Linear bearing with nested bearing tracks
AssigneeThomson Industries, Inc.
InventorAlison Ng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a load bearing plate structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, each of said plurality of open axial ball tracks comprised of at least two concentric ball tracks. The ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. At lease one load bearing plate is axially positioned adjacent said load bearing plate structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. Various outer housing sleeves are disclosed including a structure split axially and a monolithic structure.
Claims11
A linear motion bearing assembly, comprising:
- a load bearing plate structure having at least a portion of open axial ball tracks formed therein, said open axial ball tracks comprised of at least two concentric ball tracks, said ball tracks each including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions;
- a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks;
- a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent the load bearing plate structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks;
- a bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure having a uniform substantially cylindrical inner surface in direct contact with said load bearing plates, said bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure being configured and dimensioned to maintain said plurality of load bearing plates in position and for receiving load directly from said load bearing plates;
- and
- said concentric ball tracks positioned such that balls in an inner unloaded return portion have centers above centers of balls in the loaded portions and balls in an outer unloaded return portion have centers below centers of the balls in the loaded portions.
(canceled)
11-20. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.