Patent US4544211A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4544211A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Recirculating bearing assembly and method of making

Assignee: REXROTH Corp C/O MANNESMANN CAPITOL CORPORATION
•
Filing: 1983-11-30
•
Granted: 1985-10-01
•
Expires: 2003-11-30
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The present invention is an improved linear recirculating bearing assembly and method of making it. More particularly, the present invention is a linear roller bearing assembly in which the housing is manufactured of three primary parts, an upper bearing half, a race member and a lower bearing half. The race member includes one or more mounting pedestals having an upper surface finished to a high degree of flatness and parallelism with the lower surface of the race member. The upper bearing half and the lower bearing half include portions to define two recirculating bearing paths for recirculating bearing elements or rollers to recirculate about paths around the race member, with the upper and lower bearing halves being generally non-load bearings, so that they may be manufactured from low cost, low strength materials.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ki C. Kwon
  • 👤 Thomas A. Luther

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 09:23
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C29/00; F16C29/04; F16C29/06; F16C29/0614; F16C29/0616; F16C29/0619

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 216 words
A recirculating element bearing adapted to be disposed between relatively linearly movable support members to provide antifriction support therebetween, said bearing comprising: an elongated unitary track member formed with a pair of parallel, side-by-side and spaced apart track surfaces each defined by upper and lower surfaces extending along the length of said track member and by half-round surfaces at either end thereof extending between the upper and lower surfaces, thereby providing an endless recirculation path; housing means extending around each of said track surfaces to enclose said track surfaces with a space between each track surface and said housing means; a plurality of elongated rollers disposed within each of said spaces and oriented to roll along said track surfaces, said housing means exposing said rollers above one of said track surfaces to enable contact with one of said support members; said track member provided with at least one lengthwise extending medial feature discontinuous with said track surfaces; said at least one medial feature comprising a lengthwise extending recess formed into said upper surface of said track member; and, said housing means including a pair of housing members mounted to said track member and to each other, one of said housing members including a lengthwise extending linearly formed portion interfit into said recess to be located thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 216 words
A recirculating element bearing adapted to be disposed between relatively linearly movable support members to provide antifriction support therebetween, said bearing comprising: an elongated unitary track member formed with a pair of parallel, side-by-side and spaced apart track surfaces each defined by upper and lower surfaces extending along the length of said track member and by half-round surfaces at either end thereof extending between the upper and lower surfaces, thereby providing an endless recirculation path; housing means extending around each of said track surfaces to enclose said track surfaces with a space between each track surface and said housing means; a plurality of elongated rollers disposed within each of said spaces and oriented to roll along said track surfaces, said housing means exposing said rollers above one of said track surfaces to enable contact with one of said support members; said track member provided with at least one lengthwise extending medial feature discontinuous with said track surfaces; said at least one medial feature comprising a lengthwise extending recess formed into said upper surface of said track member; and, said housing means including a pair of housing members mounted to said track member and to each other, one of said housing members including a lengthwise extending linearly formed portion interfit into said recess to be located thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The recirculating element bearing according to claim 1 wherein said linearly formed portion is further formed with flaring portions in the outer part thereof acting to confine said rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
The recirculating element bearing according to claim 1 wherein said unitary track member is formed with a pair of projecting rib portions extending upwardly from said upper surface and alongside thereof, interfitting into respective openings in said one housing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 219 words
A recirculating element bearing adapted to be disposed between relatively linearly movable support members to provide antifriction support therebetween, said bearing comprising: an elongated unitary track member formed with a pair of parallel, side-by-side and spaced apart track surfaces each defined by upper and lower surfaces extending along the length of said track member and by half-round surfaces at either end thereof extending between the upper and lower surfaces, thereby providing an endless recirculation path; housing means extending around each of said track surfaces to enclose said track surfaces with a space between each track surface and said housing means; a plurality of elongated rollers disposed within each of said spaces and oriented to roll along said track surfaces, said housing means exposing said rollers above one of said track surfaces to enable contact with one of said support members; said track member provided with at least one lengthwise extending medial feature discontinuous with said track surfaces; said medial feature comprising a centrally located upwardly projecting lengthwise rib portion and end recesses located inward from each of said half-rounded surfaces and said housing means including a central housing member interfit between said end recesses, and a pair of side housing members mounted to said central housing member each having a lengthwise surface fit against one side of said rib.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 219 words
A recirculating element bearing adapted to be disposed between relatively linearly movable support members to provide antifriction support therebetween, said bearing comprising: an elongated unitary track member formed with a pair of parallel, side-by-side and spaced apart track surfaces each defined by upper and lower surfaces extending along the length of said track member and by half-round surfaces at either end thereof extending between the upper and lower surfaces, thereby providing an endless recirculation path; housing means extending around each of said track surfaces to enclose said track surfaces with a space between each track surface and said housing means; a plurality of elongated rollers disposed within each of said spaces and oriented to roll along said track surfaces, said housing means exposing said rollers above one of said track surfaces to enable contact with one of said support members; said track member provided with at least one lengthwise extending medial feature discontinuous with said track surfaces; said medial feature comprising a centrally located upwardly projecting lengthwise rib portion and end recesses located inward from each of said half-rounded surfaces and said housing means including a central housing member interfit between said end recesses, and a pair of side housing members mounted to said central housing member each having a lengthwise surface fit against one side of said rib.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
The recirculating element bearing according to claim 4 wherein said lengthwise central rib projects beyond said housing means, said rib formed with through openings adapted to receive mounting screws for mounting said track member to one of said supported members.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3003828A Cited
US3341262A Cited
GB1302026A Cited
US3845993A Cited
US4432587A Cited
US4352526A Cited
US4427240A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-09-30 1989-04-01 1989-10-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-09-30 1993-04-01 1993-10-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-09-30 1997-04-01 1997-10-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag