Abstract: An actuator for a differential lock includes an actuator pin that is resiliently coupled to a lead screw to prevent excess force on the actuator pin under otherwise damaging conditions, such as a tooth-on-tooth state of the differential. The actuator may include sensors for sensing the position of a lead screw nut and sensors for sensing the position of the actuating pin to provide improved control by sensing multiple states of the actuator, including a state in which a tooth-on-tooth condition is present in the differential.

Abstract: A secondary drive coupling may comprise at least one coupling member having a first mating portion and a second mating portion. The first mating portion is configured to engage a first section of a shaft on one side of a region of weakness of the shaft, whereas the second mating portion is configured to engage a second section of the shaft on an axially opposite side of the region of weakness. Both the first mating portion and the second mating portion are each configured to prevent rotation of the at least one coupling member about the shaft. In another embodiment, the at least one coupling member comprises a first coupling member comprising the first mating portion and a first contact surface and a separate, second coupling member comprising a second mating portion and a second contact surface that is configured to engage the first contact surface.

Abstract: A linear drive assembly having a linear drive motor having a shaft, the shaft defining a first bore therein extending from the first end of the shaft, the shaft defining a tapering within the first bore, and the shaft defining a second bore therein connected with the first bore and extending to the second end of the shaft; a screw including a tapered end at the first end of the screw, the tapered end configured to substantially mate with the tapering within the bore, and the screw defining a threaded bore extending from the tapered end at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the screw; and a retaining screw having a head portion and a threaded portion, the threaded portion configured to extend through the second bore and mate with a threaded bore of the screw when the screw is mounted within the shaft.

Abstract: A motor rotor-blank assembly for a motor is provided. The rotor-blank assembly includes a rotor including a plurality of rotor anti-rotation features; and a blank having a hollow core and including a plurality of blank anti-rotation features corresponding to the rotor anti-rotation features, wherein the rotor anti-rotation features and the blank anti-rotation features work in conjunction to maintain the blank fixed within the rotor during rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A modular bearing segment is disclosed. The modular bearing segment having a first end and a second end and can include a retainer defining at least one bearing track having an open load bearing portion; a plurality of bearings positioned within the at least one bearing track; a bearing plate in load bearing communication with less than all of the plurality of bearings and positioned opposite the retainer; and a lid positioned on the bearing plate, fixed to the retainer and defining a rocker element retaining hole positioned above the bearing plate.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a rolling element retainer structure and an outer housing sleeve enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of said rolling element retainer structure. A bearing block effective to enclose substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the outer housing sleeve, the bearing block including a first bearing block segment effective to enclose a first part of the outer housing sleeve; and a second bearing block segment effective to enclose a second part of the outer housing sleeve, wherein the first bearing block segment and the second bearing block segment include first elements and second elements effective to interlock with each other when the bearing block encloses the outer housing sleeve.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein. The ball tracks including an open load-bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. At least one load bearing plate is axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load-bearing portion of the ball tracks. Various outer housing sleeves are disclosed including a structure split axially and a monolithic structure.

Abstract: A linear motion screw assembly is provided herein which comprises (a) at least a first end support, (b) a screw shaft rotatably mounted to the first end support and defining a longitudinal direction, (c) a linear guide means mounted to the first end support and oriented parallel to the screw shaft, (d) a follower assembly mounted to the screw shaft and, associated therewith, an anti-rotation means in translatable contact with the guide means and movable in a longitudinal direction along the guide means, and (e) a cartridge non-rotatably mounted within said follower assembly, said cartridge including a guide nut having an axial bore through which the screw shaft is rotatably disposed.

