A bearing cage for large rolling-element bearings includes a first side part and a second side part and a plurality of bridge elements connecting the first and second side parts to form a plurality of cage pockets each configured to receive a rolling element. The at least one bridge element and/or the first side part and/or the second side part includes at least one opening, and an insert element is mounted in each of the at least one opening and configured to contact the rolling element.

A method for manufacturing a bearing cage includes providing a bearing cage blank made from a metal plate, the cage blank including a cylindrical flange extending from a disk-shaped wall, punching a plurality of first openings through the cylindrical flange in a first direction to form a plurality of snap surfaces, and punching a plurality of second openings through the cylindrical wall in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a plurality of pockets. The second openings intersect at least two of the first openings, and punching the pockets removes a body of material from between the at least two of the first openings. Also a bearing cage formed by the method.

A method of forming a bearing cage is generally disclosed herein. The method includes (i) forming a bearing cage from either titanium or a titanium alloy; and (ii) applying a plasma-nitriding treatment to at least one surface of the bearing cage to form a compound layer of titanium nitride including TiN and Ti.sub.2N on an outer region of the at least one surface. Step (ii) further forms a diffusion zone adjacent to the outer region, in one aspect. A surface hardness of the bearing cage that is treated by the plasma-nitriding step is at least 1000 HV. The bearing cage is configured to be used in a turbofan, turboprop, or turboshaft engine or in a helicopter gearbox, in one aspect.

A method of forming a bearing cage is generally disclosed herein. The method includes (i) forming a bearing cage from either titanium or a titanium alloy; and (ii) applying a plasma-nitriding treatment to at least one surface of the bearing cage to form a compound layer of titanium nitride including TiN and Ti.sub.2N on an outer region of the at least one surface. Step (ii) further forms a diffusion zone adjacent to the outer region, in one aspect. A surface hardness of the bearing cage that is treated by the plasma-nitriding step is at least 1000 HV. The bearing cage is configured to be used in a turbofan, turboprop, or turboshaft engine or in a helicopter gearbox, in one aspect.

A roller-cage assembly including rolling elements and a cage is provided. The cage includes crossbars extending between an inner and outer ring that define rolling element pockets. Each of the crossbars is tapered from a larger width at the radially outer ring to a smaller width at the radially inner ring, and is connected to the radially inner ring at a first cross-sectional connection area. The crossbars have a first and second lateral surface for supporting the rolling elements. The first cross-sectional connection area of each of the crossbars has a minimum width and a first height. A maximum distance is defined between outer surfaces of adjacent rolling elements and is greater than zero. The minimum width of the first cross-sectional connection area is greater than the maximum distance defined between outer surfaces of adjacent rolling elements at radially inner ends thereof, and is 30-50% of the first height.

A rolling bearing retainer which is formed by insert molding a resinous material together with a core member within a mold, in which the core member is embedded within a resin part made of the resinous material and a support area exposure part is provided at a plurality of locations of the resin part for exposing a support area of the core member supported within a cavity of the mold. The resin part includes a ring shaped body and a plurality of support column bodies extending axially from the ring shaped body and defining a pocket for retaining a rolling element therebetween, and the core member is provided with a ring shaped body embedded part and a plurality of support column body embedded parts extending from the ring shaped body embedded part.

An aluminum alloy cage and a method for producing the same. The aluminum alloy cage has a shot-peened aluminum alloy cage substrate and a coating formed on the surface of shot-peened aluminum alloy cage substrate, the coating including at least one nickel containing layer. The aluminum alloy cage has high fatigue strength, excellent corrosion resistance, high surface hardness and low surface friction coefficient, and exhibits excellent surface lubricity and wear resistance.

A tapered roller bearing has pockets configured to receive tapered rollers in a cage. Each of column portions facing the pockets includes a deburring-press processed surface on a radially inner side of a side surface of the each of the column portions. The deburring-press processed surface includes a straight portion located at a center of the pocket in an axial direction, pocket corner rounded portions located at both ends of the pocket in the axial direction, and relief portions each formed between the straight portion and the pocket corner rounded portion. Each of the relief portions has a relief amount increased gradually from an axial end of the straight portion toward the pocket corner rounded portion, and is smoothly connected to the straight portion.

A rolling element for use in a rolling-element bearing is proposed, including an outer casing and a bore hole. The bore hole is provided along a center line of the rolling element. The rolling element has at least one sensor arranged in the bore hole for load measurement and a radio module for transmitting the data measured by the sensor, wherein the rolling element has a micro-generator to provide the energy required for operation of the sensor and/or of the radio module.

A tapered roller bearing has pockets configured to receive tapered rollers in a cage. Each of column portions facing the pockets includes a deburring-press processed surface on a radially inner side of a side surface of the each of the column portions. The deburring-press processed surface includes a straight portion located at a center of the pocket in an axial direction, pocket corner rounded portions located at both ends of the pocket in the axial direction, and relief portions each formed between the straight portion and the pocket corner rounded portion. Each of the relief portions has a relief amount increased gradually from an axial end of the straight portion toward the pocket corner rounded portion, and is smoothly connected to the straight portion.