# US 9,039,290 B2 · Cage and thrust roller bearing including cage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,290 B2 - Document ID: US9039290B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/154,793 - Filed: 2014-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-21 - Assignees: Jtekt Corporation - Applicants: Jtekt Corporation - Inventors: Ryou Takahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039290B2 ## CPC - F16C 33/4676: {of the stays separating adjacent cage pockets, e.g. guide means for the bearing-surface of the rollers} - F16C 19/30: for axial load mainly - F16C 33/4682: {of the end walls, e.g. interaction with the end faces of the rollers} - F16C 33/49: comb-shaped - F16C 33/50: formed of interconnected members, e.g. chains - F16C 33/502: {formed of arcuate segments retaining one or more rollers or needles} - F16C 33/37: Loose spacing bodies - F16C 33/51: formed of unconnected members - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A cage, which is annular, and is used in a thrust roller bearing, includes a plurality of cage segments arranged in a circumferential direction. Each of the cage segments includes an arc portion; and a bar portion that extends radially inward from the arc portion and that maintains a circumferential interval between rollers adjacent to each other. A groove portion extending along an axial direction is formed at each of end faces of the arc portions, the end faces facing each other in the circumferential direction. In the cage, elastic bodies are inserted into the groove portions and urge the arc portions in the circumferential direction, each of the elastic bodies is disposed between the end faces facing each other, and the cage segments are connected to each other by the elastic bodies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cage that is annular, and is used in a thrust roller bearing, comprising a plurality of cage segments arranged in a circumferential direction, wherein each of the cage segments includes: an arc portion with circumferential ends; and a bar portion that extends radially inward from the arc portion and that maintains a circumferential interval between rollers that are adjacent to each other, wherein a groove portion extending along an axial direction is formed at the circumferential ends of the arc portions, and wherein elastic bodies are inserted into the groove portions and urge the arc portions in the circumferential direction, each of the elastic bodies is disposed between the circumferential ends facing each other, and the cage segments are connected to each other by the elastic bodies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cage according to claim 1, wherein each of the cage segments includes only one of the bar portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cage according to claim 2, wherein the arc portion and the bar portion form a cantilever structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cage according to claim 3, wherein the arc portion is formed so as to be supported by an annular rib portion that is formed at a radially outer side portion of a fixed ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The cage according to claim 3, wherein each of the cage segments is an integrally molded component made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The cage according to claim 2, wherein the arc portion is formed so as to be supported by an annular rib portion that is formed at a radially outer side portion of a fixed ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cage according to claim 6, wherein each of the cage segments is an integrally molded component made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The cage according to claim 2, wherein each of the cage segments is an integrally molded component made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cage according to claim 1, wherein the arc portion and the bar portion form a cantilever structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cage according to claim 9, wherein the arc portion is formed so as to be supported by an annular rib portion that is formed at a radially outer side portion of a fixed ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cage according to claim 9, wherein each of the cage segments is an integrally molded component made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cage according to claim 1, wherein the arc portion is formed so as to be supported by an annular rib portion that is formed at a radially outer side portion of a fixed ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cage according to claim 12, wherein each of the cage segments is an integrally molded component made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cage according to claim 1, wherein each of the cage segments is an integrally molded component made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A thrust roller bearing comprising: a cage according to claim 1; a fixed ring that has an annular fixed-side rolling contact surface, and an annular rib portion formed at a radially outer side portion of the fixed-side rolling contact surface; a rotary ring that has an annular rotary-side rolling contact surface that faces the fixed-side rolling contact surface in an axial direction, the rotary ring being rotatable relative to the fixed ring; and a plurality of rollers that is rollably disposed between the fixed-side rolling contact surface and the rotary-side rolling contact surface, the rollers being kept in position by the annular rib portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) A thrust roller bearing comprising: a cage according to claim 2; a fixed ring that has an annular fixed-side rolling contact surface, and an annular rib portion formed at a radially outer side portion of the fixed-side rolling contact surface; a rotary ring that has an annular rotary-side rolling contact surface that faces the fixed-side rolling contact surface in an axial direction, the rotary ring being rotatable relative to the fixed ring; and a plurality of rollers that is rollably disposed between the fixed-side rolling contact surface and the rotary-side rolling contact surface, the rollers being kept in position by the annular rib portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) A thrust roller bearing comprising: a cage according to claim 9; a fixed ring that has an annular fixed-side rolling contact surface, and an annular rib portion formed at a radially outer side portion of the fixed-side rolling contact surface; a rotary ring that has an annular rotary-side rolling contact surface that faces the fixed-side rolling contact surface in an axial direction, the rotary ring being rotatable relative to the fixed ring; and a plurality of rollers that is rollably disposed between the fixed-side rolling contact surface and the rotary-side rolling contact surface, the rollers being kept in position by the annular rib portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) A thrust roller bearing comprising: a cage according to claim 3; a fixed ring that has an annular fixed-side rolling contact surface, and an annular rib portion formed at a radially outer side portion of the fixed-side rolling contact surface; a rotary ring that has an annular rotary-side rolling contact surface that faces the fixed-side rolling contact surface in an axial direction, the rotary ring being rotatable relative to the fixed ring; and a plurality of rollers that is rollably disposed between the fixed-side rolling contact surface and the rotary-side rolling contact surface, the rollers being kept in position by the annular rib portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A thrust roller bearing comprising: a cage according to claim 12; the fixed ring has an annular fixed-side rolling contact surface, and an annular rib portion formed at a radially outer side portion of the fixed-side rolling contact surface; a rotary ring that has an annular rotary-side rolling contact surface that faces the fixed-side rolling contact surface in an axial direction, the rotary ring being rotatable relative to the fixed ring; and a plurality of rollers that is rollably disposed between the fixed-side rolling contact surface and the rotary-side rolling contact surface, the rollers being kept in position by the annular rib portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) A thrust roller bearing comprising: a cage according to claim 6; the fixed ring has an annular fixed-side rolling contact surface, and an annular rib portion formed at a radially outer side portion of the fixed-side rolling contact surface; a rotary ring that has an annular rotary-side rolling contact surface that faces the fixed-side rolling contact surface in an axial direction, the rotary ring being rotatable relative to the fixed ring; and a plurality of rollers that is rollably disposed between the fixed-side rolling contact surface and the rotary-side rolling contact surface, the rollers being kept in position by the annular rib portion.