Abstract: A bearing arrangement having a bearing mounted in a housing, wherein a grease lubricant is present within the housing for lubricating the bearing, a support frame at least partly made of an electrically insulating material, arranged in a space within the housing that lies axially between the bearing and a housing seal. The support frame includes at least one electrode pair having first and second electrodes arranged to enable grease lubricant to contact therewith. A capacitance meter provided for measuring a capacitance between the first and second electrodes. The support frame provides a radially oriented surface and a plurality of ribs that extend in a radially inward direction, the ribs having sufficient circumferential spacing to enable grease to flow between adjacent ribs. One of the first and second electrodes is provided on the radially oriented surface of the support frame or on a rib surface that faces an adjacent rib.

Abstract: A mechanical system forms a cam follower or a rocker arm and includes a support element, a pin extending between two opposite ends along a first axis and supported by the support element, and a roller mounted on the pin, movable in rotation relative to the pin around the first axis and adapted to roll on a cam. The support element includes a first axial abutment feature blocking the translation of a pin assembly including at least the pin, in a first direction parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The mechanical system additionally includes an insert inserted in the support element and supporting the pin opposite the first axial abutment feature, wherein the first axial abutment feature protrudes outside a cavity delimited by the support element and receiving the pin.

Abstract: A slewing bearing, in particular for a vehicle, comprises an inner ring, an outer ring, at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings, and a sealing feature that define between the rings a closed annular space within which the rolling elements are disposed. The bearing also comprises at least one seal that is fixed to the outer ring and comprises at least one sealing lip that is oriented towards the outside of the bearing, and at least one deflector that is fixed to the outer ring and comprises a deflecting part that is at least partially offset axially towards the outside with respect to the sealing lip of the seal.

Abstract: An elastomeric seal, the seal (10) having an elastomeric part (15) with a contact surface (17) for contacting, in use, a movable surface (30), the contact surface having a distribution of dimples thereon, the dimples having a depth of at least 9 ?m, an aspect ratio of at least 0.2 and an area density of from 0.05 to 0.5.

Abstract: A method wherein the possible abnormal noisiness and vibrations of a rolling bearing for a wheel hub unit are detected by fixing a first one of the inner and outer rings of the bearing integral on a support provided with a first and a second accelerometer so that the first and second accelerometers have respective measurement axes (X, Y) arranged at a right angle relative to each other on a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (A) of the bearing. A second ring of the bearing is angularly coupled with means for rotating it at a predetermined speed, calculated beforehand based on operating parameters of the bearing; processing means detect in a predetermined time interval a first and a second electric signal (T1, T2) emitted by the first and second accelerometers and, through a frequency analysis, obtain a frequency spectrum (P) of the amplitude of any vibrations detected.

Abstract: A method of imparting compressive residual stress to a first plurality of balls includes a) placing the balls between a first body having a first surface and a second body having a second surface, the first surface including a smooth contact portion, the smooth contact portion being substantially flat or convex and having a surface hardness greater than or equal to an initial surface hardness of the balls, b) imparting a compressive stress along a first diameter of the balls by pressing the first body toward the second body or the second body toward the first body or the first and second bodies toward one another with a force, and c) causing relative movement between the first surface and the second surface while maintaining the force at or above a minimum level to impart the compressive stress along other diameters of the balls different than the first diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for imparting compressive residual stress to at least a surface portion of a first plurality of balls includes a first body having a first surface, the first surface including a smooth contact portion, the smooth contact portion being substantially flat or convex and having a surface hardness greater than or equal to the initial surface hardness of the balls. The apparatus also includes a second body having a second surface, the first surface overlying the second surface, and at least one drive operably connected to the first body or to the second body and configured to move one of the first and second bodies relative to the other body at a substantially fixed distance, the at least one drive also being configured to move the first body toward the second body with a force or to move the second body toward the first body with the force.

Abstract: A rolling element bearing comprising inner and outer rings; a plurality of rolling elements disposed between opposing surfaces of the inner and outer rings; and a bearing shield comprising a first member having an annular surface facing the plurality of rolling elements, the first member either (1) extending from the inner ring towards the outer ring (defining a gap between the first member and the outer ring) and the inner ring having a low surface energy surface adjacent the gap, or (2) extending from the outer ring towards the inner ring (defining a gap between the first member and the inner ring) and the inner ring comprises a low energy surface adjacent the gap. The low energy surfaces each have a surface energy of ?0.028 N/m.

Abstract: A rolling bearing includes an inner race, an outer race, a row of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races, and a first seal fixed to one of the inner and outer races. The first seal includes at least one sealing lip cooperating with the other of the inner and outer races. The rolling bearing further includes a second seal fixed to the other of the inner and outer races. The first seal includes at least one sealing lip cooperating with the first seal.

Abstract: A cage for a crankshaft bearing or a connecting-rod bearing of an internal combustion engine or for a compressor has a plurality of receiving pockets for guiding bearing rolling elements and has an axial width. The cage includes at least first and second cage segments, each cage segment having a segment axial width equal to the axial width of the cage and having a first end circumferentially spaced from a second end, the first cage segment first end being connected to the second cage segment second end by an interference fit and the first cage segment second end being connected to the second cage segment first end by an interference fit.

