Rocker return liner for ball nut

A ball nut comprising:

• a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, the tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a plurality of arcuate grooves defined on the inner surface;
• a longitudinal slot defined on the inner surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, interrupting the plurality of arcuate grooves, and forming a pocket for receiving a return liner;
• wherein the longitudinal slot is absent perpendicular corners.

A ball nut and return liner assembly comprising:

• a ball nut having
• a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, the tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a plurality of arcuate grooves defined on the inner surface;
• a longitudinal slot defined on the inner surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, interrupting the plurality of arcuate grooves, and forming a pocket for receiving the return liner, the longitudinal slot having first curved walls;
• and,
• the return liner having
• a first surface having a plurality of S-shaped return grooves defined thereon, the S-shaped return grooves extending from the first side to the second side to cooperate with the plurality of arcuate grooves in the ball nut;
• a second surface for fitting within the longitudinal slot within the ball nut, the second surface having second curved walls.

A ball nut and return liner assembly comprising:

• a ball nut having
• a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, the tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a plurality of arcuate grooves defined on the inner surface;
• a longitudinal slot defined on the inner surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, interrupting the plurality of arcuate grooves, and forming a pocket for receiving the return liner;
• and,
• the return liner having
• a first surface having a plurality of S-shaped return grooves defined thereon, the S-shaped return grooves extending from the first side to the second side to cooperate with the plurality of arcuate grooves in the ball nut;
• a second surface for fitting within the longitudinal slot within the ball nut;
• wherein a cross section of the return liner is limited in contact to a cross section of the longitudinal slot at two points.

A ball screw assembly comprising:

• a ball screw having a helical groove;
• a plurality of ball bearings, wherein said ball bearings travel within said helical groove;
• a ball nut having
• a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, the tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a plurality of arcuate grooves defined on the inner surface;
• a longitudinal slot defined on the inner surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, interrupting the plurality of arcuate grooves, and forming a pocket for receiving a return liner, the longitudinal slot having first curved walls;
• and,
• a return liner having
• a first surface having a plurality of S-shaped return grooves defined thereon, the S-shaped return grooves extending from the first side to the second side to cooperate with the plurality of arcuate grooves in the ball nut and said helical groove for completing a plurality of bearing race circuits inside the ball nut, wherein said S-shaped return grooves return ball bearings circulating within said bearing race circuits to a preceding segment of an arcuate groove;
• a second surface for fitting within the longitudinal slot within the ball nut, the second surface having second curved walls.