Abstract: A ballscrew and ball nut assembly with complimentary threads providing a ball raceway having a ball re-circulation path within the screwshaft of the ballscrew provided on the peripheral surface of a screwshaft insert and including end passages which communicate with the raceway and a non-helical mid-passage connecting said end passages.

Abstract: A self-lubricating ballscrew has a screwshaft and a ballnut surrounding the screwshaft and provided with a re-circulating path for a plurality of balls which roll between the ballnut and the screwshaft when the ballscrew is in use. Lubrication means are in contact with the helical groove of the screwshaft to provide lubrication therefor. The self-lubricating means comprises a lubricant impregnated solid having an elongate portion which follows the path of and is received in the helical groove of the screwshaft. The cross-section of that portion is different from that of the said groove, so that the contact region between the said portion and the said groove coincides with the lines of contact between the balls and the screwshaft. The deposit of lubricant is thereby concentrated on those lines.

Abstract: A ball nut and screw system provides a helical raceway for load bearing balls disposed to occupy portions of the turns of the helical groove in the nut. The nut has a passage extending generally radially from its exterior surface to its interior to permit the balls to be fed into a ball-occupied portion of the turns. A snap-in crossover button inserted into the nut passage has an axially diagonal ball return channel in its underface for channeling the balls from one portion of one of the adjacent turns over an intervening land surface on the screw to a portion of another turn to recirculate them. The nut passage and snap-in button comprise a laterally compressible system with passage recesses and snap-in button projections received in the recesses which is operable automatically upon insertion of the button to a predetermined position to locate the button radially in a position in which the crossover channel aligns helically with the turns.

Abstract: A ball screw and nut linear actuator has a motor and a ball nut and screw assembly in side by side disposition. Gearing connects with the motor shaft to drive the screw and a housing for the gearing and ball nut and screw assembly includes an elongate housing tube within which the screw assembly is housed. The nut incorporates an extension sleeve assembly for extending movement out of the housing tube which anchors the screw against axial movement while jounaling it for rotation. A pin and axial track connection between the extension sleeve assembly and the housing tube guides the extension sleeve assembly in axial movement and prevents relative rotation of the housing tube and sleeve assembly.

Abstract: A ball screw and nut actuator assembly comprising an elongate ball screw supported for rotation while restrained from moving axially; a ball nut formed to provide a ball raceway with said screw incorporating load bearing balls therein; partible, normally closed jaw members with opposed curvilinear surfaces for virtually encircling and supporting the screw land interjacent the ends of the ball screw, the jaw members having projecting support legs; a mount system swingably mounting said legs for movement in opposed directions from a first position in which the curvilinear surfaces embrace the land to a removed second spread apart position; and spreaders on each end of the ball nut in position to interact with and spread the jaw members upon axial engagement therewith to permit axial passage of the nut past the jaw members. The methods of constructing and operating the assembly are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A linear ball screw actuator assembly and a method of constructing it. The actuator assembly has a housing for a ball screw and ball nut which together define a raceway between them for a recirculating ball bearing train of balls, one of the screw and nut being reciprocable along a z axis responsive to rotation of the other and being adapted to be coupled to a member to be actuated. The housing has gearing for transmitting rotation to the other of the ball and screw nut in a direction lateral to the z axis. A base for the housing is spaced from the housing and has a base journal journaling the first pin extending along a first pin axis laterally perpendicular to the z axis. The housing has a housing journal journaling a second pin extending crosswisely perpendicular to the first pin. The second pin axis intersects the z axis and x axis. The pins are coupled in a manner to permit relative rotation of the base and housing about either pin axis, or both, to obviate misalignment problems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus wherein a travel limit/dampening device is coupled to the end of a screw of a linear ball screw actuator device for limiting the travel of an actuator extension coupled to a nut supported for linear driven displacement in either direction along the screw. The travel limit/dampening device includes a gas shock supported within a double acting reaction device reactive axially between the nut and screw when the extension is fully retracted and extended, respectively, to collapse the shock absorber and thereby dampen the movement of the extension at each end of its stroke.