Counter-rotating antifriction bearing assembly

A bearing assembly comprising:

• an outer race having an inner surface;
• an inner race having an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race defining a bearing assembly raceway;
• a plurality of main rolling elements positioned within the bearing assembly raceway, the rolling elements in contact with the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race;
• a plurality of mediate rolling elements positioned within the bearing assembly raceway counter-rotating with the main rolling elements such that each of the mediate rolling elements is in rolling contact with a pair of the plurality of main rolling elements;
• and a cage positioned within the bearing assembly raceway, the cage comprising a cage body, the body having a plurality of parallel annular rims joined by a plurality of rungs, the rungs separated so as to define a plurality of main rolling element openings in the cage body for receiving the plurality of main rolling elements, the rungs having a plurality of mediate rolling element retainers extending from the rungs, the retainers permitting counter-rotating of the mediate rolling elements with the main rolling elements in the main rolling element openings;
• wherein the extensions include a plurality of tapered protruding portions.

A bearing assembly comprising:

• an outer race having an inner surface;
• an inner race having an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race defining a bearing assembly raceway;
• a plurality of main rolling elements positioned within the bearing assembly raceway, the rolling elements in contact with the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race;
• a plurality of mediate rolling elements positioned within the bearing assembly raceway counter-rotating with the main rolling elements such that each of the mediate rolling elements is in rolling contact with a pair of the plurality of main rolling elements;
• and a cage positioned within the bearing assembly raceway, the cage comprising a cage body, the body having a plurality of parallel annular rims joined by a plurality of rungs, the rungs separated so as to define a plurality of main rolling element openings in the cage body for receiving the plurality of main rolling elements, the rungs having a plurality of mediate rolling element retainers extending from the rungs, the retainers permitting counter-rotating of the mediate rolling elements with the main rolling elements in the main rolling element openings;
• wherein each of the plurality of main and mediate rollers has a diameter and the main roller diameter is larger than the mediate roller diameter;
• wherein the plurality of main and mediate rolling elements are rollers.

A bearing assembly comprising:

• an outer race having an inner surface;
• an inner race having an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race defining a bearing assembly raceway;
• a plurality of main rolling elements positioned within the bearing assembly raceway, the rolling elements in contact with the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race;
• a plurality of mediate rolling elements positioned within the bearing assembly raceway counter-rotating with the main rolling elements such that each of the mediate rolling elements is in rolling contact with a pair of the plurality of main rolling elements;
• and a cage positioned within the bearing assembly raceway, the cage comprising a cage body, the body having a plurality of parallel annular rims joined by a plurality of rungs, the rungs separated so as to define a plurality of main rolling element openings in the cage body for receiving the plurality of main rolling elements, the rungs having a plurality of mediate rolling element retainers extending from the rungs, the retainers permitting counter-rotating of the mediate rolling elements with the main rolling elements in the main rolling element openings;
• wherein each of the plurality of main and mediate rollers has a diameter and the main roller diameter is larger than the mediate roller diameter;
• wherein the plurality of main and mediate rolling elements are rollers;
• and
• wherein each of the plurality of main and mediate rollers has a length and the main roller length is longer than the mediate roller length.