Bearing cage, rolling element bearing and method

A method for producing a bearing cage made from a disk-shaped sheet metal element having a central bore therethrough,

• the method comprising:
• obtaining the disk-shaped sheet metal element;
• forming at least one opening arranged radially outwardly from the central bore, the opening presents two abutting side surfaces which extend in a radial direction of the disk-shaped element;
• shaping the disk-shaped element such that the disk-shaped element attains a form of a bearing cage providing an L-shaped or a U-shaped profile seen in an axial cross section of the bearing cage, the bearing cage provides a first second ring element and a second ring element that are axially displaced from each other;
• and
• forming an undulating wave-like profile in the circumferential direction of the bearing cage provided in the second ring element,
• wherein the disk-shaped element attains the bearing cage form without dividing any of the first ring element or second ring element.

A bearing cage for retaining rolling elements of a rolling element bearing, the bearing cage made from a sheet metal element, and comprises,

• at least one cage pocket configured to receive at least one rolling element, the at least one cage pocket formed by two adjacent cage bars that extend axially between a first axially displaced ring element and a second axially displaced ring element,
• wherein the bearing cage is made of a one-piece sheet metal element and the first ring element and the second ring element are undivided along their circumference without any joints or connections for joining an interrupted ring element,
• wherein at least one of the cage bars provides a first portion, the first portion made 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 present on the cage bar,
• wherein the other one of the two adjacent cage bars of the at least one cage pocket provides a corresponding second portion abutting the first portion, the second portion made by folding a part of the sheet metal element such that the second portion extends in a radial direction of the cage and such that an axially extending fold is provided on the cage bar,
• wherein the first ring element provides at least one third portion, the at least one third portion has been made by folding a part of the sheet metal element such that the third portion extends in an axial direction of the cage and such that a circumferentially extending fold is provided on the first ring element,
• wherein the at least one third portion presents a surface on a radially inner side of the third portion, which surface is meant to contact a rolling bearing ring of the rolling element bearing.