Lubricant insert for rolling bearings

A self supporting lubricant insert for a rolling bearing comprising inner and outer rings having confronting spaced raceways and a plurality of rolling elements in the annular space between the rings, said insert being composed of a firm, tough, solid gel matrix consisting of a polyolefin polymer containing a lubricating oil of lubricating viscosity which exudes therefrom to provide an oily surface in contact with the bearing elements which it engages, said lubricant insert adapted for easy assembly and removal from the bearing and comprising an annular member having a plurality of tabs contoured to the shape of the rolling elements and projecting axially from the inner face of the annular member to engage the rolling elements for effecting lubricant transfer and for detachably holding the insert in place in the bearing envelope, said axially projecting tabs are of a greater transverse dimension than the radial height between the land surfaces of the inner and outer rings and have outer contoured faces which merge with the annular ring member so that when the insert is seated, the contoured face engages the outer edge of the raceways to lock the insert in place.