Linear bearing for an electromagnetic solenoid and solenoid having said linear bearing

A rolling-element bearing for an electromagnetic solenoid comprising:

• a hollow cylindrical cage having a linear central axis, comprising a first hollow cylindrical half having a wall thickness and a second hollow cylindrical half having a same wall thickness;
• a plurality of spherical first pockets;
• a plurality of spherical second pockets;
• and
• a plurality of spherical rolling elements, wherein
• the first hollow cylindrical half includes a plurality of evenly spaced first projections on a first side of the first hollow cylindrical half,
• the second hollow cylindrical half includes a plurality of evenly spaced second projections on a first side of the second hollow cylindrical half,
• the first hollow cylindrical half includes a plurality of evenly spaced first recesses on the first side of the first hollow cylindrical half formed as a negative of the second projections,
• the second hollow cylindrical half includes a plurality of evenly spaced second recesses on the first side of the second hollow cylindrical half formed as a negative of the first projections, and
• each of the first projections and second projections, and each of the first recesses and second recesses includes a semi spherical pocket formed on an edge of the wall thickness such that the first side of the first hollow cylindrical half and the first side of the second hollow cylindrical half positioned with first sides in opposition can be assembled together to form the plurality of spherical first pockets and the plurality of spherical second pockets, wherein
• the plurality of spherical first pockets is formed around a first circumference of the hollow cylindrical body on a first pitch diameter,
• the plurality of spherical second pockets is formed around a second circumference of the hollow cylindrical body axially offset from the first circumference on a second pitch diameter equal to the first pitch diameter,
• the plurality of spherical first pockets are angularly offset from the plurality of spherical second pockets, and
• each of the spherical first pockets is formed from equal halves of the semi spherical pocket of a first recess and the semi spherical pocket of a second projection and each of the spherical second pockets is formed from equal halves of the semi spherical pocket of a second recess and the semi spherical pocket of a first projection, wherein
• one of the plurality of spherical rolling elements is captured for free rotation in one of the plurality of spherical first pockets and one of the plurality of spherical rolling elements is captured for free rotation in one of the plurality of spherical second pockets.

An electromagnetic solenoid comprising:

• a flux sleeve disposed within a housing;
• a pole piece disposed within the housing axially aligned and spaced apart from the flux sleeve, the pole piece including a recess in an end adjacent to the flux sleeve and an axial bore through a length of the pole piece;
• an armature disposed within the flux sleeve supported for axial displacement having an end portion proximate to the pole piece and a backside end portion proximate to a larger diameter portion of the flux sleeve;
• a centrally located pin fixed to the end portion of the armature for axial displacement with the armature;
• and
• a first rolling-element bearing disposed for free movement within the axial bore including:
• a hollow cylindrical cage having a linear central axis, comprising a first hollow cylindrical half having a wall thickness and a second hollow cylindrical half having a same wall thickness;
• a plurality of spherical first pockets;
• a plurality of spherical second pockets;
• and
• a plurality of spherical rolling elements, wherein
• the first hollow cylindrical half has includes a plurality of evenly spaced first projections on a first side of the first hollow cylindrical half,
• the second hollow cylindrical half includes a plurality of evenly spaced second projections on a first side of the second hollow cylindrical half,
• the first hollow cylindrical half includes a plurality of evenly spaced first recesses on the first side of the first hollow cylindrical half formed as a negative of the second projections,
• the second hollow cylindrical half includes a plurality of evenly spaced second recesses on the first side of the second hollow cylindrical half formed as a negative of the first projections, and
• each of the first projections and second projections, and each of the first recesses and second recesses includes a semi spherical pocket formed on an edge of the wall thickness such that the first side of the first hollow cylindrical half and the first side of the second hollow cylindrical half positioned with first sides in opposition can be assembled together to form the plurality of spherical first pockets and the plurality of spherical second pockets, wherein
• the plurality of spherical first pockets is formed around a first circumference of the hollow cylindrical body on a first pitch diameter,
• the plurality of spherical second pockets is formed around a second circumference of the hollow cylindrical body axially offset from the first circumference on a second pitch diameter equal to the first pitch diameter,
• the plurality of spherical first pockets are angularly offset from the plurality of spherical second pockets, and
• each of the spherical first pockets is formed from equal halves of the semi spherical pocket of a first recess and the semi spherical pocket of a second projection and each of the spherical second pockets is formed from equal halves of the semi spherical pocket of a second recess and the semi spherical pocket of a first projection, wherein
• each of the plurality of spherical first pockets and each of the plurality of spherical second pockets captures one spherical rolling element of the plurality of spherical rolling elements, and
• the pin is accepted within the hollow cylindrical cage and supported on one or more of the spherical rolling elements.