Abstract: A linear motion ball bearing assembly and shaft having ball conforming portions are combined to support heavier-than-normal loads and provide torque resistance. The bearing shaft is provided with one or more ball conforming grooves. The bearing assembly is provided with one or more load-bearing surfaces, each of which also includes a ball conforming groove, which may move circumferentially a very slight amount for tolerance variations in the angular spacing and parallelism of the shaft grooves, thereby assuring perfect ball conformity and line contact on the load-bearing surface of both the shaft and bearing assembly. Alternative configurations and methods of forming the ball conforming grooves on the shaft are also disclosed.

Abstract: At least two linear motion bearings are mounted coaxially within a housing for relative movement with respect to a shaft located in the bore of the bearings. Preferably, the bearings are of the recirculating ball type and may be self-aligning or non-self-aligning. Seals are provided to cooperate with the bearings and housing to form an enlarged lubricant reservoir between the bearings when externally lubricated bearings are utilized, and means are provided for preloading the bearings.