Bearing for rectilinear motion

In a rolling bearing for guiding two parts subjected to a relative movement of translation, comprising a row of rolling elements having planar end surfaces, a body structure defining two rectilinear and parallel inner raceways, two semi-circular inner raceways which interconnect the rectilinear inner raceways, two part-circular outer raceways defining with the semi-circular inner raceways two passages for the re-circulation of the rolling elements and planar guide surfaces for guiding the planar end surfaces of the rolling elements, and retaining means for retaining the rolling elements to within a predetermined distance from the rectilinear inner raceways;

• the feature that said retaining means comprise means defining blind axial apertures in opposite ends of the rolling elements, the rolling elements being solid in a part of the rolling elements intermediate the blind apertures, grooves in the body structure adjacent the planar guide surfaces, retaining elements extending into the apertures and into the grooves and connecting bar portions respectively interconnecting pairs of retaining elements disposed in the apertures of pairs of successive rolling elements so that each pair of retaining elements are integral with the corresponding bar portion and constitute a shackle, there being disposed in the apertures at one end of each pair of successive rolling elements the retaining elements of the same shackle and there being disposed in the apertures at the opposite end of said each pair of successive rolling elements the retaining elements of two separate adjacent shackles, the grooves defining surfaces co-operative with the shackles for retaining the retaining elements in the apertures.

In a rolling bearing for guiding two parts subjected to a relative movement of translation, comprising a row of rolling elements having planar end surfaces, a body structure defining two rectilinear and parallel inner raceways, two semi-circular inner raceways which interconnect the rectilinar inner raceways, two part-circular outer raceways defining with the semi-circular inner raceways two passages for the re-circulation of the rolling elements and planar guide surfaces for guiding the planar end surfaces of the rolling elements, and retaining means for retaining the rolling elements to within a pedetermined distance from the rectilinear inner raceways;

• the feature that said retaining means comprise means defining blind axial apertures in opposite ends of the rolling elements, the rolling elements being solid in a part of the rolling elements intermediate the blind apertures, grooves in the body structure adjacent the planar guide surfaces, retaining elements extending into the apertures and into the grooves and connecting bar portions respectively interconnecting pairs of retaining elements disposed in the apertures of pairs of successive rolling elements so that each pair of retaining elements are integral with the corresponding bar portion and constitute a shackle, there being disposed in the apertures at one end of each pair of successive rolling elements the retaining elements of the same shackle and there being disposed in the apertures at the opposite end of said each pair of successive rolling elements the retaining elements of two separate adjacent shackles, and inserted cylindrical elements of small diameter respectively separating and in rolling contact with successive rolling elements, each shackle having means for supporting the inserted element between the associated pair of rolling elements, the grooves defining surfaces cooperative with the shackles for retaining the retaining elements in the apertures.

In a rolling bearing for guiding two parts subjected to a relative movement of translation, cpmprising a row of rolling elements having planar end surfaces, a body structure defining two rectilinear and parallel inner raceways, two semi-circular inner raceways which interconnect the rectilinear inner raceways, two part-circular outer raceways defining with the semi-circular inner raceways two passages for the re-circulation of the rolling elements and planar guide surfaces for guiding the planar end surfaces of the rolling elements, and retaining means for retaining the rolling elements to within a predetermined distance from the rectilinear inner raceways;

• the feature that said retaining means comprise means defining blind axial apertures in opposite ends of the rolling elements, grooves in the body structure adjacent the planar guide surfaces, retaining elements extending into the apertures and into the grooves and links interconnecting the retaining elements in an articulated link arrangement constituting an endless chain structure on each side of the row of rolling elements, the grooves defining surfaces co-operative with the chain structure for retaining elements in the apertures, the bearing further comprising inserted cylindrical elements of small diameter respectively separating and in rolling contact with successive rolling elements, and two retaining boss portions on each of the links of each chain structure for retainingly engaging an end portion of the corresponding inserted element.

In a rolling bearing for guiding two parts subjected to a relative movement of translation, comprising a row of rolling elements having planar end surfaces, a body structure defining two rectilinear and parallel inner raceways, two semi-circular inner raceways which interconnect the rectilinear inner raceways, two part-circular outer raceways defining with the semi-circular inner raceways two passages for the re-circulation of the rolling elements and planar guide surfaces for guiding the planar end surfaces of the rolling elements, and retaining means for retaining the rolling elements to within a predetermined distance from the rectilinear inner raceways;

• the feature that said retaining means comrpise means defining blind axial apertures in opposite ends of the rolling elements, grooves in the body structure adjacent the planar guide surfaces, retaining elements extending into the apertures and into the grooves and links interconnecting the retaining elements in an articulated link arrangement constituting an endless chain structure on each side of the row of rolling elements, the grooves defining surfaces co-operative with the chain structure for retaining the retaining elements in the apertures, each chain structure comprising alternately links carrying two of said retaining elements and links having no retaining element but means defining two apertures through each of which apertures the retaining element carried by an adjacent link extends.

In a rolling bearing for guiding two parts subjected to a relative movement of translation, comprising a row of rollling elements having planar end surfaces, a body structure defining two rectilinear and parallel inner raceways, two semi-circular inner raceways which interconnect the rectilinear inner raceways, two part-circular outer raceways defining with the semi-circular inner raceways two passages for the re-circulation of the rolling elements and planar guide surfaces for guiding the planar end surfaces of the rolling elements, and retaining means for retaining the rolling elements to within a predetermined distance from the rectilinear inner raceways;

• the feature that said retaining means comprise means defining blind axial apertures in opposite ends of the rolling elements, grooves in the body structure adjacent the planar guide surfaces, retaining elements extending into the apertures and into the grooves and links interconnecting the retaining elements in an articulated link arrangement constituting an endless chain structure on each side of the row of rolling elements, the grooves defining surfaces co-operative with the chain structure for retaining the retaining elements in the apertures, each chain structure comprising identical links, each link having a first portion carrying one of said retaining elements and a second portion defining an aperture through which aperture the retaining element of the adjacent link extends, the second portion of the links being offset toward the rolling elements from the first portion of the links.