Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A recirculating ball nut and ball shaft assembly comprising: (a) a ball race device with internal land and ball receiving groove portions, and incorporating a recirculating ball circuit with balls; (b) a ball shaft of a predetermined axial length, with complemental groove and land portions for cooperatively receiving the balls, on which said ball race device is mounted interjacent the ends of the shaft, said groove and land portions of said shaft extending to at least one terminal end portion of the shaft; (c) a pre-machined end component of predetermined length having an outboard bearing surface, and a sleeve disposed axially over the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft and providing a clearance space between the sleeve and shaft; (d) and a hardened adhesive key disposed between the sleeve and the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft to adhesively and mechanically unite them.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A recirculating ball nut and ball shaft assembly comprising: (a) a ball race device with internal land and ball receiving groove portions, and incorporating a recirculating ball circuit with balls; (b) a ball shaft of a predetermined axial length, with complemental groove and land portions for cooperatively receiving the balls, on which said ball race device is mounted interjacent the ends of the shaft, said groove and land portions of said shaft extending to at least one terminal end portion of the shaft; (c) a pre-machined end component of predetermined length having an outboard bearing surface, and a sleeve disposed axially over the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft and providing a clearance space between the sleeve and shaft; (d) and a hardened adhesive key disposed between the sleeve and the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft to adhesively and mechanically unite them.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said sleeve terminates in an outboard end wall, and a clearance between the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft and the end wall of said sleeve is filled with a hardened adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein a second pre-machined shaft end component, having an external bearing surface and an attachment configuration, has an inboard sleeve with internal groove portions and land portions complemental to the groove and land portions of said shaft is disposed axially over the opposite terminal end of said shaft, there being a hardened adhesive key between the sleeve and shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said groove and land portions of said shaft are helical and said key is threaded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
A recirculating ball nut and ball shaft assembly comprising: (a) a ball race device with internal land and ball receiving groove portions, and incorporating a recirculating ball circuit with balls; (b) a ball shaft of a predetermined axial length, with complemental groove and land portions for cooperatively receiving the balls, on which said ball race device is mounted interjacent the ends of the shaft, said groove and land portions of said shaft extending to at least one terminal end portion of the shaft; (c) a pre-machined end component of predetermined length having an outboard bearing surface, and a sleeve disposed axially over the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft and providing peripheral clearance space between the sleeve and shaft; (d) and a hardened adhesive key disposed in said clearance space peripherally between the sleeve and the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft to adhesively and mechanically unite them.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
A recirculating ball nut and ball shaft assembly comprising: (a) a ball race device with internal land and ball receiving groove portions, and incorporating a recirculating ball circuit with balls; (b) a ball shaft of a predetermined axial length, with complemental groove and land portions for cooperatively receiving the balls, on which said ball race device is mounted interjacent the ends of the shaft, said groove and land portions of said shaft extending to at least one terminal end portion of the shaft; (c) a pre-machined end component of predetermined length having an outboard bearing surface, and a sleeve disposed axially over the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft and providing peripheral clearance space between the sleeve and shaft; (d) and a hardened adhesive key disposed in said clearance space peripherally between the sleeve and the at least one terminal end portion of the shaft to adhesively and mechanically unite them.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 5 wherein said sleeve has internal groove portions and said clearance space includes said sleeve groove portions and the groove portions of said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of claim 5 wherein said sleeve groove portions and shaft groove portions are helical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The assembly of claim 7 wherein said sleeve has land portions between said sleeve groove portions mating with said shaft groove portions, and said sleeve groove portions mate with said shaft land portions, to permit said sleeve to be screwed into position.