Small cross-section bearing unit having a flanged outer ring, an inner ring coaxial with the outer ring and an axis of rotation, a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring so as to allow the relative rotation thereof about the axis, and a sealing device for preventing the entry of contaminants and, at the same, time, for preventing the leakage of a lubricating grease from the inside of the bearing unit; the sealing device being provided, on each side of the bearing unit, with a shaped sealing screen that is supported rotatably about the axis by the outer ring, and a labyrinth seal extending along a respective complex winding path defined by an associated sealing screen and by the inner ring.

A rolling bearing device includes a rolling bearing partially submerged in lubricating oil stored in an oil pocket provided in a vertically lower portion of a housing to a level corresponding to a part of an annular space, an annular shielding member, and an annular seal component. The shielding member has an oil drain portion for drainage of the lubricating oil in the annular space to the outside of the rolling bearing at a vertical level above an oil level of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pocket when the rotary shaft is stationary. The oil drain portion has an inclined groove having an inclined surface inclined away from the rolling bearing and an opening provided in an outer end portion at a distal end of the inclined surface. The inclined groove is tapered toward a vertical top of the shielding member when viewed in the axial direction.

A rolling bearing device includes a rolling bearing, partially submerged in lubricating oil stored in an oil pocket provided in a vertically lower portion of a housing to a level corresponding to a part of an annular space, an annular shielding member, and an annular seal component. The shielding member has an oil drain portion for drainage of the lubricating oil in the annular space to the outside of the rolling bearing at a vertical level above an oil level of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pocket when the rotary shaft is stationary The oil drain portion has an inclined groove having an inclined surface inclined away from the rolling bearing and an opening provided in an outer end portion at a distal end of the inclined surface. The inclined groove is tapered toward a vertical top of the shielding member when viewed in the axial direction.

A radial gap between an outer circumferential surface of an encoder member joined to an outward flange portion of a slinger and an inner circumferential surface of a seal body includes a first gap portion and a second gap portion closer to an inward flange portion of a core metal than the first gap portion is. The outer circumferential surface that defines the first gap portion is a cylindrical outer circumferential surface, and the radial gap in the first gap portion is substantially constant in an axial direction. The outer circumferential surface that defines the second gap portion is a conical outer circumferential surface reduced in diameter as approaching the inward flange portion of the core metal in the axial direction, and the radial gap in the second gap portion is gradually increased as approaching the inward flange portion of the core metal in the axial direction.

A bearing ring for a rolling-element bearing including an axially extending outer surface, two radially extending side surfaces, an inner surface configured to at least partially contact a rolling element and at least one radially extending recess in the inner surface that is configured to work together with a lifting tool to allow the bearing ring to be lifted by the lifting tool. Also a method of lifting a bearing ring having such a recess.

A sealing device for a hub bearing assembly, equipped with a rolling bearing unit, a circular metal shield, a radially extending end wall and a double cylindrical lateral wall fixed to and practically orthogonal to the end wall, formed by a first cylindrical lateral wall and a second cylindrical lateral wall. The metal shield is angularly coupled to a radially outer ring of the bearing. The second cylindrical lateral wall is connected in a fixed manner to a radially outer edge adapted to cover an axially inner surface of the terminal edge that is potentially subject to oxidation phenomena with the consequent formation of a layer of rust.

A rolling-bearing sealing device includes: an outer ring fixed to a rotating sprocket housing; an inner ring fixed to a non-rotating motor housing; a plurality of rolling elements between the outer and the inner rings; a retainer holding the rolling elements; and an oil seal including a slinger and a seal lip and fixed to the inner ring, in which a radial lip of the oil seal is pressed against the outer ring or the sprocket housing, and in which the sprocket housing has an end face provided with a side plate fixed thereto, for sliding contact by a side lip extended axially from the oil seal.

A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, and seals. At least one seal of the seals has a metal core press-formed from steel sheet with a cylindrical fitting portion. A radial portion extends radially inward from the end of the fitting portion. A sealing member with a plurality of sealing lips is integrally adhered to the fitting portion of the metal core. Bearing grease is contained within the bearing. Sealing grease is applied to the sealing lips. Both the bearing grease and the sealing grease use the same thickener and the worked penetration of 350 or less. The kinematic viscosity of the base oil of the sealing grease at 40 C. is set to 70% or less of the kinematic viscosity of the base oil of the bearing grease at 40 C.

A sealing device for a hub bearing assembly, equipped with a rolling bearing unit, a circular metal shield, a radially extending end wall and a double cylindrical lateral wall fixed to and practically orthogonal to the end wall, formed by a first cylindrical lateral wall and a second cylindrical lateral wall. The metal shield is angularly coupled to a radially outer ring of the bearing. The second cylindrical lateral wall is connected in a fixed manner to a radially outer edge adapted to cover an axially inner surface of the terminal edge that is potentially subject to oxidation phenomena with the consequent formation of a layer of rust.