US4311348A — Linear motion ball bearings

Claim 1

Independent Claim 129 words

In a linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve formed from a flat plate having opposite ends, the plate bent to form a cylindrical split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, with said opposite ends being adjacent and circumferentially spaced thereby defining a gap that extends generally lengthwise and circumferentially, a cage disposed in said bore and defining therewith continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially with a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, the improvement comprising connection means interconnecting one of said adjacent ends with the other of said ends for permitting limited relative movement of these ends and correspondingly limited variation of said gap in the circumferential direction, and correspondingly limited variation of the bore diameter of said outer race sleeve.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 129 words

In a linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve formed from a flat plate having opposite ends, the plate bent to form a cylindrical split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, with said opposite ends being adjacent and circumferentially spaced thereby defining a gap that extends generally lengthwise and circumferentially, a cage disposed in said bore and defining therewith continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially with a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, the improvement comprising connection means interconnecting one of said adjacent ends with the other of said ends for permitting limited relative movement of these ends and correspondingly limited variation of said gap in the circumferential direction, and correspondingly limited variation of the bore diameter of said outer race sleeve.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

A ball bearing according to claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises at least one projection extending generally circumferentially from one of said adjacent ends to and lockingly engaging the other of said ends.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

A ball bearing according to claim 2 wherein said projection has a predetermined shape, and said connection means further comprises a cutout having shape corresponding to said projection shape, said projection being situated in said cutout for locking engagement therewith.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 82 words

A ball bearing according to claim 2 wherein said projection has at least one generally T-shape configuration with the stem of the T extending circumferentially from one of said ends and the cross of the T being spaced from said end, and said connection means further comprises at least one cutout having a corresponding T-shape in which said projection is situated, said projection end cutout being relatively dimensioned for permitting said limited increase and decrease of said gap in the circumferential direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

A ball bearing according to claim 2 wherein said connection means comprises a plurality of projections and corresponding cutouts spaced apart in the axial direction.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

A ball bearing according to claim 1 wherein the portions of said raceways defined by said bore of said outer race sleeve are machined surfaces.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 121 words

In a linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve comprising a cylindrical wall formed as a split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, said wall also including therein a gap extending generally lengthwise and defined by adjacent and circumferentially-shaped edges of said wall, a cage disposed in said bore and defining therewith continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially with a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, the improvement comprising connection means interconnecting one of said adjacent edges with the other of said edges for permitting relative movement of these edges and correspondingly limited variation of said gap in the circumferential direction, and correspondingly limited variation of the bore diameter of said outer race sleeve.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 121 words

In a linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve comprising a cylindrical wall formed as a split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, said wall also including therein a gap extending generally lengthwise and defined by adjacent and circumferentially-shaped edges of said wall, a cage disposed in said bore and defining therewith continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially with a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, the improvement comprising connection means interconnecting one of said adjacent edges with the other of said edges for permitting relative movement of these edges and correspondingly limited variation of said gap in the circumferential direction, and correspondingly limited variation of the bore diameter of said outer race sleeve.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 62 words

In a method of making an outer race sleeve for a linear motion ball bearing, the improvement comprising the steps of forming a flat plate having opposite ends, rolling said plate into a split-sleeve cylindrical shape with said ends being positioned adjacently and circumferentially spaced, and interconnecting said ends in locking engagement which permits limited relative movement therebetween in said circumferential direction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 62 words

In a method of making an outer race sleeve for a linear motion ball bearing, the improvement comprising the steps of forming a flat plate having opposite ends, rolling said plate into a split-sleeve cylindrical shape with said ends being positioned adjacently and circumferentially spaced, and interconnecting said ends in locking engagement which permits limited relative movement therebetween in said circumferential direction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 71 words

A method according to claim 8 comprising the further steps of forming on one of said ends while said plate is in a flat condition a projection of predetermined shape and extending in the direction of said end, forming in said other end a cutout having shape corresponding to that of said projection, and lockingly disposing said projection in said cutout when said plate is rolled into said split-sleeve cylindrical shape.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 71 words

An outer race for a rolling bearing, comprising a flat plate having opposite ends, said plate being curved to form a split sleeve, the inside of said plate including a plurality of raceways formed directly on said plate to accommodate rolling elements, said opposite ends having respective mating linking means adapted to be linked together to complete said sleeve, said linking means comprising a mechanical interconnection having a limited circumferential play.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

An outer race for a rolling bearing, comprising a flat plate having opposite ends, said plate being curved to form a split sleeve, the inside of said plate including a plurality of raceways formed directly on said plate to accommodate rolling elements, said opposite ends having respective mating linking means adapted to be linked together to complete said sleeve, said linking means comprising a mechanical interconnection having a limited circumferential play.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 129 words

A linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve, comprising a flat plate having opposite ends, the plate bent to form a cylindrical split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, with said opposite ends being adjacent and circumferentially spaced from one another and respectively provided with complementary interlocking means extending generally lengthwise and circumferentially from said plate ends, said plate defining thereon continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially for accommodating a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, said complementary interlocking means nestable within one another and interconnecting one of said adjacent ends with the other of said ends, wherein said interlocking means allows movement of one of said ends, relative to the other, thereby establishing limits of expansion and constriction of said sleeve.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 129 words

A linear motion ball bearing including an outer race sleeve, comprising a flat plate having opposite ends, the plate bent to form a cylindrical split-sleeve tube having length in the axial direction and defining a bore, with said opposite ends being adjacent and circumferentially spaced from one another and respectively provided with complementary interlocking means extending generally lengthwise and circumferentially from said plate ends, said plate defining thereon continuous ball raceways distributed circumferentially for accommodating a plurality of balls disposed in said raceways, said complementary interlocking means nestable within one another and interconnecting one of said adjacent ends with the other of said ends, wherein said interlocking means allows movement of one of said ends, relative to the other, thereby establishing limits of expansion and constriction of said sleeve.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-01-18	1985-07-20	1986-01-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-01-18	1989-07-20	1990-01-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-01-18	1993-07-20	1994-01-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Linear motion ball bearings

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