1984-05-21
1986-04-15
Levy, Stuart S.
Cutlery
308 5R, F16C 2906, F16C 3366
Patent
active
045823693
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball bearing which is used for linear motions and to the ball retainer, the lubricating system and the sealing device of the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A ball bearing of this type, particularly, a ball bearing capable of bearing loads acting in four directions respectively, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 38812/1982. However, such a ball bearing has a complicated construction and requires difficult machining.
A sealing device employed in such a ball bearing is disclosed in the said Japanese Patent Publication No. 38812/1982. In this sealing device, the side plate with a rubber sealing member for sealing in the axial direction and the bottom plate for sealing in the vertical direction are formed separately and are fixed by screws or the like individually, which requires an increased number of parts and is inferior in sealing effect.
An object of the present invention is to provide a linear motion ball bearing of a simple construction, requiring simple machining processes, capable of adjusting the preload optionally and provided with a new lubricating system and a new sealing device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a linear motion ball bearing having a pair of axial bearing surfaces each of a concave cross section having a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of the ball, formed in each of the respective opposed side surfaces of a bearing member and a rail base, wherein the distance between the centers of curvature of the pair of bearing surfaces formed in the bearing member and the distance between the centers of curvature of the pair of bearing surfaces of the rail base are different from each other and the upper and the lower bearing surfaces of the bearing member are formed at an interval slightly greater or less than the design value to apply a preload to the bearing.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a linear ball bearing having a pair of axial bearing surfaces each of a concave cross section having a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of the ball, formed in each of the respective opposed side surfaces of a bearing member and a rail base, wherein the balls are prevented from falling off from the bearing member by the cooperative functions of the bearing surfaces and a retainer interposed between the upper and the lower bearing surfaces of the bearing member, when the bearing member is separated from the rail base.
Thus the present invention provides a linear motion ball bearing of a comparatively simple construction, capable of bearing vertical and lateral forces and the moment of a force, of applying a preload easily, of preventing the balls from falling off when the bearing member is separated from the rail base, and of facilitating highly accurate grinding of the bearing surfaces owing to the disposition of the bearing surfaces in the respective side surfaces of the bearing member and the rail base.
A ball retainer according to the present invention has curved ball retaining surfaces extending symmetrically in cross section and projections formed at the opposite ends thereof so as to fit in the corresponding grooves formed in return caps, which facilitates and ensures positioning the ball retainer.
Furthermore, a ball return cap according to the present invention is provided with a through hole extending from the inner surface provided with ball return grooves toward the outer surface, a pair of grooves extending laterally in opposite directions from the outer end of the through hole and grooves extending from the inner end of the through hole into the ball return grooves.
Such a constitution of the ball return cap enables lubricating four bearing surfaces simultaneously through a single lubricating port and attains satisfactory lubrication. Furthermore, since both sides of the ball retainer cap are utilized effectively, the ball bearing can be designed in a compact construction.
Still further, a sealing device according t
REFERENCES:
patent: 4273389 (1981-06-01), Takai
patent: 4339157 (1982-07-01), Olschewski et al.
patent: 4384859 (1983-05-01), Teramachi
patent: 4428627 (1984-01-01), Teramachi
Hannon Thomas R.
Levy Stuart S.
Tsubakimoto Precision Products Co. Ltd.
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