Improvements in and relating to rectilinear bearings with circulating balls
833,207. Rectilinear-motion bearings. DEXTER & CO. (HIGH WYCOMBE) Ltd. May 15, 1956 [May 26, 1955], No. 15235/55. Class 12 (1). In a rectilinear-motion bearing comprising balls 15 which run between tracks formed by rods 12 located in a groove 11 in a member 10 and rods 6 located in a groove 7 in a member 5, the balls 15 circulate through a guideway formed by the backs of the rods 6 and a channel 16 in the member 5. Blocks 21 have channels 17 which complete the circuit at the ends. The rods 6, 12 are located in position by screws 8, 13 respectively disposed at intervals along the tracks. In a modification, a member 4 is supported between two members 3 by two such rectilinear-motion bearings. The end channels comprise spaced plates 28, Fig. 8, having semicircular cavities 29, attached to plates 3. The rounded ends of the rods 6 may be formed on the rods or they may be formed by the rounded heads 33 of plugs 34 forced into holes 35 drilled in the ends of the rods 6, as shown in Fig. 9. In a further modification, a rod 37, Fig. 11, is mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to a housing 39 by three bearings 1, each of which has circulating balls 15 bearing against the shaft. The bearing carriers are located in radial slots 38 in which they are adapted to slide and are spring-pressed towards the shaft 37 by springs 40. Specifications 655,961, 665,579 and 666,543 are referred to.