US5558442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linear motion bearing assembly
Assignee: TGA North America Holdings III Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-02
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Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2016-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A linear motion bearing assembly is provided and includes ball retainer structure, outer housing sleeves, a plurality of load bearing plates and plate retainer structure. The ball retainer structure of the bearing assembly can be either monolithically formed or, alternatively, assembled from multiple elements. At least a portion of axial ball tracks are formed in the outer radial faces of the ball retainer structure with each ball track having a load bearing portion providing access to a support shaft or spline. An outer housing including a pair of sleeves are provided to encompass and protect the ball retainer structure and the bearing balls contained therein. These sleeves are preferably formed of an engineering plastic. A plurality of load bearing plates, preferably of the self-aligning type, are positioned within the outer housing and serve to receive and transmit loads from the bearing balls in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. Separate plate retainer structure is configured and positioned to directly receive and transmit loads from the load bearing plates to a carriage into which the bearing assembly is mounted. This plate retainer structure may be extended longitudinally to substantially enclose the exterior surface of the ball retainer structure. In this configuration, no separate outer housing structure is needed.
Inventors
- 👤 Alison Ng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:09
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C29/00; F16C29/04; F16C29/06; F16C29/068; F16C29/0683; F16C29/0685; F16C29/069; F16C29/001; F16C29/0676
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A linear motion bearing assembly for movement along a shaft comprising: ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, said ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting said load bearing and return portions; a plurality of bearing balls disposed in said ball tracks; a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent said ball retainer structure for receiving load from said balls disposed in said load bearing portion of the ball tracks; and an extended plate retainer structure enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of said ball retainer structure and having a uniform substantially cylindrical inner surface in direct contact with said load bearing plates, said extended plate retainer structure being configured and dimensioned to maintain said plurality of load bearing plates in position and for receiving load directly from said load bearing plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A linear motion bearing assembly for movement along a shaft comprising: ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, said ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting said load bearing and return portions; a plurality of bearing balls disposed in said ball tracks; a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent said ball retainer structure for receiving load from said balls disposed in said load bearing portion of the ball tracks; and an extended plate retainer structure enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of said ball retainer structure and having a uniform substantially cylindrical inner surface in direct contact with said load bearing plates, said extended plate retainer structure being configured and dimensioned to maintain said plurality of load bearing plates in position and for receiving load directly from said load bearing plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 1, wherein said ball retainer structure is monolithically formed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 1, wherein said extended plate retainer structure is fabricated from an engineering material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, and plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a pair of end seals positioned adjacent longitudinal ends of said extended plate retainer structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
164 words
A linear motion bearing assembly for movement along a shaft comprising: ball retainer structure having a plurality of planar outer surfaces, each planar outer surface having at least one open axial ball track formed therein, the ball tracks each including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions; a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks; a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks; and an extended plate retainer structure enclosing substantially all of the planar outer surfaces of the ball retainer structure and having a uniform substantially cylindrical inner surface in direct contact with the load bearing plates, the extended plate retainer structure being configured and dimensioned to maintain the plurality of load bearing plates in position and for receiving load directly from the load bearing plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
164 words
A linear motion bearing assembly for movement along a shaft comprising: ball retainer structure having a plurality of planar outer surfaces, each planar outer surface having at least one open axial ball track formed therein, the ball tracks each including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions; a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks; a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks; and an extended plate retainer structure enclosing substantially all of the planar outer surfaces of the ball retainer structure and having a uniform substantially cylindrical inner surface in direct contact with the load bearing plates, the extended plate retainer structure being configured and dimensioned to maintain the plurality of load bearing plates in position and for receiving load directly from the load bearing plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 5 wherein the ball retainer structure is monolithically formed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 5 wherein each planar outer surface of the ball retainer structure includes a pair of open axial ball tracks formed therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 7 wherein the pair of open axial ball tracks are arranged in parallel along a common longitudinal axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 8 wherein the respective load bearing portions of the pair of open axial ball tracks are arranged in side by side relation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of load bearing plates overlie the side by side load bearing portions of the pair of open axial ball tracks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 5 further comprising end containment elements for containing the ball retainer structure within the extended plate retainer structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 11 wherein the end containment elements are C-rings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 5 further comprising a pair of end seals positioned adjacent longitudinal ends of the extended plate retainer structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 5 wherein the bearing assembly is of an open type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
A linear motion bearing assembly for movement along a shaft comprising: ball retainer structure including a plurality of ball retainer segments, each of the ball retainer segments having a substantially planar outer surface and at least one open axial ball track formed therein, the ball tracks each including an open load bearing portion and an open return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions; a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks; a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks; and an extended plate retainer structure enclosing substantially all of the planar outer surfaces of the ball retainer segments and having a uniform substantially cylindrical inner surface in direct contact with the load bearing plates, the extended plate retainer structure being configured and dimensioned to maintain the plurality of load bearing plates in position and for receiving load directly from the load bearing plates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
173 words
A linear motion bearing assembly for movement along a shaft comprising: ball retainer structure including a plurality of ball retainer segments, each of the ball retainer segments having a substantially planar outer surface and at least one open axial ball track formed therein, the ball tracks each including an open load bearing portion and an open return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions; a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks; a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks; and an extended plate retainer structure enclosing substantially all of the planar outer surfaces of the ball retainer segments and having a uniform substantially cylindrical inner surface in direct contact with the load bearing plates, the extended plate retainer structure being configured and dimensioned to maintain the plurality of load bearing plates in position and for receiving load directly from the load bearing plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 15 wherein each planar outer surface of the ball retainer segments includes a pair of open axial ball tracks formed therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 16 wherein the pair of open axial ball tracks are arranged in parallel along a common longitudinal axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 17 wherein the respective load bearing portions of the pair of open axial ball tracks are arranged in side by side relation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 18 wherein each of the plurality of load bearing plates overlie the side by side load bearing portions of the pair of open axial ball tracks.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 15 further comprising end containment elements for containing the ball retainer segments within the extended plate retainer structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 20 wherein the end containment elements are C-rings.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 15 further comprising a pair of end seals positioned adjacent longitudinal ends of the extended plate retainer structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A linear motion bearing assembly as in claim 15 wherein the bearing assembly is of an open type.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-03-25 | 2000-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-24 | 2004-03-25 | 2004-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-24 | 2008-03-25 | 2008-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |