Rolling element retainer, slide member and limited-stroke linear guide

Abstract

A rolling element retainer, a slide member and a limited-stroke linear guide are disclosed. Rolling elements are placed in the rolling element retainer to form the slide member. The slide member is disposed between two fixed-length rails to form the limited-stroke linear guide. The rolling element retainer includes a body, a plurality of accommodating holes distributed on the body for accommodating rolling element, and a plurality of apertures formed on the body and located between the accommodating holes. Lubricants are stored in the apertures, which can provide lubrication when the rolling elements roll. The body has a polygonal profile and at least four protruding portions protruding away from the body. The protruding portions extend continuously across all the adjacent accommodating holes. In this way, the rolling element retainer has better rigidity and more accommodating holes to accommodate more rolling elements, thereby improving the load capacity of the limited-stroke linear guide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.