Abstract: A rolling-element bearing assembly is provided herein. The rolling-element bearing assembly includes a first raceway that also includes a first sensor module and a first communication module. The rolling-element bearing assembly includes a second raceway that also includes a second sensor module and a second communication module. The first sensor module senses a different condition of the rolling-element bearing assembly than the second sensor module. The first and second communication modules are of a same type. The rolling-element bearing assembly includes a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the first and second raceways to enable the first and second raceways to be rotatable relative to each other.

Abstract: A rolling-element bearing assembly includes first and second rolled-on surface elements and a plurality of rolling elements arranged therebetween such that the first and second rolled-on surface elements are rotatable relative to each other. A first one of the rolling elements includes a first sensor module having a sensor interface operably connected to a communication interface of a first communication module, and a second one of the rolling elements includes a second sensor module having the sensor interface operably connected to the communication interface of a second communication module. The common sensor interfaces allow different sensors to be used with identical communication modules.

Abstract: A rolling-element bearing assembly includes first and second rolled-on surface elements and a plurality of rolling elements arranged therebetween such that the first and second rolled-on surface elements are rotatable relative to each other. A first one of the rolling elements includes a first sensor module having a sensor interface operably connected to a communication interface of a first communication module, and a second one of the rolling elements includes a second sensor module having the sensor interface operably connected to the communication interface of a second communication module. The common sensor interfaces allow different sensors to be used with identical communication modules.

Abstract: A crankshaft or connecting-rod bearing assembly of an internal combustion engine includes a bearing journal configured to function as a bearing inner ring, and a bearing outer ring surrounds the bearing journal. At least one row of rolling elements is disposed between the bearing journal and the bearing outer ring, the rolling elements are held by a cage, and the cage includes at least two cage segments, each of which extends around a circumferential section of the bearing journal. Furthermore, the at least two cage segments are connected to each other in a materially-bonded manner at at least one joint lying in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a space between a first component and a second component includes a seal base body disposed on the first component and having at least first and second seal lips configured to run on a running surface of the second component with the seal lips contacting the second component at first and second axially spaced locations, the seal base body including an annular channel having an opening facing in the axial direction, and at least one cylinder comprising a bimetallic shape-change element, the cylinder having a first end in the annular channel of the seal base body and a second end outside the annular channel, at least a portion of the cylinder being located axially between the first seal lip and the second seal lip and radially inward or outward from the second seal lip.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes first and second rolling-element bearings each having an inner ring with a running surface for rolling elements and a guide flange that extends radially outwardly beyond the running surface for limiting axial movement of the rolling elements. The inner rings are configured such that they are in contact with each other exclusively within a contact surface diameter that is smaller than an average value of a maximum diameter of the running surface of one of the inner rings and a maximum outer diameter of that inner ring. The guide flanges are disposed on sides of the inner ring of the first rolling-element bearing and of the second rolling-element bearing that face each other axially.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a raceway element of a bearing assembly includes hardening a raceway element having a raceway surface by at least partially heating the raceway element, deep rolling the raceway surface using a first rolling element, and then deep rolling the raceway surface using a second rolling element. The first rolling element has at least one different dimension than the second rolling element. In the resulting raceway element, compressive residual stresses of at least 400 MPa are present at a depth from the raceway surface of 200 ?m or less, and between the raceway surface and a depth of 100 ?m from the raceway surface, the amount of the compressive residual stresses changes by 500 MPa or less.

