US3673817A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball spline assembly
Assignee: Beaver Precision Products Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-23
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A sleeve and a splined shaft are coupled for rotation in unison and for relative linear movement by trains of anti-friction balls which circulate in pairs of load and return grooves circumferentially spaced from one another around the sized surface of the sleeve. The return grooves are size to receive the balls with free running clearance, and the balls are always in an unloaded or free return condition while traveling in the return grooves, the same grooves serving as return grooves at all times regardless of the direction of rotation of either the sleeve or the shaft. The load grooves are smaller than the return grooves, and the balls in alternate ones of the load grooves are loaded and transmit torque in one direction of rotation while the balls in the other load grooves are loaded and transmit torque in the opposite direction of rotation. If desired, the balls may be sized to fit between the load grooves and the shaft with zero clearance to establish an anti-backlash fit between the shaft and the sleeve. Also, the sleeve may be preloaded on the shaft simply by using balls sufficiently large to be deformed plastically between the load grooves and the shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo F Doran
- 👤 Theodore R Schlenker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:15
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/02; F16D3/06; F16D3/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, inner and outer telescoped members adapted for rotation in unison and for relative linear movement, said inner member having a series of circumferentially spaced channels alternating with outwardly projecting ribs, said outer member having circumferentially spaced pairs of circumferentially spaced grooves with the grooves of each pair associated with one of the channels, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each pair of grooves to circulate therein and in the associated channel as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, one groove of each pair defining a return run sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely therein at all times regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, the other groove of each pair defining a load run sized to receive the balls with less clearance than the return runs, tHe grooves of each pair being located with the load run of such pair positioned next to the load run of one adjacent pair and with the return run of such pair positioned next to the return run of the other adjacent pair whereby the balls in alternate load runs are loaded and transmit torque between said members when one of the members is turned in one direction and the balls in the remaining load runs are loaded and transmit torque between the members when said one member is turned in the opposite direction and whereby said balls circulate comparatively freely in said return runs regardless of the direction of rotation of said one member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, inner and outer telescoped members adapted for rotation in unison and for relative linear movement, said inner member having a series of circumferentially spaced channels alternating with outwardly projecting ribs, said outer member having circumferentially spaced pairs of circumferentially spaced grooves with the grooves of each pair associated with one of the channels, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each pair of grooves to circulate therein and in the associated channel as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, one groove of each pair defining a return run sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely therein at all times regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, the other groove of each pair defining a load run sized to receive the balls with less clearance than the return runs, tHe grooves of each pair being located with the load run of such pair positioned next to the load run of one adjacent pair and with the return run of such pair positioned next to the return run of the other adjacent pair whereby the balls in alternate load runs are loaded and transmit torque between said members when one of the members is turned in one direction and the balls in the remaining load runs are loaded and transmit torque between the members when said one member is turned in the opposite direction and whereby said balls circulate comparatively freely in said return runs regardless of the direction of rotation of said one member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, inner and outer telescoped members, one of said members having a series of circumferentially spaced channels alternating with radially projecting ribs, the other of said members having circumferentially spaced pairs of circumferentially spaced grooves with the grooves of each pair disposed between adjacent ribs and associated with one of said channels, a train of anti-friction balls captivated to circulate in each pair of grooves and in the associated channel to transmit torque between the members while permitting relative linear movement of the members, a first groove of each pair being a load groove and coacting with the side of the adjacent rib to define a load run sized to receive the balls tightly with an anti-backlash fit regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, the second groove of each pair being a return groove and coacting with the side of the adjacent rib to define a return run sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, and the grooves of each pair being located with the load groove of such pair positioned next to the load groove of one adjacent pair and with the return groove such pair positioned next to the return groove of the other adjacent pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, inner and outer telescoped members, one of said members having a series of circumferentially spaced channels alternating with radially projecting ribs, the other of said members having circumferentially spaced pairs of circumferentially spaced grooves with the grooves of each pair disposed between adjacent ribs and associated with one of said channels, a train of anti-friction balls captivated to circulate in each pair of grooves and in the associated channel to transmit torque between the members while permitting relative linear movement of the members, a first groove of each pair being a load groove and coacting with the side of the adjacent rib to define a load run sized to receive the balls tightly with an anti-backlash fit regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, the second groove of each pair being a return groove and coacting with the side of the adjacent rib to define a return run sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, and the grooves of each pair being located with the load groove of such pair positioned next to the load groove of one adjacent pair and with the return groove such pair positioned next to the return groove of the other adjacent pair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ball spline assembly as defined in claim 2 in which said balls are spherical and in which said grooves are of arcuate cross section, the radii of said return grooves being larger than the radii of said load grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ball spline assembly as defined in claim 3 in which the balls of at least one of said trains are sized relative to the associated load run so as to be deformed plastically when traveling in such load run.