Ball bushing

Claim 2

The combination comprising a shaft member, and an elongated tubular sleeve member adapted for longitudinal movement relative to one another, said sleeve member circumscribing said shaft member, and spaced therefrom to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of ball elements in the annular space between said shaft member and sleeve member and a cage for guiding said ball elements comprising first and second cage sections each including an annular portion having a plurality of axially directed fingers, the fingers of each cage section being interdigitated so as to form a continuous ball path for the ball elements about the periphery of the shaft member, the circumferential distance between confronting side walls of adjacent fingers being larger than the diameter of the balls when measured adjacent the sleeve member but smaller than the diameter of the balls when measured adjacent the shaft member, means defining on the inner surface of said sleeve member confronting the peripheral surface of said shaft member, a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves having a cross sectional radius of curvature conforming closely to the radius of curvature of the ball elements to obtain good osculation therebetween, the grooves of a first series being recessed deeper into said sleeve member than the grooves of a second series disposed intermediate said first series and the cage fingers being of a predetermined configuration with respect to the ball elements and the shaft member so that the ball elements are in bearing contact with the shaft member and sleeve member when in said second groove series and move in one direction during relative movement of said shaft member and sleeve member and are free to rotate without contacting both the sleeve member and shaft member when in said first groove series and move in said first groove series in a direction opposite movement in said second groove series.

Claim 3

A ball bushing aS claimed in claim 1 wherein confronting walls of adjacent fingers taper radially inwardly.

Claim 4

The combination comprising a shaft member, and an elongated tubular sleeve member adapted for longitudinal movement relative to one another, said sleeve member circumscribing said shaft member, and spaced therefrom to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of ball elements in the annular space between said shaft member and sleeve member and a cage for guiding said ball elements comprising first and second cage sections each including an annular portion having a plurality of axially directed fingers, the fingers of each cage section being interdigitated so as to form a continuous ball path for the ball elements about the periphery of the shaft member, means defining on the inner surface of said sleeve member confronting the peripheral surface of said shaft member, a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves having a cross sectional radius of curvature conforming closely to the radius of curvature of the ball elements to obtain good osculation therebetween, the grooves of a first series being recessed deeper into said sleeve member than the grooves of a second series disposed intermediate said first series and the cage fingers being of a predetermined configuration with respect to the ball elements and the shaft member so that the ball elements are in bearing contact with the shaft member and sleeve member when in said second groove series and move in one direction during relative movement of said shaft member and sleeve member and are free to rotate without contacting both the sleeve member and shaft member when in said first groove series and move in said first groove series in a direction opposite movement in said second groove series, the radially inner surface of the sleeve member comprising a cylindrical surface at each axial end of which the annular members of the cage are disposed, an inclined surface contiguous with each cylindrical surface and a further cylindrical surface spanning both inclined surfaces, the grooves in the sleeve member extending between the inclined surfaces.

Claim 5

The combination comprising a shaft member, and an elongated tubular sleeve member adapted for longitudinal movement relative to one another, said sleeve member circumscribing said shaft member, and spaced therefrom to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of ball elements in the annular space between said shaft member and sleeve member and a cage for guiding said ball elements comprising first and second cage sections each including an annular portion having a plurality of axially directed fingers, the fingers of each cage section being interdigitated so as to form a continuous ball path for the ball elements about the periphery of the shaft member, means defining on the inner surface of said sleeve member confronting the peripheral surface of said shaft member, a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves having a cross sectional radius of curvature conforming closely to the radius of curvature of the ball elements to obtain good osculation therebetween, the grooves of a first series being recessed deeper into said sleeve member than the grooves of a second series disposed intermediate said first series and the cage fingers being of a predetermined configuration with respect to the ball elements and the shaft member so that the ball elements are in bearing contact with the shaft member and sleeve member when in said second groove series and move in one direction during relative movement of said shaft member and sleeve member and are free to rotate without contacting both the sleeve member and shaft member when in said first groove series and move in said first groove series in a direction opposite movement in said second groove series, the radially inner surface of the sleeve member comprising a cylindrical surface at each axial end of which the annular members of the cage are disposed, an inclined surface contiguous with each cylindrical surface and a further cylindrical surface spanning both inclined surfaces, the grooves in the sleeve member extending between the inclined surfaces.

