Abstract: This linear bearing comprises travel circuits for balls (3) which are held by needles (2). Each circuit is formed of passages constituting the longitudinal portions of the circuit and developed in two adjacent modules, these passages being connected at their ends by curved portions. The adjacent modules have resting faces which make it possible to arrange them side by side. A protruding part (23) is introduced into a longitudinal window (6) dimensioned to receive also a needle (2) which is arranged in the cutouts (44 and 45). On the one hand, the needle maintains the balls in their travel circuit and, on the other hand, it holds the modules together.The modules are obtained by injection in a mold having a single slide operating in a single direction while the balls and needles are parts of known type.

Abstract: A linear bearing for continuous longitudinal movement in which friction due to changes in the direction of rotation of the rollers is eliminated or substantially reduced. The linear bearing comprises a housing which defines at least one closed roller orbit having an inner surface and an outer surface for accommodating a plurality of rollers. Each roller orbit also comprises a load zone and a return travel zone, which are interconnected at both ends by reversal regions. The load zone is partly defined by a raceway located in the housing adjacent to the load zone for applying a load to the rollers, the raceway forming part of the outer surface of each roller orbit. Respective section planes of the rollers in the load zone and the rollers in the return travel zone intersect along an axis which extends parallel to the load zone, and advantageously define an angle of about 15.degree. to 60.degree., or more preferably about 40.degree. to 50.degree..

Abstract: A ball bushing for mounting on a shaft is disclosed which is freely movable relative to the shaft in both axial directions as well as in one direction of rotation and which is sluggishly movable in the second direction of rotation, but without locking. The ball bushing includes a sleeve made of a deformable material. Closed channels are defined in the sleeve, each having two axially extending portions connected at both ends by curved portions. One axially extending portion contains a row of load-bearing balls, adjacent to which is a steel needle. The steel needle is positioned so that the center point of each of the load-bearing balls is positioned to one side of the line through the axes of the shaft and the needle, that side being toward the second axially extending portion of the same closed channel. Therefore, the lines connecting the axes of the shaft and needle to the center point of each of the load-bearing balls form an angle, the angle being preferably between 174.degree. and 178.degree..

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a ball bushing which is adapted for unlimited longitudinal movement on a shaft. The ball bushing includes a sleeve having a plurality of longitudinally extending ball channels defined in it. Each ball channel has two longitudinally extending sections which are joined by two curved sections at the end of the longitudinal sections. A needle is positioned in and extends the length of each channel and the longitudinal sections of the ball channel are shaped and positioned so that the needle contacts and guides and prevents falling out of the balls in each longitudinal section. The curved sections of the ball channel wrap part way around the needle.

Abstract: A guide element for translational and rotational movements of a shaft comprises an external sleeve 1 and a casing 2 containing closed circulation circuits 4 in which ball-bearings 6 and 7 move. The sleeve 1 has a continuous bore 3 on its circumference which ensures contact of the loaded ball-bearings between the shaft 8 and sleeve 1, and the radial return passage of these ball bearings during recycling, the closed circuits 4 being in two separate categories, the first category containing ball-bearings 6 smaller than the ball-bearings 7 of the second category, and means are provided to hold the casing 2 longitudinally with respect to the sleeve 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a guide element for unrestricted linear movement and/or rotary movement, involving ball-bearing contact on a shaft. The guide element comprises an external sleeve (1), ball-bearings (2) being arranged in circulation circuits (3) made in a tubular housing (4), the sleeve (1) having in its bore working sections (5) ensuring alternating contact between the ball-bearings (2) and shaft (7), and shallow disengagement sections (6) permitting recycling of the ball-bearings. The housing (4) is provided with at least six closed ball-bearing circulation circuits (3) arranged uniformly in equidistant pairs (13), the number of these pairs (13) of closed circuits (3) being half the number of the sections (5), and the two adjacent rectilinear sections of the two circuits of a pair (13) form an angle at the center smaller than and at most equal to the angle at the center of a section (5).