A bearing cage for retaining rolling elements of a rolling element bearing. The bearing cage is made of a sheet metal element. The cage provides at least one cage pocket configured to receive at least one rolling element. The at least one cage pocket is formed by two abutting cage bars that extend axially between a first and a second axially displaced ring element. The bearing cage is made of a one-piece sheet metal element and the first and the second ring element is undivided in its circumference without any joints or connections for joining an interrupted ring element. Furthermore, a rolling element bearing and a method of producing the bearing cage is provided.

A thrust roller bearing cage (11) of the present invention is included in a thrust roller bearing (20) and includes a plurality of pockets (21) accommodating rollers (13). The thrust roller bearing cage (11) includes: a radially outer area bent portion (41) formed by bending the cage (11) inward in a radial direction along an annular groove formed at a position radially outside the pockets (21); and projecting portions (44) that are formed in a tip end of the radially outer area bent portion (41) at positions aligned with the pockets (21) and project inward in the radial direction beyond radially outer edges of the pockets (21) so as to contact end faces (16) of the rollers (13) accommodated in the pockets (21). A trace (29) of the groove is left at a position along which the cage is bent.

A thrust roller bearing cage (11) of the present invention is included in a thrust roller bearing (20) and includes a plurality of pockets (21) accommodating rollers (13). The thrust roller bearing cage (11) includes: a radially outer area bent portion (41) formed by bending the cage (11) inward in a radial direction along an annular groove formed at a position radially outside the pockets (21); and projecting portions (44) that are formed in a tip end of the radially outer area bent portion (41) at positions aligned with the pockets (21) and project inward in the radial direction beyond radially outer edges of the pockets (21) so as to contact end faces (16) of the rollers (13) accommodated in the pockets (21). A trace (29) of the groove is left at a position along which the cage is bent.

A thrust roller bearing cage (11) of the present invention is included in a thrust roller bearing (20) and includes a plurality of pockets (21) accommodating rollers (13). The thrust roller bearing cage (11) includes: a radially outer area bent portion (41) formed by bending an area located radially outside the pockets (21) inward in a radial direction to a tilt angle of less than 45; and projecting portions (44) that are formed in a tip end of the radially outer area bent portion (41) at positions aligned with the pockets (21) and project inward in the radial direction beyond radially outer edges of the pockets (21) so as to contact end faces (16) of the rollers (13) accommodated in the pockets (21).

The invention relates to a method of forming a roller bearing cage comprising: forming a planar strip of material, having a length corresponding to a circumferential dimension of a roller bearing cage; forming openings in the planar strip, corresponding to positions at which rollers are to be located; forming a plurality of tangs, alongside and part of each side of the length of the planar strip, each tang having a first tang edge of a first length adjoining the strip and a second edge of a second length opposite the first tang edge; and bending each side of the length of the strip such that the plurality of tangs is positioned at an angle with respect to the planar strip, wherein the fold is through an angle of greater than 90 and less than or equal to 180 relative to the plane of the planar strip.

The invention relates to a method of forming a roller bearing cage comprising: forming a planar strip of material, having a length corresponding to a circumferential dimension of a roller bearing cage; forming openings in the planar strip, corresponding to positions at which rollers are to be located; forming a plurality of tangs, alongside and part of each side of the length of the planar strip, each tang having a first tang edge of a first length adjoining the strip and a second edge of a second length opposite the first tang edge; and bending each side of the length of the strip such that the plurality of tangs is positioned at an angle with respect to the planar strip, wherein the fold is through an angle of greater than 90 and less than or equal to 180 relative to the plane of the planar strip.

The invention relates to a rolling element bearing cage formed of one or more segments, each segment comprising: a supporting frame having a plurality of spaced apart openings each for accommodating a rolling element; and a reinforcing frame, inserted within the supporting frame, having a corresponding plurality of openings each for aligning with the openings of the supporting frame.

A thrust roller bearing cage (11) of the present invention is included in a thrust roller bearing (20) and includes a plurality of pockets (21) accommodating rollers (13). The thrust roller bearing cage (11) includes: a first cylindrical portion (36) extending in a direction of a rotation axis (12); a first disc portion (31) continuous with the first cylindrical portion (36) and extending in a radially outward direction; and a second cylindrical portion (37) continuous with the first disc portion (31) and extending in the direction of the rotation axis (12). The first cylindrical portion (36), the first disc portion (31), and the second cylindrical portion (37) are formed in an area located radially inside the pockets (21). The first disc portion (31) has a through hole (53).

A thrust roller bearing cage (11) of the present invention is included in a thrust roller bearing (20) and includes a plurality of pockets (21) accommodating rollers (13). The thrust roller bearing cage (11) includes: a first cylindrical portion (36) extending in a direction of a rotation axis (12); a first disc portion (31) continuous with the first cylindrical portion (36) and extending in a radially outward direction; and a second cylindrical portion (37) continuous with the first disc portion (31) and extending in the direction of the rotation axis (12). The first cylindrical portion (36), the first disc portion (31), and the second cylindrical portion (37) are formed in an area located radially inside the pockets (21). The height (H36) of the first cylindrical portion (36) in the direction of the rotation axis is smaller than the height (H37) of the second cylindrical portion (37) in the direction of the rotation axis.

A thrust roller bearing cage (11) of the present invention is included in a thrust roller bearing (20) and includes a plurality of pockets (21) accommodating rollers (13). The thrust roller bearing cage (11) includes: a radially outer area bent portion (41) formed by bending an area located radially outside the pockets (21) inward in a radial direction; and projecting portions (44) that are formed in a tip end of the radially outer area bent portion (41) at positions aligned with the pockets (21) and project inward in the radial direction beyond radially outer edges of the pockets (21) so as to contact end faces (16) of the rollers (13) accommodated in the pockets (21). The projecting portions (44) have a width that is or more and or less of the width of the pockets (21).