Long span screw and nut drives

Claim 2

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-tosection; and means supporting and guiding said nut body to travel along said screw in stabilized spaced substantially concentric frictionfree relation and limiting direct contact between the nut and the screw to useful work engagement between the followers and the screw threads.

Claim 3

An assembly according to claim 1, said nut supporting and guiding means comprising a roller guide assembly on at least one end of the nut body and riding on the crest of the screw threads and being of a length to bridge across the adjacent ends of the screw sections for continuity of motion transmission engagement of said follower means with the screw threads of the sections during said transfer.

Claim 4

An assembly according to claim 1, said non-rotary supporting means comprising a bracket having a base and a journal head with a narrower spacer web between said base and head, said head being of no greater diameter than said screw sections and said web being substantially narrower than the diameter of said screw sections, said nut slot being of a width which is only slightly greater than the width of said web, said nut supporting and guiding means including trolley outriggers fixed to and projecting laterally from the nut body and track means with which the outriggers have antifriction engagement.

Claim 5

An assembly according to claim 1, said nut supporting and guiding means including track means and a plurality of rollers carried by the nut body and running along the track means for maintaining the nut in non-rotary relation to the screw but permitting free axial movement of the nut along the screw.

Claim 6

An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supporting and guiding means comprise trolley means on said nut body, rail means extending parallel to said screw, and rollers carried by said trolley means and running along said rail means.

Claim 7

An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said rail means have divergently gibway-like related track surfaces along which the rollers run.

Claim 8

An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said rail means are carried by said non-rotary supporting means and provide three track surfaces, said trolley means having three rollers running along said track surfaces.

Claim 9

An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said screw sections have coupling means maintaining constant lead alignment of the threads of the sections.

Claim 10

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means During relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said supporting means comprising a bracket having a base and a journal head with a narrower spacer web between said base and head; said head being of no greater diameter than said screw sections and said web being substantially narrower than the diameter of said screw sections; said nut slot being of a width which is only slightly greater than the width of said web; and said bracket head having grooves therein through which said follower means are adapted to travel as the nut transfers from section-to-section.

Claim 11

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means During relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said supporting means comprising a bracket having a base and a journal head with a narrower spacer web between said base and head; said head being of no greater diameter than said screw sections and said web being substantially narrower than the diameter of said screw sections; said nut slot being of a width which is only slightly greater than the width of said web; and said bracket head having grooves therein through which said follower means are adapted to travel as the nut transfers from section-to-section.

Claim 12

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said supporting means comprising a journal head between adjacent end portions of said screw sections, journal means in said head and corotatively coupling the screw sections; said journal means comprising respective journal extensions on the screw section end portions having interlocking means for corotational assembly; and connector means in the screw end portions maintaining the coupled relationship.

Claim 13

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said supporting means comprising a journal head between adjacent end portions of said screw sections, journal means in said head and corotatively coupling the screw sections; said journal means comprising respective journal extensions on the screw section end portions having interlocking means for corotational assembly; and connector means in the screw end portions maintaining the coupled relationship.

Claim 14

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and said supporting means including a journal head comprising a separable cap enabling lateral removal of the screw sections when the cap is removed.

Claim 15

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and said supporting means including a journal head comprising a separable cap enabling lateral removal of the screw sections when the cap is removed.

Claim 16

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having a plurality of coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; a plurality of respective non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and means cooperative with said sections and the supporting means providing for axial load sharing at the respective supporting means along the length of the screw.

Claim 17

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having a plurality of coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; a plurality of respective non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and means cooperative with said sections and the supporting means providing for axial load sharing at the respective supporting means along the length of the screw.

Claim 18

An assembly according to claim 12, said supporting means in each instance comprising a journal head, and the load-sharing means comprising preloaded cupped spring washer means under yieldable compression between spaced confronting shoulders on respectively the journal heads and The screw sections.

Claim 19

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and said follower means comprising follower studs projecting radially from an inner perimeter of the nut into the screw threads.

Claim 20

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and said follower means comprising follower studs projecting radially from an inner perimeter of the nut into the screw threads.

Claim 21

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said thread grooves being provided by square threads on the sections; said follower means of the nut comprising complementary square threads interfitting with the screw section threads; and means providing anti-friction dynamic fluid cushion between the screw threads and the nut threads.

Claim 22

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said thread grooves being provided by square threads on the sections; said follower means of the nut comprising complementary square threads interfitting with the screw section threads; and means providing anti-friction dynamic fluid cushion between the screw threads and the nut threads.

Claim 23

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said follower means comprising anti-friction ball trains; and a plurality of individual orbital raceways in the nut for said ball trains and having arcuate ball return surfaces adjacent to said slot.

Claim 24

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; said follower means comprising anti-friction ball trains; and a plurality of individual orbital raceways in the nut for said ball trains and having arcuate ball return surfaces adjacent to said slot.

