Phenolic bearing cage with self-lubricating coating and method of manufacturing phenolic bearing cage with self-lubricating coating

1. A bearing cage, comprising:

a body:

fabricated of phenolic material; and,

including an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface; and,

a coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene adhered to the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface, wherein:

for the coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene adhered to the outer circumferential surface, the bearing cage includes an oil-based lubricant on the inner circumferential surface; and,

for the coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene adhered to the inner circumferential surface, the bearing cage includes an oil-based lubricant on the outer circumferential surface.

2. The bearing cage of claim 1 , wherein:

the outer circumferential surface is arranged to engage an outer ring for a bearing assembly; or,

the inner circumferential surface is arranged to engage an inner ring for a bearing assembly.

3. The bearing cage of claim 1 , wherein:

at least a portion of the coating forms a continuous ring completely encircling the inner circumferential surface in a circumferential direction; or,

at least a portion of the coating forms a continuous ring completely encircling the outer circumferential surface in a circumferential direction.

4. The bearing cage of claim 1 , wherein:

the body includes first and second sides bounding the inner and outer circumferential surfaces in an axial direction; and,

at least a portion of the coating is continuous between the first and second sides.

5. The bearing cage of claim 1 , wherein:

the body includes first and second sides bounding the inner and outer circumferential surfaces in an axial direction; and,

an entirety of the coating is continuous between the first and second sides.

6. A bearing assembly comprising:

an inner ring including a first outer circumferential surface;

an outer ring including a first inner circumferential surface;

a bearing cage fabricated of phenolic material and including:

first second, third and fourth sides;

a second outer circumferential surface connecting the first and second sides;

a second inner circumferential surface connecting the first and second sides; and

a third outer circumferential surface connecting the third and fourth sides; and,

a coating of only molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene adhered to the second outer circumferential surface; and,

a plurality of rolling elements:

axially located between the second and third outer circumferential surfaces; and,

retained by the bearing cage, wherein:

the coating is in contact with the first inner circumferential surface to guide the bearing cage; and

the coating is free of contact with the first inner circumferential surface.

7. The bearing assembly of claim 6 , further comprising grease applied to the bearing cage.

8. The bearing assembly of claim 6 , further comprising an oil-based lubricant applied to the bearing cage.

9. A method of manufacturing a bearing cage, comprising:

fabricating a body from phenolic material, the body including an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface connecting first and second sides; and,

adhering a coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene to the inner circumferential surface and an oil-based lubricant to the outer circumferential surface; or,

adhering a coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene to the outer circumferential surface and an oil-based lubricant to the inner circumferential surface.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

adhering the coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene to the inner circumferential surface includes adhering only molybdenum disulfide; or,

adhering the coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene to the outer circumferential surface includes adhering only molybdenum disulfide.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

adhering the coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene to the inner circumferential surface includes adhering only polytetrafluoroethylene; and,

adhering the coating of molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene to the outer —circumferential surface includes adhering only polytetrafluoroethylene.