Abstract: A crossover button, in combination with a ball nut and screw assembly, has a generally Z-shaped body with a section received within a radial bore in the nut. The body has an axially diagonal, raceway turn bridging, ball crossover recirculation passage in its radially inner face which separates portions of a pair of adjacent raceway turns into ball path portions and non-ball path portions external to the ball path portions. The passage has entrances for different turns communicating with the ball path portions. Incorporated with the body are a pair of oppositely helically extending, integrated, normally non-load bearing legs, projecting laterally in a direction away from the passage entrances adjacent opposite ends of the passage in generally parallel lateral planes, which are received in the adjacent non-ball path portions of both the complemental nut and screw helicoidal grooves out of the path of the train of load bearing balls to function to prevent free-wheeling in the event of ball train failure.

Abstract: The ball nut and screw assembly includes a ball nut with a radially projecting tang which is received in an aperture in a connector collar for the ball nut. The tang has an axially extending slot which receives a wall portion of the connecting collar. The engagement of the ball nut retainer wall portion or member with the slot locks the ball nut to the connecting collar. If needed, a key can be secured in the aperture to limit axial movement between the tang and the connecting collar. The tang may be manufactured as a separate element having an interlocking slot and projection coupling with the nut.

Abstract: A ball nut and screw system has a ball screw mounting a coaxial ball nut. A ball train is disposed in the helical trackway defined by the helical grooves of the nut and screw. A ball end return assembly is provided for the nut which has separate end walls carrying generally radially extending return tracks which communicate with the trackway and the nut has an external ball return surface in communication with the tracks. Interengaging parts on the end walls partially envelop the nut and interconnect the end walls.

Abstract: A method of making ball screw and nut assemblies, and the products which result, wherein the nut is provided with a deformable wall portion of decreased compressive strength interjacent the ends of the nut. A compressive force is applied to the nut to axially deform the portion of decreased compressive strength while not changing the lead of adjacent lands and grooves in the non-compressed portion of the nut. The axial position of the lands and grooves in the non-compressed portion is thereby axially displaced such as to preload a recirculating train of balls traveling along the non-compressed portion of the nut relative to the lands and grooves of the screw, when the screw, nut, and balls are assembled.

Abstract: A ball nut and screw assembly with a screw having exterior helical ball carrying groove portions separated by land portions and a co-axial nut having complemental, helical interior ball carrying groove portions separated by land portions with the same lead as said screw groove and land portions has, an end attachment for the nut with a reduced diameter sleeve extending axially therefrom. The sleeve has helical exterior thread portions, of the same lead as the nut groove portions, which are of a matching configuration and are threaded into one end of the nut. The sleeve has an interior diameter which receives and passes the screw without interacting with the screw. A recirculating train of load bearing balls is accommodated within nut and screw groove portions which are axially spaced from the sleeve.

Abstract: A ball nut and screw assembly has a backdrive control member that travels with the ball nut and has an internal thread complementary to and engaging the helical ball receiving groove on the screw. The backdrive control member is indexable on the screw relative to the ball nut to adjust the load of a spring that is interposed between the control member and ball nut. The spring acts to urge these components apart and thereby determine the frictional drag of the threaded engagement between the control member and the ball screw. The preload of the spring is set by indexing the control member to effect sufficient drag to prevent axial loads on the nut and screw from causing backdrive translation of the nut. The backdrive control member also removes lash from the ball nut and screw assembly under reversing loads at load magnitudes equal to or less than that produced by the load spring.

Abstract: A ball nut and screw assembly has a conventional helical raceway and balls received therein that react load through the centerline of the assembly and an added helical raceway and balls received therein that react radial load on the ball nut to the relief of the first mentioned raceway and balls.

Abstract: A method of making recirculating ball nut and threaded shaft, and race and splined shaft assemblies comprising, cutting the grooved shaft to desired length, relatively moving the shaft and ball nut or race to cause the nut or race to move over the end of the shaft and axially along it to a location removed from the terminal end of the shaft, selecting a pre-machined shaft end component having an external bearing surface of the required size for the diameter and length of shaft which has been cut, and having a sleeve with internal groove and land portions, coating at least one of the grooved portions of the pre-machined shaft end component and the one end of the shaft with a hardenable adhesive, relatively moving the pre-machined shaft end component and shaft to cause the sleeve to move over the terminal end of the shaft and axially along the shaft to dispose the pre-machined end component on the shaft with its sleeve covering the adhesive, and curing the adhesive to form an integrated axially extending key be

Abstract: A method of making recirculating ball nut and threaded shaft, and race and splined shaft assemblies comprising, cutting the grooved shaft to desired length, relatively moving the shaft and ball nut or race to cause the nut or race to move over the end of the shaft and axially along it to a location removed from the terminal end of the shaft, selecting a pre-machined shaft end component having an external bearing surface of the required size for the diameter and length of shaft which has been cut, and having a sleeve with internal groove and land portions complemental to the groove and land portions of the shaft, coating at least one of the grooved portions of the pre-machined shaft end component and the one end of the shaft with a hardenable adhesive, relatively moving the pre-machined shaft end component and shaft to cause the sleeve to move over the terminal end of the shaft and axially along the shaft to dispose the pre-machined end component on the shaft with its sleeve covering the adhesive, and curing t

Abstract: A multiple circuit, ball nut and screw assembly has a helically externally grooved screw providing a screw ball race and a nut having a complemental internal helical groove providing a nut ball race. The nut has a first internal axial ball return passage leading endwisely outwardly from a location interjacent the ends of the nut ball race and a second internal axial ball return passage leading endwisely outwardly in the opposite direction from this location. Return members at the outer ends of the ball return passage are configured for moving balls to and from the ball races from and to the first and second ball return passages. The nut has a radially extending slot at said location leading from the exterior circumferential surface of the nut through to the nut ball race and a drop-in insert, having a pair of adjacent end return elements is received in the slot.

Abstract: A seal and scraper assembly for a ball screw and nut actuator has a resilient seal ring for reception by the nut which includes a radially internal helical thread mating with the screw groove. The seal ring further has a radially compressible annular lip extending at an angle in an axially outboard direction from the outer periphery of the ring to engage and be radially compressed by the nut. A rigid, annular mount ring also has an internal thread received by the screw groove which has an axially inboard portion interfitting with the seal ring so as to permit relative axial movement of the seal ring and mount ring, while preventing relative rotation of the rings.