Linear ball slide with rack and pinion
AssigneeAutomation Gages, Inc.
InventorSteven J. Gilbert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A male slide member, which is mounted to reciprocate in a rectangular recess formed in the face of a base member, is supported at one side thereof by a plurality of ball bearings for substantially friction-free movement with respect to one side of the recess, and is supported at its opposite side by an elongate bearing rod carried by the male slide member to have frictional, sliding movement with respect to a pair of spaced, parallel bearing surfaces that extend longitudinally of the other side of the recess in the base member. The bearing rod has formed in its periphery longitudinally spaced gear teeth which mesh with the teeth of a pinion gear mounted on the base member to rotate adjacent the bearing rod, and selectively to drive the rod and its attached slide member in opposite directions.
Claims13
A modified linear ball slide, comprising
- an elongate base member having formed in one surface thereof an elongate, rectangularly shaped groove,
- a slide member mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in said groove between opposite sides thereof, and having opposed, longitudinally extending side edges disposed in spaced confronting relation to said opposite sides of said groove in said base member,
- a plurality of spaced bearings interposed between and disposed to have rolling engagement with respect to one of said side edges of said slide member, and with respect to the side of said groove confronting upon said one side edge, upon movement of said slide member in said groove,
- an elongate operating element mounted on the other side edge of said slide member for movement therewith, and confronting upon and disposed to have longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the other side of said groove upon movement of said slide member, and
- drive means connected to said operating element and operable selectively to effect simultaneous movement of said operating element and said slide member in said groove.
A modified linear ball slide, comprising
- a first member having in one surface thereof an elongate rectangular recess,
- a second member mounted in said recess for movement relative to said first member in a direction longitudinally of said recess, and having thereon opposed side edges disposed in spaced, confronting relation to opposite sides of said recess in said first member,
- a plurality of rotatable bearings interposed between one side of said recess and the confronting side edge of said second member, and operative to support one side of said second member for substantially friction-free movement relative to said first member,
- means interposed between the other side edge of said second member and the other side of said recess and operative to support the other side of said second member for frictional sliding movement relative to said first member,
- said means comprising an elongate bearing element secured to one of said members to extend longitudinally of, and to confront upon, the space between said other side of said recess and the other side edge of said second member, and disposed to have frictional sliding contact with respect to the other of said members upon relative movement between said members, and
- drive means on said other member drivingly connected to said one member and operable to effect relative movement between said members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.