Abstract: A bearing raceway element configured as an inner ring or as an outer ring, or configured to be attachable to an element serving as an inner ring or as an outer ring for the bearing or to an inner ring or an outer ring of the bearing. The raceway element is manufactured from a sheet metal panel and includes at least one first joint edge and at least one second joint edge directed in the circumferential direction that are configured to be connected to each other in order to form an annular raceway element. The at least one first joint edge is at least partially configured as a first alignment element and/or includes the first alignment element. Also a bearing including the raceway element and an associated method.

Abstract: A raceway element for a rolling-element bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, the raceway element being configured as the inner ring of the bearing or as the outer ring of the bearing, or being configured to be attachable to an inner ring or outer ring of the bearing. At least one surface of the raceway element is configured as a raceway for the rolling elements, the raceway element is formed from a sheet metal panel, and the raceway element includes a flange for guiding the rolling elements formed one-piece with the raceway element. Also, a bearing including the element and a method of forming the element.

Abstract: A raceway element for a rolling-element bearing, the rolling-element bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements that are disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The raceway element is configured as an inner ring or as an outer ring, or is configured to be attachable to an inner ring or outer ring of the bearing, wherein at least one surface of the raceway element is configured as a raceway for the rolling elements. The raceway element is formed from a sheet metal panel having at least one recess formed in the surface configured as the raceway.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of forming a bearing cage segment includes determining a path of a periphery of the bearing cage segment along a metal sheet, punching a plurality of openings in the metal sheet inside the path to form a plurality of pockets separated by a plurality of bridges and separating the bearing cage segment from the metal sheet at the path. The separating includes laser cutting first and second joint edges at a first end of the row and third and fourth joint edges at a second end of the row, where the first joint edge is spaced from the second joint edge in a length direction of the bridges and the third joint edge is spaced from the fourth joint edge in the length direction of the bridges.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of forming a bearing cage segment includes punching a plurality of openings in a sheet metal band to form a plurality of pockets separated by a plurality of bridges, the bridges having a length direction transverse to a length direction of the band and having a width in the length direction of the band and having a thickness in a direction perpendicular the length direction and to the width, and laser cutting the sheet metal band along one of the plurality of bridges transversely to the length direction of the band to form a joint edge.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A cage segment is for a rolling-element bearing cage, particularly for large rolling-element bearings. The cage segment includes a first side element and a second side element that are connected by a first bridge and a second bridge. At least one pocket is formed between the first and second bridges which is suitable for receiving at least one rolling element. The cage segment is manufactured from sheet metal.

Abstract: A method for attaching a bearing carrier having an opening to an outer ring of a bearing includes placing the bearing carrier against a first body that is not the outer ring of the bearing, pressing the first body against a first location on the bearing carrier with a force having a radial component to increase a width of the opening of the bearing carrier, placing the opening of the bearing carrier on the outer ring of the bearing while maintaining the force, and releasing the force after placing the bearing carrier on the outer ring.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: A bearing cage segment for a rolling-element bearing includes at least one sliding surface on which a surface of at least one rolling element of the rolling-element bearing is rotatable, a first support element, such as an axial projection on an axial side of the cage segment having a radially open radially facing channel, at a first radial position for supporting a first band section of a band clamp during an assembling of the rolling-element bearing, and at least one second support element at a second radial position different from the first radial position for supporting a second band section of the band clamp.