Abstract: A crankshaft or connecting-rod bearing assembly of an internal combustion engine includes a bearing journal configured to function as a bearing inner ring, and a bearing outer ring surrounds the bearing journal. At least one row of rolling elements is disposed between the bearing journal and the bearing outer ring, the rolling elements are held by a cage, and the cage includes at least two cage segments, each of which extends around a circumferential section of the bearing journal. Furthermore, the at least two cage segments are connected to each other in a materially-bonded manner at at least one joint lying in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes two tapered roller bearings having inner and outer rings and tapered rollers therebetween. The inner rings are mounted to a first machine part, and the outer rings are mounted on an adapter sleeve on a second machine part. The adapter sleeve has a first end axially fixed relative to the second machine part and a second end axially spaced from an axial stop of the second machine part by an axial gap. At a non-operating temperature, such as 20° C., the gap has a width of about 30 ?m to 250 ?m, and at an operating temperature of over 50° C. the gap disappears and the second end contacts the axial stop. The width of the gap at the non-operating temperature is selected to produce a predetermined preload on the bearing assembly at the operating temperature.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes first and second rolling-element bearings each having an inner ring that is connectable to a shaft for rotation therewith, each inner ring having a running surface (raceway) for rolling elements and an intermediate ring disposed axially between the inner ring of the first rolling-element bearing and the inner ring of the second rolling-element bearing. The intermediate ring has a maximum outer diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the running surface of the inner ring of the first rolling-element bearing and smaller than a maximum diameter of the running surface of the inner ring of the second rolling-element bearing. The intermediate ring has an axial dimension that is smaller than a radial dimension of a cross-section of the intermediate ring, and that is smaller than 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes first and second rolling-element bearings each having an inner ring with a running surface for rolling elements and a guide flange that extends radially outwardly beyond the running surface for limiting axial movement of the rolling elements. The inner rings are configured such that they are in contact with each other exclusively within a contact surface diameter that is smaller than an average value of a maximum diameter of the running surface of one of the inner rings and a maximum outer diameter of that inner ring. The guide flanges are disposed on sides of the inner ring of the first rolling-element bearing and of the second rolling-element bearing that face each other axially.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes first and second rolling-element bearings each having an inner ring that is connectable to a shaft for rotation therewith, each inner ring having a running surface (raceway) for rolling elements and an intermediate ring disposed axially between the inner ring of the first rolling-element bearing and the inner ring of the second rolling-element bearing. The intermediate ring has a maximum outer diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the running surface of the inner ring of the first rolling-element bearing and smaller than a maximum diameter of the running surface of the inner ring of the second rolling-element bearing. The intermediate ring has an axial dimension that is smaller than a radial dimension of a cross-section of the intermediate ring, and that is smaller than 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A roller body for a roller bearing includes at least one cavity extending from an end face of the roller body, at least one retaining element is disposed in the cavity, and at least one sensor is disposed in the cavity, such as in or on the retaining element. The sensor is at least partially surrounded by an elastic material in a protective manner.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a raceway element of a bearing assembly includes hardening a raceway element having a raceway surface by at least partially heating the raceway element, deep rolling the raceway surface using a first rolling element, and then deep rolling the raceway surface using a second rolling element. The first rolling element has at least one different dimension than the second rolling element. In the resulting raceway element, compressive residual stresses of at least 400 MPa are present at a depth from the raceway surface of 200 ?m or less, and between the raceway surface and a depth of 100 ?mm from the raceway surface, the amount of the compressive residual stresses changes by 500 MPa or less.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes at least first, second and third raceway elements that are each separable from each other and at least first, second and third rows of truncated-cone-shaped rolling elements. The first and second raceway elements are disposed side-by-side in an axial direction of the bearing assembly and oppoe the third raceway element in a radial direction of the bearing assembly. The first and second rows of rolling elements are disposed between the first raceway element and the third raceway element and the third row of rolling elements is disposed between the second raceway element and the third raceway element. The rolling elements of the first and second rows commonly roll on a first raceway of the third raceway element and the rolling elements of the third row roll on a second raceway of the third raceway element, which is not parallel to the first raceway.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes two tapered roller bearings having inner and outer rings and tapered rollers therebetween. The inner rings are mounted to a first machine part, and the outer rings are mounted on an adapter sleeve on a second machine part. The adapter sleeve has a first end axially fixed relative to the second machine part and a second end axially spaced from an axial stop of the second machine part by an axial gap. At a non-operating temperature, such as 20° C., the gap has a width of about 30 ?m to 250 ?m, and at an operating temperature of over 50° C. the gap disappears and the second end contacts the axial stop. The width of the gap at the non-operating temperature is selected to produce a predetermined preload on the bearing assembly at the operating temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing unit (1) for a vehicle wheel, comprising a hub element (2, 3, 2?) which has an axially (a) extending cylindrical section (4) to be supported by a bearing arrangement (5) and which has a radially (r) extending flange section (6) for fixing the vehicle wheel and/or a brake disk at a face side (7) of the flange section (6), wherein the bearing arrangement (5) has an outer ring (8). To ensure a firm and cost effective axial connection between the hub element and the outer ring, the invention is characterized in that the outer ring (8) has a radially extending insection (9) at its a outer circumference (10), wherein the axially (a) extending cylindrical section (4) of the hub element (2, 3, 2?) is deformed partially (11) so that a section of it interferes in the insection (9) for axially fixing the hub element (2, 3, 2?) relatively to the outer ring (8). The invention also relates to a method for producing a wheel bearing unit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rolling-element bearing includes forming an inner ring from a steel having a sulfur content of 0.002 to 0.015 mass % and an oxygen content of less than 15 ppm, subjecting the inner ring to a hardening heat treatment that ends by performing a final heat treatment step at a predetermined temperature, cold working the inner-ring raceway to generate compressive residual stresses at least in a surface layer of the inner-ring raceway, subjecting the inner ring to a bluing treatment and subjecting the blued inner ring to a thermal post-treatment process at a temperature below the predetermined temperature of the final hardening heat treatment step. The resulting rolling-element bearing may exhibit compressive residual stresses having an absolute value of at least 200 MPa at 0.1 mm beneath the outer surface of the inner-ring raceway and a maximum value of 1500 MPa or less throughout the inner ring.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement (1) for a tension roller (2) designed as a hollow cylinder at least in segments, having at least one bearing (3) supporting the tension roller (2), wherein a damping layer (5) made of elastomer or rubber material is disposed between a ring (4) of the bearing (3) and the tension roller (2), directly or indirectly, and wherein at least one axial end of the tension roller (2) is closed by a cover (6). In order to achieve a low-noise and self-centering seal for the axial end of the tension roller, according to the invention, the cover (6) is disposed in a mounting segment (8) and is held by the same, said segment being molded from the material of the damping layer in an axial end region of the damping layer (5).

Abstract: A roller bearing comprises at least two rows of rollers disposed between an inner ring and an outer ring. At least two tracks guide the respective rows of roller and are defined in the axial direction of the inner ring or the outer ring. At least one flange abuts axial ends of axially-adjacent rows of rollers and extends radially from a radially outer side or a radially inner side of the inner ring or the outer ring. At least one recess is defined on the side of the inner ring or the outer ring that is opposite of the radially outer side or the radially inner side of the inner ring or the outer ring, from which the at least one flange radially extends. The at least one recess at least partially overlaps the at least one flange in the axial direction.