Roller-bearing cage

Abstract

A roller-bearing cage prevents bearing rollers from falling out of the cage when the outer ring of the bearing is away from the cage, for example, when the outer ring is removed, the cage is removed or the cage is swung out from the outer ring. The rollers are held in place by holding knobs formed on a radially outwardly directed cage flange located at the axial end of the rollers. The knobs are located radially outwardly of the pitch circle of the rollers, are spaced circumferentially apart sufficient to be out of contact with the rollers when the rollers are in the operating position of the bearing in contact with the outer and inner ring, yet are spaced close enough together that the space between two holding knobs is less than the diameter of the roller lying opposite the knobs. The knobs are formed on a resilient, outwardly directed cage flange which moves resiliently upon the snapping in and out of the rollers in the cage. The knobs may be hemispherical or frustoconically shaped.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.