US 11,892,036 B1
Bearing track cage for mitigating rolling element excursion
Dennis Roffe, Fort Mill, SC (US); Michael Heaton, Rock Hill, SC (US); and Guihui Zhong, Charlotte, NC (US)
Assigned to Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/871,385.
Int. Cl. F16C 33/38 (2006.01); F16C 19/16 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 33/3881 (2013.01) [F16C 19/16 (2013.01); F16C 33/3831 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing track cage comprising:
a plurality of retention elements, wherein each retention element of the plurality of retention elements includes at least a first axial side and a second axial side, and wherein each adjacent pair of retention elements of the plurality of retention elements defines a rolling element pocket configured to retain a rolling element;
a first support slidably coupled to each of the plurality of retention elements on the first axial side thereof; and
a second support slidably coupled to each of the plurality of retention elements on the second axial side thereof;
wherein the first support and the second support are configured to contact each of the rolling elements.
 
15. A bearing assembly comprising:
a plurality of rolling elements; and
a plurality of retention elements, wherein each of the plurality of retention elements is located between adjacent rolling elements of the plurality of rolling elements, wherein the plurality of retention elements are configured to be slidably coupled to at least a first support such that each of the plurality of retention elements are configured to shift in a circumferential direction along the first support; wherein each of the plurality of retention elements are configured to be slidably coupled to at least a second support, and wherein the first support and the second support are configured to contact each of the rolling elements.