Linear motion anti-friction bearing and method of manufacturing

Claim 2

A linear motion bearing comprising a housing having an inner diameter, said inner diameter having a varying radius providing ball loading lands circumferentially separated by ball return areas, the varying radius inner diameter extending the axial length of the housing, a ball retainer received in said housing, the ball retainer having portions adjacent each axial end thereof having an outer diameter in contact with the inner diameter of the said housing, the said portions lying axially beyond ball pathways formed radially inwardly from said portions in said retainer, the said portions having varying outer diameters to mate with the varying inner diameter of the housing whereby the said retainer is locked against rotation within the said housing.

Claim 3

A linear motion ball bearing comprising: a tubular housing having a constant outer diameter and a varying inner diameter, said inner diameter defining radially innermost bearing loading lands circumferentially separated by increased radius ball return portions, said bearing loading lands having a substantially flat surface, a ball retainer in said housing, said ball retainer comprising an axially split tube having oval ballways formed therein circumferentially spaced from one another, the major axis of said oval ballways extending axially of the retainer, said ballways having loaded ball paths and unloaded ball paths, said loaded ball patHs radially aligned with the said ball loading lands, the said unloaded ball paths radially aligned with the said ball return passageways, axially separated portions extending axially beyond the ends of the said ballways having an undulated radial configuration dimensioned to mate with the varying internal diameter radius of the housing with the outer diameters of said portions contacting the inner diameter of the housing to restrain the retainer against rotation within the housing, and means at the ends of said retainer restricting axial movement of the retainer within the housing.

Claim 4

A linear motion ball bearing comprising: a tubular housing having a constant outer diameter and a varying inner diameter, said inner diameter defining radially innermost bearing loading lands circumferentially separated by increased radius ball return portions, said bearing loading lands having a substantially flat surface, a ball retainer in said housing, said ball retainer comprising an axially split tube having oval ballways formed therein circumferentially spaced from one another, the major axis of said oval ballways extending axially of the retainer, said ballways having loaded ball paths and unloaded ball paths, said loaded ball patHs radially aligned with the said ball loading lands, the said unloaded ball paths radially aligned with the said ball return passageways, axially separated portions extending axially beyond the ends of the said ballways having an undulated radial configuration dimensioned to mate with the varying internal diameter radius of the housing with the outer diameters of said portions contacting the inner diameter of the housing to restrain the retainer against rotation within the housing, and means at the ends of said retainer restricting axial movement of the retainer within the housing.

Claim 5

The bearing of claim 2 wherein the said means includes radial grooves in the inner diameter of the housing adjacent the axial ends thereof and radially out-turned flanges at the ends of the said retainer, the said flanges received in the said grooves.

Claim 6

The bearing of claim 2 wherein the said means includes grooves in the inner diameter of the said housing adjacent the axial ends thereof, and a snap ring received in said grooves having a radial wall abutting the axial ends of the retainer.

Claim 7

The bearing of claim 2 wherein the said means includes radial groove in the inner diameter of the said housing adjacent the axial ends thereof and spring fingers on the said retainer adjacent the axial ends thereof, the said spring fingers spring biased radially outwardly and having flange portions adapted to fit in the said grooves.

Claim 8

The bearing of claim 5 wherein the said spring fingers are formed integrally with the retainer.

Claim 9

In a linear motion bearing having a housing with a ball retainer received therein, the housing having a varying radius inner diameter, the improvement of the retainer having ball paths and having portions axially beyond the pathways adjacent either end thereof with a varying radius outer diameter indexing with the varying radius inner diameter of the housing to lock the retainer against rotation within the housing.

Claim 10

In a linear motion bearing having a housing with a ball retainer received therein, the housing having a varying radius inner diameter, the improvement of the retainer having ball paths and having portions axially beyond the pathways adjacent either end thereof with a varying radius outer diameter indexing with the varying radius inner diameter of the housing to lock the retainer against rotation within the housing.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 7 wherein the said retainer is a 360* substantially cylindrical tube.

Claim 12

A linear motion ball bearing comprising a housing with a varying inner diameter, said inner diameter defining radially innermost bearing loading lands circumferentially spaced by increased radius ball return portions, a ball retainer in said housing, said ball retainer comprising a substantially circular member having oval pathways formed therein circumferentially spaced from one another, the major axis of said oval pathways extending axially of the retainer, said pathways having loaded ball paths and unloaded ball paths, said loaded ball paths radially aligned with the said ball loading lands, the said unloaded ball paths radially aligned with the said ball return passageways, portions of the said retainer having a varying outer diameter interfitting with the varying inner diameter of the said housing to prevent rotation of the retainer with respect to the housing, the said varying diameter portions of the said retainer comprising axially separated portions extending axially beyond the ends of the pathways having an undulated radial configuration dimensioned to mate with the varying internal diameter radius of the housing with the said diameters of the said portions contacting the inner diameter of the housing, the remainder of the retainer being substantially tubular except for said pathways.

Claim 13

A linear motion ball bearing comprising a housing with a varying inner diameter, said inner diameter defining radially innermost bearing loading lands circumferentially spaced by increased radius ball return portions, a ball retainer in said housing, said ball retainer comprising a substantially circular member having oval pathways formed therein circumferentially spaced from one another, the major axis of said oval pathways extending axially of the retainer, said pathways having loaded ball paths and unloaded ball paths, said loaded ball paths radially aligned with the said ball loading lands, the said unloaded ball paths radially aligned with the said ball return passageways, portions of the said retainer having a varying outer diameter interfitting with the varying inner diameter of the said housing to prevent rotation of the retainer with respect to the housing, the said varying diameter portions of the said retainer comprising axially separated portions extending axially beyond the ends of the pathways having an undulated radial configuration dimensioned to mate with the varying internal diameter radius of the housing with the said diameters of the said portions contacting the inner diameter of the housing, the remainder of the retainer being substantially tubular except for said pathways.