Linear motion ball bearings

In a linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve comprising a cylindrical wall formed as a split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, said wall also including therein a gap extending generally lengthwise and defined by adjacent and circumferentially-shaped edges of said wall, a cage disposed in said bore and defining therewith continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially with a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, the improvement comprising connection means interconnecting one of said adjacent edges with the other of said edges for permitting relative movement of these edges and correspondingly limited variation of said gap in the circumferential direction, and correspondingly limited variation of the bore diameter of said outer race sleeve.

In a method of making an outer race sleeve for a linear motion ball bearing, the improvement comprising the steps of forming a flat plate having opposite ends, rolling said plate into a split-sleeve cylindrical shape with said ends being positioned adjacently and circumferentially spaced, and interconnecting said ends in locking engagement which permits limited relative movement therebetween in said circumferential direction.

An outer race for a rolling bearing, comprising a flat plate having opposite ends, said plate being curved to form a split sleeve, the inside of said plate including a plurality of raceways formed directly on said plate to accommodate rolling elements, said opposite ends having respective mating linking means adapted to be linked together to complete said sleeve, said linking means comprising a mechanical interconnection having a limited circumferential play.

A linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve, comprising a flat plate having opposite ends, the plate bent to form a cylindrical split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, with said opposite ends being adjacent and circumferentially spaced from one another and respectively provided with complementary interlocking means extending generally lengthwise and circumferentially from said plate ends, said plate defining thereon continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially for accommodating a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, said complementary interlocking means nestable within one another and interconnecting one of said adjacent ends with the other of said ends, wherein said interlocking means allows movement of one of said ends, relative to the other, thereby establishing limits of expansion and constriction of said sleeve.