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, first and second telescoped members, said first member having circumferentially spaced pairs of circumferentially spaced grooves opening toward said second member, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each pair of grooves to circulate therein as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, said second member having a series of circumferentially spaced and radially projecting ribs extending between the balls in adjacent grooves of adjacent pairs, alternate ones of said ribs being torque transmitting ribs operable to couple the members together for rotation in unison and each coacting with the two adjacent grooves to define load runs sized to receive the balls tightly with an anti-backlash fit regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, the remaining ones of said ribs being guide ribs and each coacting with the two adjacent grooves to define return runs sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, first and second telescoped members, said first member having circumferentially spaced pairs of circumferentially spaced grooves opening toward said second member, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each pair of grooves to circulate therein as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, said second member having a series of circumferentially spaced and radially projecting ribs extending between the balls in adjacent grooves of adjacent pairs, alternate ones of said ribs being torque transmitting ribs operable to couple the members together for rotation in unison and each coacting with the two adjacent grooves to define load runs sized to receive the balls tightly with an anti-backlash fit regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, the remaining ones of said ribs being guide ribs and each coacting with the two adjacent grooves to define return runs sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, first and second telescoped members, said first member having an even number of circumferentially spaced sets of circumferentially spaced load and return grooves opening toward said second member, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each set of grooves to circulate therein as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, said second member having a series of circumferentially spaced and Radially projecting torque transmitting ribs engageable with the balls to couple said members together for rotation in unison, there being one-half as many torque transmitting ribs as pairs of grooves with each torque transmitting rib being disposed between the balls in the load grooves of adjacent sets of grooves and coacting with the load grooves to define load runs sized to receive the balls tightly with an anti-backlash fit regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, and said return grooves coacting with said second member to define return runs sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, first and second telescoped members, said first member having an even number of circumferentially spaced sets of circumferentially spaced load and return grooves opening toward said second member, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each set of grooves to circulate therein as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, said second member having a series of circumferentially spaced and Radially projecting torque transmitting ribs engageable with the balls to couple said members together for rotation in unison, there being one-half as many torque transmitting ribs as pairs of grooves with each torque transmitting rib being disposed between the balls in the load grooves of adjacent sets of grooves and coacting with the load grooves to define load runs sized to receive the balls tightly with an anti-backlash fit regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members, and said return grooves coacting with said second member to define return runs sized to receive the balls with clearance to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, first and second telescoped members, said first member having two circumferentially spaced sets of circumferentially spaced load and return grooves opening toward said second member with the load grooves of the two sets being disposed adjacent one another, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each set of grooves, means connecting the ends of the load and return grooves of each set to one another to enable the balls to circulate in the grooves as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, said second member having a radially extending rib projecting between the trains of balls in the two load grooves to couple the members together for rotation in unison and coacting with the load grooves to define load runs of a predetermined radii, and said return grooves coacting with said second member to define return runs of a greater radii than said load runs to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a ball spline assembly, the combination of, first and second telescoped members, said first member having two circumferentially spaced sets of circumferentially spaced load and return grooves opening toward said second member with the load grooves of the two sets being disposed adjacent one another, a train of anti-friction balls captivated in each set of grooves, means connecting the ends of the load and return grooves of each set to one another to enable the balls to circulate in the grooves as an incident to relative linear movement of said members, said second member having a radially extending rib projecting between the trains of balls in the two load grooves to couple the members together for rotation in unison and coacting with the load grooves to define load runs of a predetermined radii, and said return grooves coacting with said second member to define return runs of a greater radii than said load runs to enable the balls to circulate comparatively freely regardless of the direction of rotation of either of said members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |