Method for forming very small axial dimension high load-carrying capacity roller bearings

A method for forming a roller bearing of very small axial dimension and high load-carrying capacity, said roller bearing comprising an inner race provided with a circumferential guide and rolling track for rollers and an outer race provided with a cylindrical rolling track for the same rollers, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming in opposing faces of an inner edge of the bearing outer race, two inwardly flared opposing annular grooves and two corresponding opposing annular channels so as to form between them two inclined opposing annular appendices of substantially frusto-conical shape projecting to define a mouth of said grooves;
• constructing two small-thickness lateral shoulder-forming spring rings of outer diameter slightly greater than that of the mouth of the grooves and having at their outer circumferential end a projecting tooth with a flat annular pressing edge;
• inserting rollers into in lieu thereof circumferential guide and rolling track of the bearing inner race;
• snap-inserting one of the lateral shoulder-forming spring rings into one of the annular grooves of the bearing outer race;
• inserting the inner race with rollers inserted in its circumferential guide and rolling track into the bearing outer race with the lateral shoulder-forming spring ring already snap-inserted;
• snap-inserting the other lateral shoulder-forming spring ring into the other annular groove of the bearing outer race;
• and, by means of two opposing dies, axially pressing the two opposing inclined annular appendices of the bearing outer race over the flat annular pressing edge of the projecting teeth of said lateral shoulder-forming spring rings.