An adjustable spacer with a non-hardened intermediate portion therebetween is mountable between a pair of roller bearings also mounted on a shaft such an axle or spindle or the like. The intermediate portion allows the spacer to collapse in the axial direction to maintain desired axial loads on the bearings.

A sheet metal bearing cage segment includes a first ring section, at least one second ring section, and a plurality of bridges connecting the first and second ring sections to each other and defining a plurality of pockets between the bridges. The bearing cage segment includes first and second circumferentially directed joint edges, the first joint edge is configured to connect to the second joint edge of the bearing cage segment or to a second joint edge of another sheet metal bearing cage segment, and the first joint edge includes at least one body of welding material projecting from the joint edge. The body of welding material may be pressed against the second joint edge while leaving a gap between the joint edges, and the welding material can be liquified by a resistance welding process to connect the joint edges.

A sheet metal bearing cage segment includes a first ring section, at least one second ring section, and a plurality of bridges connecting the first and second ring sections to each other and defining a plurality of pockets between the bridges. The bearing cage segment includes first and second circumferentially directed joint edges, the first joint edge is configured to connect to the second joint edge of the bearing cage segment or to a second joint edge of another sheet metal bearing cage segment, and the first joint edge includes at least one body of welding material projecting from the joint edge. The body of welding material may be pressed against the second joint edge while leaving a gap between the joint edges, and the welding material can be liquified by a resistance welding process to connect the joint edges.

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.

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.

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

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

An adjustable spacer with a non-hardened intermediate portion therebetween is mountable between a pair of roller bearings also mounted on a shaft such an axle or spindle or the like. The intermediate portion allows the spacer to collapse in the axial direction to maintain desired axial loads on the bearings.