Abstract: A taper lock apparatus, including a screw defining a longitudinal axis and having a tapered end at one end thereof, the tapered end including a threaded bore extending partially along the longitudinal axis; a compression fitting having expansions, the fitting defining an internal space having an internal taper, the internal space configured to mate at least partially with the tapered end of the screw; and a retaining screw configured to mate with the threaded bore, wherein tightening of the retaining screw into the bore engages the taper end of the screw with the internal taper of the fitting forcing the expansions radially outward.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing system comprising a rolling element retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial rolling element tracks formed therein. The rolling element tracks including an open load-bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing rolling elements are disposed in the rolling element tracks. A plurality of load bearing outer races are axially positioned adjacent the rolling element retainer structure for receiving load from the rolling elements disposed in the load-bearing portion of the rolling element tracks. An outer housing sleeve is effective to hold the rolling element retainer structure. A rail is effective to mate with the rolling element retainer structure, the rail including at least one recess sized and shaped so as to be mateable with at least one of the bearing rolling elements.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly includes (a) first and second interlocking bearing blocks, each having an inner wall which together define an axial space; and (b) a load bearing assembly disposed within the axial space of the interlocking bearing blocks, said load bearing assembly including first and second joinable sleeves, and at least one first load bearing structure disposed within the joined sleeves which includes an inner surface with ball bearings, and at least one second load bearing structure disposed within the joined sleeves which includes an inner low friction surface for facilitating sliding contact with a shaft, but including no ball bearings, the inner surfaces of said first and second load bearing structures together defining an axial channel through which the shaft is disposed and linearly and/or rotatably movable therein.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a load bearing plate structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, each of said plurality of open axial ball tracks comprised of at least two concentric ball tracks. The ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. At lease one load bearing plate is axially positioned adjacent said load bearing plate structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. Various outer housing sleeves are disclosed including a structure split axially and a monolithic structure.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a rolling element retainer structure and an outer housing sleeve enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of said rolling element retainer structure. A bearing block effective to enclose substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the outer housing sleeve, the bearing block including a first bearing block segment effective to enclose a first part of the outer housing sleeve; and a second bearing block segment effective to enclose a second part of the outer housing sleeve, wherein the first bearing block segment and the second bearing block segment include first elements and second elements effective to interlock with each other when the bearing block encloses the outer housing sleeve.

Abstract: A linear actuator (20) including three nested telescoping sections (22, 24, 26) actuated by two internal screw drives (28, 30). First and second screw drive nuts (32, 34) are rotatably mounted in the intermediate telescoping section (24) to linearly translate respective first and second screw shafts (36, 38), which are fixed to respective distal ends (21, 27) of the outer (22) and inner (26) telescoping sections. The drive nuts may be mounted at opposite ends of the intermediate section in a housing (23, 25, 29), and may be driven by a motor (40) therein via an idler shaft (42) that spans between the two drive nuts. The motor may be designed to serve alternately as a regenerative resistance brake (R1). A mechanical brake (43) may alternately or additionally be provided. Either or both brakes may be set to engage by default on power outage.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein. The ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. A plurality of load bearing plates are axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. A first outer housing sleeve is effective to hold the ball retainer structure. The first outer housing sleeve includes a first interlock structure. A second outer housing sleeve is effective to hold the ball retainer structure, the second outer housing sleeve including a second interlock structure. The first interlock structure is effective to mate with the second interlock structure.

Abstract: An anti-rotation device for use in a linear actuator comprises a hollow body permitting passage of a screw therein. At least one pair of legs extends longitudinally away from the hollow body and each leg of the at least one pair includes a first key feature configured for mating or complementary engagement with a second key feature of an housing used to enclose the screw, nut and anti-rotation device. In one embodiment, each leg is configured to extend or flex radially outward relative to an outer diameter of the hollow body. In another embodiment, the second key features of the housing are substantially longitudinally uniform, whereas the first key feature of at least one of the legs includes a longitudinally non-uniform feature. These pre-loading features induce self-centering of the anti-rotation device that reduces or eliminates play between the components and noise while also improving performance of the linear actuator.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein. The ball tracks include an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. A plurality of load bearing plates are axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. A bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprises a plurality of pieces and defines at least two spaces in between the pieces. The bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extends circumferentially around the ball retaining structure. An inner arc of the pieces have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the ball retainer structure.

Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein. The ball tracks including an open load-bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. At lease one load bearing plate is axially positioned adjacent said ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load-bearing portion of the ball tracks. Various outer housing sleeves are disclosed including a structure split axially and a monolithic structure.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes at least one and preferably two ball tracks each having a load-bearing portion, a return portion, and a turn-around portion, and a plurality of bearing balls, wherein the ball track is configured for the guided recirculation of the bearing balls. The bearing assembly includes a housing block with a channel at its distal end for receiving a movable shaft. The channel includes an elongated window aligned with each of the load-bearing portions of the tracks, the window allowing portions of the bearing balls to protrude therethrough to support the shaft. The bearing tracks define planes which can be oriented parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing block, or which together form an angled V-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A miter saw includes a tool adjustment unit having a joint pivotable about an axis, a guide rail spaced from and coupled to the joint so as to pivot about the axis, a saw housing mounted on the guide rail and a linear motion bearing assembly, which is positioned between the guide rail and the saw housing. The guide rail and the linear motion bearing are so shaped and dimensioned that the saw housing and the guide rail rotationally engage one another in a substantially play free manner to displace a saw blade between a plurality of angled positions.