A roller bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, at least one row of rollers arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, and at least one optical fiber cable mounted to the outer ring or the inner ring, the optical fiber cable including at least one Bragg grating. The optical fiber cable is configured such that a signal in the optical fiber cable is usable to determine a preload or load on the roller bearing.

A bearing retainer for use in a bearing is provided. The bearing includes an inner ring, rolling elements and an outer ring. The bearing retainer includes a body. The body defines an inner periphery and an outer periphery of the body. The body further defines a plurality of inner walls. Each inner wall defines an opening extending from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the body. The plurality of openings is adapted to receive one of the rolling elements. The inner walls are adapted to keep the rolling elements in a spaced apart relationship. Ribs extend inwardly from the inner periphery of the body.

A method for producing a cage having a body with multiple pockets for rolling elements, the method providing: a) defining a cage basis geometry that provides a radial outer and/or inner surface for contacting a bearing ring and multiple surfaces of the pockets for contacting the rolling elements; b) defining a part of the radial outer and/or inner surfaces as being unalterable surfaces; c) calculating the cage stress distribution when applying a defined stress force from a mathematical model; d) defining cage volume sections where the stress is below a defined threshold; e) removing a part of the volume sections defined according to step d) taking into account the unalterable surfaces according to step b) and the surfaces of the pockets that are unalterable surfaces; f) defining the cage geometry with the removed volume sections; g) manufacturing the cage according to the geometry as defined according to step f).

A rolling bearing including a cage is provided. The cage includes, on its outer peripheral surface, a plurality of ridges protruding radially outwardly, and circumferentially spaced apart from each other. The ridges extend in the axial direction or in an oblique direction or directions relative to the circumferential direction. The ridges are capable of coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring through lubricating oil.

A ball bearing control assembly includes a cylindrical flexible sheath. A pair of stationary races defines a first raceway. A force transmission member defines a second raceway on opposing sides. Rolling members have a center point and are in rolling contact with the first and the second raceways as the force transmission member translates axially within the sheath. A ball guide interacts with the rolling members to constrain the majority of the rolling member. In one example, the ball guide interacts with the rolling members at two locations on each axial side of the rolling members. The two locations are positioned at different distances from the second raceway. The stationary races are located between the ball guide and the flexible sheath, and the ball guide is located between the stationary races and the force transmission member. Other examples can include two ball guides.

An angular contact ball bearing cage includes a plurality of pockets. At least one (imaginary) sectional plane extends through a first pocket, and the sectional plane is located such that an axis of rotation of the angular contact ball bearing cage lies in the sectional plane. The axis of rotation is an axis about which the angular contact ball bearing cage is configured to rotate in operation. A geometric centerpoint of the first pocket lies in the sectional plane, and an intersection of the sectional plane and a side of the first pocket includes a first portion that is not linear and that does not lie on the surface of a cone.

To provide a rolling bearing retainer formed as a metal retainer and being capable of suppressing wear of a guide surface of a pocket that retains a ball served as a rolling element even in a case in which a lubrication function by a lubricant is deteriorated. A rolling bearing 1 is provided with an inner ring 2, an outer ring 3, a ball 4 interposed between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3, and a retainer 5 that retains the ball 4. The retainer 5 is formed as a metal retainer including pockets 6, each of which retains the ball 4, formed at positions in a circumferential direction and including a resin coating film formed on at least an inner surface of each of the pockets 6 served as a rolling element guide surface. The resin coating film 7 is formed of a resin composition including an aromatic polyether ketone based resin as a matrix resin and including a solid lubricant.

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.