Claim 25

An assembly according to claim 16, in which said nut comprises a body having said raceways, and a jacket about said body cooperating with the body in closing a run of said raceways.

Claim 26

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and means carried by the nut for applying lubrication in said thread grooves.

Claim 27

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and means carried by the nut for applying lubrication in said thread grooves.

Claim 28

A lonG span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; track means comprising a bar for maintaining the nut in non-rotary relation to the screw but permitting free axial movement of the nut along the screw; and said nut having a track groove within which the bar is received.

Claim 29

A lonG span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; track means comprising a bar for maintaining the nut in non-rotary relation to the screw but permitting free axial movement of the nut along the screw; and said nut having a track groove within which the bar is received.

Claim 30

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; fixedly mounted track means for maintaining the nut in non-rotary relation to the screw but permitting free axial movement of the nut along the screw; and said nut having anti-friction roller means riding along the track means.

Claim 31

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; fixedly mounted track means for maintaining the nut in non-rotary relation to the screw but permitting free axial movement of the nut along the screw; and said nut having anti-friction roller means riding along the track means.

Claim 32

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a pair of nuts non-rotatably coactive with said screw and each having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut bodies being provided with respective longitudinal slots to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nuts and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nuts requiring transfer of the nuts from section-to-section; and means connecting the nuts and applying a relative axial load therebetween to substantially eliminate axial play between the nut followers and the screw sections in said thread grooves.

Claim 33

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a pair of nuts non-rotatably coactive with said screw and each having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut bodies being provided with respective longitudinal slots to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nuts and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nuts requiring transfer of the nuts from section-to-section; and means connecting the nuts and applying a relative axial load therebetween to substantially eliminate axial play between the nut followers and the screw sections in said thread grooves.

Claim 34

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; means for driving said screw rotatably and enabling axial movement of the screw; said supporting means being axially movable with the screw; and said nut being axially movable along the screw responsive to motion transmission coaction between said follower means And said screw sections within said thread grooves.

Claim 35

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; means for driving said screw rotatably and enabling axial movement of the screw; said supporting means being axially movable with the screw; and said nut being axially movable along the screw responsive to motion transmission coaction between said follower means And said screw sections within said thread grooves.

Claim 36

An assembly according to claim 22, including a fixed nut operatively engaging said screw and effecting longitudinal movement of the screw as the screw is driven rotatably.

Claim 37

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; a plurality of separate ones of the nuts each having followers operatively engaging in the thread grooves of the sections and each having a slot to pass said supporting means; said thread grooves of different ones of the sections being reverse in operation so that as the screw rotates in one direction, the nuts are driven to move axially therealong in opposite longitudinal directions.

Claim 38

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; a plurality of separate ones of the nuts each having followers operatively engaging in the thread grooves of the sections and each having a slot to pass said supporting means; said thread grooves of different ones of the sections being reverse in operation so that as the screw rotates in one direction, the nuts are driven to move axially therealong in opposite longitudinal directions.

Claim 39

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; including a plurality of similar nuts mounted in running relation along the screw; said thread grooves of the respective sections being of different pitch to effect differential axial travel of the nuts along the screw in the rotation of the screw.

Claim 40

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; including a plurality of similar nuts mounted in running relation along the screw; said thread grooves of the respective sections being of different pitch to effect differential axial travel of the nuts along the screw in the rotation of the screw.

Claim 41

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; track means for guiding the nut axially along the screw; said track means having an angular bend therein with portions of the screw separated by the length of said bend; and means for effecting continuous travel transition of the nut across the space between the screw portions.

Claim 42

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; track means for guiding the nut axially along the screw; said track means having an angular bend therein with portions of the screw separated by the length of said bend; and means for effecting continuous travel transition of the nut across the space between the screw portions.

Claim 43

An assembly according to claim 26, in which said last-mentioned means comprise a second similar nut; means connecting the nuts together in spaced relation greater than the spacing between said screw portions, and means for coordinating rotation of said screw portions.

Claim 44

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; primary driving means for the screw; and booster driving means associated with said supporting means.

Claim 45

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; primary driving means for the screw; and booster driving means associated with said supporting means.

Claim 46

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and an end on one of the screw sections having at least one thread ending at such end, said thread end being free from partial thread so that the follower means will pass directly into a thread groove without interference.

Claim 47

A long span screw and nut drive assembly, comprising: a screw having coaxial corotative screw sections with thread grooves of the sections operatively aligned, such sections being individually capable of withstanding load and torque stresses for an intended purpose; non-rotary supporting means between, and rotatably journalling, said screw sections; a nut non-rotatably coactive with said screw and having a body carrying follower means operatively engaging the screw threads in said grooves; said nut body being provided with a longitudinal slot to clear said supporting means in relative passing of the nut and the supporting means during relative axial movement of the screw and the nut requiring transfer of the nut from section-to-section; and an end on one of the screw sections having at least one thread ending at such end, said thread end being free from partial thread so that the follower means will pass directly into a thread groove without interference.