A sheet metal bearing cage segment includes a first sheet metal ring section, at least one second sheet metal ring section, and a plurality of bridges connecting the first ring section and the at least one second ring section to each other, adjacent pairs of the bridges forming pockets configured to receive at least one rolling element. At least one edge of the first ring section and/or at least one edge of the at least one second ring section and/or of one of the bridges is at least partially formed by laser cutting. Also a method of forming a sheet metal bearing cage at least partially by laser cutting.

A sheet metal bearing cage segment includes first and second ring sections, bridges connecting the ring sections to form pockets for rolling elements and a circumferentially facing joint edge configured to be connected to another circumferentially facing joint edge. The joint edge is disposed such that it will be located in one of the bridges after the joint edge is connected to the another circumferentially facing joint edge.

A sheet-metal bearing cage segment has a first ring section, at least one second ring section and a plurality of bridges connecting the first ring section and the at least one second ring section to each other such that a pocket for receiving at least one rolling element is formed between each circumferentially adjacent pair of the bridges. The first and/or second ring section includes at least one recess on the radially inner side and/or the radially outer side.

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 bearing cage segment of a sheet metal cage includes first and second sheet metal ring sections and bridges therebetween defining a plurality of pockets for receiving rolling elements. A first circumferential joint edge of the segment is configured to connect to a second circumferential joint edge of the segment or to a second joint edge of another segment, and the first joint edge includes at least one alignment element, such as a projection or contour, that is configured to align the first joint edge radially, axially and/or circumferentially against the second joint edge which may include a complementary alignment element such as a recess or complementary contour.

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 and forming pockets for receiving at least one rolling element. The first ring section and/or the at least one second ring section includes a circumferentially facing joint edge configured to be connected to another circumferentially facing joint edge to form a to-be-formed pocket. The joint is spaced from the plurality of bridges, and the joint edge is formed by laser cutting. The joint edge may include a chamfer on a radially outer side and/or on a radially inner side.

A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a stator, a turbine, a bushing provided at an inner circumferential surface of the turbine and a thrust bearing provided axially between the turbine and the stator. The bushing contacts an inner circumferential surface of the thrust bearing for piloting the turbine bearing. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided. The method includes providing a bushing at an inner circumferential surface of a turbine; and providing a thrust bearing axially between the turbine and a stator such that the bushing contacts an inner circumferential surface of the thrust bearing to pilot the turbine bearing.

A rolling-element bearing cage or segment configured to guide at least one rolling element includes a first circumferential ring connected to a second circumferential ring by a plurality of axially extending bridges. A first one of the bridges includes a first axial portion that has a cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction and a cross sectional area and a peripheral length. The peripheral length of the cross section of the first axial portion is greater than a peripheral length of a smallest rectangle bounding the cross section.

A retainer-equipped double-row needle-roller bearing includes a pair of annular end flange portions; a center annular center flange portion; and two rows of pillars connecting the portions to each other to provide pockets between mutually adjacent pairs of pillars in a circumferential direction for holding rollers in two rows. The center flange portion has an outer diameter (D2), and the end flange portions have an outer diameter (D1), in a relationship expressed as D2<D1. When the retainer moves radially by an amount of gap associated with the rollers, the retainer is guided on the outer diameter surfaces of the end flange portions at two ends of the retainer, by the inner diameter surface of a housing. This stabilizes behavior of the retainer during rotation, reducing premature wear and abnormal noise.

A bearing cage for retaining rolling elements of a rolling element bearing, the bearing cage constructed from a sheet metal element. The cage having 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. At least one of the cage bars includes a first portion. The first portion is constructed by folding a part of the sheet metal element such that the first portion extends in a radial direction of the cage and such that an axially extending fold is provided on the cage bar. A rolling element bearing and a method of producing the bearing cage is also provided.