Bearing component and method of making same

A tapered anti-friction bearing comprising a first generally cylindrical body portion, a frusto-conic inwardly facing bearing surface on said first body portion constituting the main bearing surface of the outer ring of the tapered bearing, a second generally cylindrical body portion, a frusto-conic outwardly facing bearing surface on said second body portion constituting the main bearing surface of the inner ring of the tapered bearing, at least one of said body portions having an annular rib defining one end of a channel, the smaller diameter end of said outwardly facing bearing surface being ribless, and a plurality of tapered rollers disposed between said main bearing surfaces.

A channeled anti-friction bearing component comprising a generally cylindrical body portion, a frusto-conic outwardly facing bearing surface on said body portion constituting the main bearing surface of the inner ring of a tapered bearing, a separately constituted annular rib having a surface defining the smaller end of said channel, the body portion being formed with a seat adapted to receive said annular rib and said annular rib being attached to said seat by a weldment spaced from said main bearing surface, and said seat being traversed in a generally axial direction by lubricant passages extending from the end of the ring to the channel.

The method of making an anti-friction bearing component which includes providing an annular body having the metal flow adjacent the interior surface substantially parallel to said surface, hot roll forming a tapered bearing surface on said interior surface and forming an integral thrust rib at the large diameter end of said bearing surface, while maintaining the metal flow in directions which lie substantially parallel to the main bearing surface and to the adjacent surface of the thrust rib.