Back to results
US 4,005,913 AGranted
Linear motion bearing block
AssigneeThomson Industries, Inc.
InventorJohn B. Thomson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least two linear motion bearings are mounted coaxially within a housing for relative movement with respect to a shaft located in the bore of the bearings. Preferably, the bearings are of the recirculating ball type and may be self-aligning or non-self-aligning. Seals are provided to cooperate with the bearings and housing to form an enlarged lubricant reservoir between the bearings when externally lubricated bearings are utilized, and means are provided for preloading the bearings.
Claims17
A linear motion bearing block, adapted for relative axial movement on a shaft, which comprises:
- an elongated housing mount having a longitudinally extending bore adapted to receive said shaft;
- a plurality of linear motion ball bearings positioned coaxially within the bore of said housing mount in spaced-apart relationship, said bearings being adapted to slidably engage said shaft;
- each of said linear motion ball bearings including a ball retainer defining a plurality of raceways, each of said raceways having a load-bearing portion and a load-free portion and substantially filled with balls which recirculate in said raceways;
- load-carrying plates positioned adjacent each of said load-bearing portions of each of said raceways;
- means for permitting relative angular movement between each of said bearings and said housing mount;
- means for radially preloading said load-carrying plates;
- and, sealing means cooperating with said bearings and housing mount to form a lubricant reservoir in said bore between said spaced-apart bearings, whereby said bearings are lubricated and said shaft is wiped as it moves through said bore.
4 more elements
A linear motion bearing block, adapted for relative axial movement on a shaft, which comprises:
- an elongated housing mount having a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said shaft;
- two linear motion ball bearings positioned coaxially within said bore in spaced-apart relationship, said bearings being adapted to slidably engage said shaft, each of said bearings including means for preventing relative axial movement between said housing and said bearings;
- each of said linear motion ball bearings including a ball retainer defining a plurality of raceways, each of said raceways having a load-bearing portion and a load-free portion and substantially filled with balls;
- load-carrying plates positioned adjacent each of said load-bearing portions of each of said raceways;
- means for maintaining contact between the intermediate portion of each plate and said housing mount, whereby said plates may rock as said shaft is angularly displaced from coaxial alignment with the retainer;
- and means for preloading said bearings.
3 more elements
A linear motion bearing block, adapted for relative axial movement on a shaft, which comprises:
- an elongated housing mount having a longitudinally extending bore adapted to receive said shaft and a longitudinal slot;
- a plurality of linear motion ball bearings positioned coaxially within the bore of said housing mount in spaced-apart relationship, said bearings being adapted to slidably engage said shaft;
- each of said linear motion ball bearings including a ball retainer defining a plurality of raceways, each of said raceways having a load-bearing portion and a load-free portion and substantially filled with balls which recirculate in said raceways;
- means for permitting relative angular movement between each of said bearings and said housing mount;
- clamping means for varying the diameter of said bore to pre-load said bearings;
- and, sealing means cooperating with said bearings and housing mount to form a lubricant reservoir in said bore between said spaced-apart bearings and including a longitudinal compressible seal strip positioned in said slot, whereby said bearings are lubricated and said shaft is wiped as it moves through said bore.
3 more elements
A linear motion bearing block, adapted for relative axial movement on a shaft, which comprises:
- an elongated housing mount having a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said shaft;
- two linear motion ball bearings positioned coaxially within said bore in spaced-apart relationship, said bearings being adapted to slidably engage said shaft, each of said bearings including means for preventing relative axial movement between said housing and said bearings;
- each of said linear motion ball bearings including a ball retainer defining a plurality of raceways, each of said raceways having a load-bearing portion and a load-free portion and substantially filled with balls;
- load-carrying plates positioned adjacent each of said load-bearing portions of each of said raceways;
- means for maintaining contact between the intermediate portion of each plate and said housing mount, whereby said plates may rock as said shaft is angularly displaced from coaxial alignment with the retainer;
- said housing mount defining a longitudinal slot;
- and clamping means operative with said housing mount for adjusting the diameter of said bore to pre-load said bearings.
4 more elements
A linear motion bearing block, adapted for relative axial movement on a shaft, which comprises:
- an elongated housing mount having a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said shaft;
- two linear motion ball bearings positioned coaxially within said bore in spaced-apart relationship, said bearings being adapted to slidably engage said shaft, each of said bearings including means for preventing relative axial movement between said housing and said bearings;
- each of said linear motion ball bearings including a ball retainer defining a plurality of raceways, each of said raceways having a load-bearing portion and a load-free portion and substantially filled with balls;
- load-carrying plates positioned adjacent each of said load-bearing portions of each of said raceways;
- means for maintaining contact between the intermediate portion of each plate and said housing mount, whereby said plates may rock as said shaft is angularly displaced from coaxial alignment with the retainer;
- said housing mount further having radial openings to provide access to said plates;
- and means for pre-loading said bearings including a member mounted on the exterior of said housing mount, said member having plate engaging portions extending through said openings to engage at least two of said plates;
- and means for adjusting the depth of insertion of said plate engaging portions to vary the pre-loading, each of said plate engaging portions providing said contact maintaining means for the associated plate.
5 more elements
A linear motion bearing block, adapted for relative axial movement on a shaft, which comprises:
- an elongated housing mount having a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said shaft;
- two linear motion ball bearings positioned coaxially within said bore in spaced-apart relationship, said bearings being adapted to slidably engage said shaft, each of said bearings including means for preventing relative axial movement between said housing and said bearings;
- each of said linear motion ball bearings including a ball retainer defining a plurality of raceways, each of said raceways having a load-bearing portion and a load-free portion and substantially filled with balls;
- load-carrying plates positioned adjacent each of said load-bearing portions of each of said raceways;
- means for maintaining contact between the intermediate portion of each plate and said housing mount, whereby said plates may rock as said shaft is angularly displaced from coaxial alignment with the retainer;
- said housing mount having radial openings to provide access to said plates, and means for pre-loading said bearings including balls positioned in said openings and means mounted on the exterior of said housing for biasing each of said balls inwardly against its associated plate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.