US 4,664,534 AGranted

Guide sleeve, guide post and ball bearing assembly

AssigneeSteelTex Corporation

InventorRonald J. Hanaway

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Abstract

In combination a guide sleeve, guide post having an exterior longitudinal slot, reciprocally projected into the sleeve and a ball cage mounting a plurality of ball bearings mounted upon the post for relative longitudinal and rotary movements thereon and interposed between the post and sleeve. A roller bearing is mounted within an internal annular recess in the cage and retainingly projects into the post slot limiting longitudinal movements of the cage relative to the post. The ball cage is free for rotary movements relative to the roller bearing, the post and sleeve. A radial bore in the cage is located outwardly of the recess and has notched corners for crosswise insertion of the roller bearing into the post slot and for positioning within the annular recess. A set screw in the bore traps the roller bearing. In a modification, an internal slot in the cage is opposed to the post slot, with the slots guiding the roller into the recess.

Claims4

Dependent claims

In combination a guide sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a guide post having a coaxial longitudinal axis projected into said sleeve for relative longitudinal movements;

said post having an external longitudinal slot therein substantially throughout its length;
a cylindrical ball bearing cage mounting a plurality of spaced circularly arranged ball bearings extending substantially the length of said cage and projecting inwardly and outwardly thereof;
said cage being mounted upon said post for relative longitudinal and rotary movement thereon and with respect to said sleeve and interposed between said post and sleeve;
there being an internal annular recess in said cage inwardly of one end thereof;
a roller bearing slidably mounted within said recess and retainingly projected into said post slot and adapted for rolling movements along the length of said slot;
said roller bearing being alternatively registerable with opposite ends of said longitudinal slot, limiting rectilinear movement of the ball cage relative to said post, said longitudinal slot constraining said roller bearing to rectilinear movements;
said ball cage being adapted for rotary adjustment relative to said post and sleeve and sliding movement relative to said roller bearing.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.