Abstract: A plug assembly for use in a rolling bearing comprising at least a first ring, at least one second ring, and at least one row of rolling elements arranged between the rings. The first ring is provided with an opening for inserting rolling elements into a space between raceways or for taking rolling elements out of the space between the raceways for assembly and maintenance. The plug assembly comprises a plug configured to close the opening when the bearing is operating. The plug includes an inner end face facing the rolling elements and an outer end face opposite to the inner end face. The bearing can further comprise a protective cap shielding the outer end face of the plug from a corrosive environment of the bearing.

Abstract: A rolling-contact bearing comprising an inner ring, an outer ring with an outer surface in the form of a section of a sphere, rolling bodies between the inner ring and the outer ring, an encoder washer constrained to rotate with the inner ring, a sensor member being designed to detect a rotation of the encoder washer, and a support member having an inner surface in the form of a section of a sphere, the inner surface being designed to be in sliding contact with the outer surface of the outer ring. The support member is designed to hold the sensor member, in relation to the encoder washer, in a position in which the sensor member can detect a rotation of the encoder washer. The sensor member includes a transponder intended to communicate wirelessly with a detector.

Abstract: An axial magnetic bearing comprising a rotor stop disc which is mounted perpendicularly and integral with a rotating shaft and a coaxially stator assembly and comprising at least one stator element of magnetic material having an inner face parallel to a side of the rotor stop disc and separated from it by an air gap, the at least one stator element comprising two annular coils and housed in two annular notches formed continuously in the magnetic material of the at least one stator element and opening to the side of the rotor stop disc, the two annular notches being separated by an annular tooth, rolled in series and are formed by a single continuous wire, a bridging recess being cut in the annular tooth for receiving a massive insert part that extends the annular tooth without locally modifying the air gap with the rotor stop disc.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a roller, adapted to equip a mechanical system forming a cam follower or a rocker arm. The roller is centered on a central axis and comprising: an outer cylindrical surface adapted to roll on a cam, an inner cylindrical bore adapted to receive a pin belonging to the mechanical system, and two lateral faces extending radially to the central axis. The method includes a machining step forming circular grooves that are concentric with each other on at least one of the lateral faces of the roller. The roller can be installed within a mechanical system.

Abstract: A system and method for storing, reading, and updating data structures in a database. The system and method can include storing an entry in a structure table for each data structure, where each data structure is associated with a unique identifier. The system and method can also include storing an entry for each field of a data structure in n field table corresponding to a data type of the field, where the entry for each field is associated with the unique identifier of the data structure. A field for a data structure can be accessed by searching the appropriate field table for the unique identifier of the data structure. Additionally, the data structure can be updated by adding a new entry in the structure table and new entries in the field tables.

Abstract: The bearing provides an outer ring, an inner ring, at least one seal fixed to one of the rings and cooperating with the other ring, and at least one sealing flange fixed on the other ring. Flange is at least partly elastically deformable in the axial direction. Flange is axially mounted in contact against an outer lateral face of the seal. At least one local deformation is provided to the sealing flange to support elastically deformation of the flange. The sealing flange further provides at least one protrusion that axially extends beyond the local deformation.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a thermosetting plastic bearing carrier having a receptacle for holding a bearing ring of the bearing and an injection molded connector between an inner circumference of the receptacle and an outer circumference of the bearing ring made from a thermoplastic plastic. The connector may include axial end portions that radially overlap portions of the bearing carrier. Also a method for forming a bearing assembly.

Abstract: An oil-air lubricant distributor with a tubular distributor body that includes an oil-air mixture inlet and a plurality of lubrication-point outlets for dispensing the oil-air mixture to at least one consumer, wherein the lubrication-point outlets are connected to the oil-air mixture inlet via line channels, and the line channels are provided with an oil-air mixture from a mixture distributor unit, the mixture distributor unit including a single oil inlet, a single air inlet, and a plurality of oil-air-mixture outlets, and wherein the oil-air mixture inlet is directly but releasably connected to the mixture distributor, and the oil-air-mixture outlets are directly but releasably fluidly connected to the line channels in the tubular distributor body.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for a vehicle includes at least one rolling-element bearing having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring defining therebetween a bearing interior, rolling elements disposed in the interior, and a seal assembly for sealing the bearing assembly. The seal assembly includes a sleeve-shaped element connected to the second bearing ring such that the sleeve-shaped element rotates with the second bearing, and the sleeve-shaped element includes a flange that forms an axial stop for the rolling elements. A carrier element is connected to the first bearing ring such the carrier element rotates with the first bearing ring, and the carrier element includes a radially extending annular flange. The radially extending annular flange supports a radially encircling seal having at least one seal lip, and the seal lip extends toward the second bearing ring and sealingly abuts on the sleeve shaped element.

Abstract: A rolling-element bearing cage includes a first side ring and a second side ring connected to the first side ring by a plurality of bridges defining a plurality of pockets configured to receive a rolling-element. The first side ring includes a joint at which the first side ring is configured to be opened to increase a diameter of the first side ring, and the first side ring and the second side ring and the plurality of bridges are made of steel and an outer diameter of the second side ring is greater than 500 mm.