A shaft assembly includes a composite tube and an impact shield. The composite tube has a longitudinal centerline axis and the impact shield may be disposed around the composite tube and may extend along a length of the composite tube. A gap may be defined between the composite tube and the impact shield. Generally, shaft assembly is configured to inhibit impact damage to the composite tube and/or facilitate visual detection of damage from impacts. The shaft assembly may further include a shock absorbing sleeve disposed in the gap between the composite tube and the impact shield.

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 bearing assembly includes inner and outer rings, a plurality of rolling elements between the rings and first and second lubricant retainers. Each one of the first and second retainers includes an annular body having an outer radial end coupled with the outer ring and an inner radial end spaced radially and/or axially outwardly from the inner bearing ring such that an annular gap is defined between the inner radial end of each retainer and the bearing inner ring. The first retainer is disposed at least generally adjacent to a first axial end of the outer ring and the second retainer is disposed at least generally adjacent to a second axial end of the outer ring. The first and second retainers retain a quantity of liquid lubricant within the bearing annular space and the annular gap is sized to permit lubricant to be directed into the bearing annular space.

A bearing unit having a radially outer ring provided with at least one raceway, a radially inner ring provided with at least one raceway, at least one row of rolling elements interposed between the radially outer ring and the radially inner ring, at least one containment cage for keeping the rolling elements of the rolling element row in position, and a seal interposed between the radially inner ring and the radially outer ring. An anchoring element mechanically locks the seal in a first seat of the radially inner ring, and the anchoring element is housed in a second seat of the radially outer ring.

A rolling bearing capable of achieving reduction in torque is provided. The rolling bearing includes an inner ring and an outer ring disposed coaxially with each other, a rolling element disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, a seal member configured to cover an area between the inner ring and the outer ring from an outside in an axial direction, and filled grease disposed between the rolling element and the seal member. The filled grease includes a first ring-like part which extends to form a circumferential shape centering on a common axis of the inner ring and the outer ring, and which has contact with one of the inner ring and the outer ring, and a second ring-like part which extends to form a circumferential shape centering on the common axis, which is connected to the first ring-like part at an outer side in the axial direction, and which has contact with the seal member.

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 solid lubricant 11 is formed by molding and firing powder that includes amorphous and self-sintering carbon material powder 12, graphite powder 13, and a binder 14. The solid lubricant has high material strength and hardness, and also excellent impact resistance and wear resistance.

A rolling bearing includes an outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements, a cage configured to rollably hold the plurality of rolling elements, and a shield. An inner peripheral surface of at least one axial end portion of the outer ring is provided with a large-diameter part, which has a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the outer ring, opens outward in an axial direction, and has an axial width greater than an axial width of the shield. An outer shape surface of the shield is configured by a plurality of circular arcs having a same central angle and equidistantly arranged on a circumference and a plurality of chords connecting adjacent circular arcs each other. The shield is press-fitted and fixed to the large-diameter part.

A rolling bearing with sealing device provided on each side of the rolling bearing in order to prevent the entry of contaminants inside the rolling bearing, the rolling bearing having a non-rotating outer ring and a rotating inner ring and with a plurality of rolling bodies placed between them. The sealing device provided with first and second shields arranged axially in series between them across a cavity defined by the two rings, the first shields integral with the outer ring and the second shields integral with the inner ring and defining with the first shields an annular gap, which has a substantially constant axial thickness and is radially bounded by a first sealing labyrinth arranged in the region of the outer ring and a second sealing labyrinth arranged in the region of the inner ring.

A rolling bearing includes an outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements, a cage configured to rollably hold the plurality of rolling elements, and a shield. An inner peripheral surface of at least one axial end portion of the outer ring is provided with a large-diameter part, which has a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the outer ring, opens outward in an axial direction, and has an axial width greater than an axial width of the shield. An outer shape surface of the shield is configured by a plurality of circular arcs having a same central angle and equidistantly arranged on a circumference and a plurality of chords connecting adjacent circular arcs each other. The shield is press-fitted and fixed to the large-diameter part.