Sliding supports and bearing ball retainers
AssigneeAccuride International, Inc.
InventorsSamuel Foster, Peter William Bayles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to sliding supports and particularly sliding supports having two elongate members of channel section and a locating assembly positioned therebetween. The locating assembly includes a plurality of bearing balls and a plurality of contact elements, and is capable of functioning without the use of grease or additional lubrication. The sliding support is particularly suitable for use in harsh environments.
Claims23
A locating assembly for use with a sliding support comprising first and second elongate slide members slidable relative to one another in a first direction, wherein the locating assembly comprises:
- a plurality of bearing balls arranged with their centers aligned along a first axis,
- a plurality of contact elements, each contact element including at least one contact face, wherein adjacent of the plurality of bearing balls are separated by a respective one of the plurality of contact elements, and at least one of the contact elements is formed from a self-lubricating material which, in use, deposits and spreads a lubricating substance into a working environment of the locating assembly, wherein each of the plurality of contact elements comprises a cylindrical portion and first and second opposite end faces, wherein the first end face comprises the at least one contact face and the second opposite end face comprises a second contact face;
- wherein each contact element comprises a pair of pieces, wherein the first piece provides a first of the contact faces, and a second piece provides a second of the contact faces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.