Claim 6

The combination comprising a shaft member, and an elongated tubular sleeve member adapted for longitudinal movement relative to one another, said sleeve member circumscribing said shaft member, and spaced therefrom to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of ball elements in the annular space between said shaft member and sleeve member and a cage for guiding the ball elements made from a sheet material and comprising first and second cage sections each including an annular portion formed to provide a radially inwardly extending annulus and having a plurality of axially directed fingers, the fingers of each cage section being interdigitated so as to form a continuous ball path for the ball elements about the periphery of the shaft member, means defining on the inner surface of said sleeve member confronting the peripheral surface of said shaft member, a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves having a cross sectional radius of curvature conforming closely to the radius of curvature of the ball elements to obtain good osculation therebetween, the grooves of a first series being recessed deeper into said sleeve member than the grooves of a second series disposed intermediate said first series and the cage fingers being of a predetermined configuration with respect to the ball elements and the shaft member so that the ball elements are in bearing contact with the shaft member and sleeve member when in said second groove series and move in one direction during relative movement of said shaft member and sleeve member and are free to rotate without contacting both the sleeve member and shaft member when in said first groove series and move in said first groove series in a direction opposite movement in said second groove series.

Claim 7

The combination comprising a shaft member, and an elongated tubular sleeve member adapted for longitudinal movement relative to one another, said sleeve member circumscribing said shaft member, and spaced therefrom to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of ball elements in the annular space between said shaft member and sleeve member and a cage for guiding the ball elements made from a sheet material and comprising first and second cage sections each including an annular portion formed to provide a radially inwardly extending annulus and having a plurality of axially directed fingers, the fingers of each cage section being interdigitated so as to form a continuous ball path for the ball elements about the periphery of the shaft member, means defining on the inner surface of said sleeve member confronting the peripheral surface of said shaft member, a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves having a cross sectional radius of curvature conforming closely to the radius of curvature of the ball elements to obtain good osculation therebetween, the grooves of a first series being recessed deeper into said sleeve member than the grooves of a second series disposed intermediate said first series and the cage fingers being of a predetermined configuration with respect to the ball elements and the shaft member so that the ball elements are in bearing contact with the shaft member and sleeve member when in said second groove series and move in one direction during relative movement of said shaft member and sleeve member and are free to rotate without contacting both the sleeve member and shaft member when in said first groove series and move in said first groove series in a direction opposite movement in said second groove series.

Claim 8

The combination comprising a shaft member, and an elongated tubular sleeve member adapted for longitudinal movEment relative to one another, said sleeve member circumscribing said shaft member, and spaced therefrom to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of ball elements in the annular space between said shaft member and sleeve member and a cage for guiding said ball elements made from a sheet material and comprising first and second cage sections each including an annular portion having a plurality of axially directed fingers, the fingers of each cage section being interdigitated so as to form a continuous ball path for the ball elements about the periphery of the shaft member, a lubricant absorbing material disposed internally of the cage fingers confronting and in engagement with said shaft member, means defining on the inner surface of said sleeve member confronting the peripheral surface of said shaft, a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves having a cross sectional radius of curvature conforming closely to the radius of curvature of the ball elements to obtain good osculation therebetween, the grooves of a first series being recessed deeper into said sleeve member than the grooves of a second series disposed intermediate said first series and the cage fingers being of a predetermined configuration with respect to the ball elements and the shaft member so that the ball elements are in bearing contact with the shaft member and sleeve member when in said second groove series and move in one direction during relative movement of said shaft member and sleeve member and are free to rotate without contacting both the sleeve member and shaft member when in said first groove series and move in said first groove series in a direction opposite movement in said second groove series.

Claim 9

The combination comprising a shaft member, and an elongated tubular sleeve member adapted for longitudinal movEment relative to one another, said sleeve member circumscribing said shaft member, and spaced therefrom to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of ball elements in the annular space between said shaft member and sleeve member and a cage for guiding said ball elements made from a sheet material and comprising first and second cage sections each including an annular portion having a plurality of axially directed fingers, the fingers of each cage section being interdigitated so as to form a continuous ball path for the ball elements about the periphery of the shaft member, a lubricant absorbing material disposed internally of the cage fingers confronting and in engagement with said shaft member, means defining on the inner surface of said sleeve member confronting the peripheral surface of said shaft, a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves having a cross sectional radius of curvature conforming closely to the radius of curvature of the ball elements to obtain good osculation therebetween, the grooves of a first series being recessed deeper into said sleeve member than the grooves of a second series disposed intermediate said first series and the cage fingers being of a predetermined configuration with respect to the ball elements and the shaft member so that the ball elements are in bearing contact with the shaft member and sleeve member when in said second groove series and move in one direction during relative movement of said shaft member and sleeve member and are free to rotate without contacting both the sleeve member and shaft member when in said first groove series and move in said first groove series in a direction opposite movement in said second groove series.

Claim 10

A ball bushing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axial ends of the cage are formed to provide a radially inwardly extending annulus opening axially outwardly and including a seal supported in a rigid sleeve mounted in the open end of said annular portion and having a lip disposed flush with the edge line of the sleeve member.

Claim 11

A ball bushing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the annulus defines an annular pocket, a friction seal being mounted in the pocket and engaging the shaft member.