Cage Configuration Patents (Class 384/51)
  • Patent number: 5993064
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball connector in which a number of balls are arranged in one row and held rollably and which is used by being integrated, for example, into a linear guide device for endless sliding and a ball endless track of a ball screw device, particularly to a ball connector capable of being used by freely flexing or twisting the ball connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Teramachi, Kaichi Suga
  • Patent number: 5988883
    Abstract: An endless retainer of a guide device including a number of rolling bodies arranged at predetermined intervals for rolling at an inside of an infinite track formed in the guide device, a flexible resin connector having interposing portions interposed among the respective rolling bodies and connecting portions for connecting the respective interposing portions for holding the number of rolling bodies in an aligned state and rotatably, and the resin connector is molded by an injection molding with the rolling bodies as cores by using a resin having a dimension change rate before and after an oil absorbing or a water absorbing treatment larger than a mold shrinkage rate and is provided with clearances between the resin connector and the rolling bodies formed by the oil absorbing or the water absorbing treatment whereby handling thereof is facilitated without detaching the rolling bodies, automation of integrating the endless retainer to the guide device can be carried out and extremely smooth rotatability can be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takamatu, Hiroaki Mochizuki, Tomozumi Murata, Mitsuaki Honma
  • Patent number: 5951168
    Abstract: At least a ball escape hole (10) of a ball circulation passage (7) is formed of a molded body (12) and the molded body (12) is formed integrally with a block body (13) having high rigidity through an insert molding process, thereby eliminating a drilling working, possibly reducing assembling processes and reducing generation of noise.It is preferred that the molded body (12) is provided with an inner peripheral portion of a direction changing passage (11) integrally connected with the ball escape hole (10) and joined with both end surfaces of the block body (13).Furthermore, it is preferred that the molded body (12) is provided with a retainer (17) extending along a loaded ball passage (8) and integrally connected, at its both ends, with the inner peripheral portion of the direction changing passage (11), thereby providing a closed sectional shape surrounded by the ball escape hole portion (10), the direction changing portion (11) and the retainer portion (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Teramachi, Takeki Shirai
  • Patent number: 5927858
    Abstract: In this linear motion rolling guide unit, separators of different thicknesses are interposed between adjacent rolling elements so that the rolling elements are arranged in an unequally spaced manner, whereby the vibrations and noises, which are ascribed to regular rolling of the rolling elements, are minimized, the early wear in a casing and end caps being thereby prevented. The rolling elements roll in rolling element circulating passages comprising raceways formed between raceway surfaces of a track rail and the casing, direction changing passages formed in the end caps, and return passages formed in the casing. Among the rolling elements, separators 30 formed to unequal thickness are provided. When an excessively large load is imparted to the rolling elements, impressions occurs at irregular intervals in the raceway surfaces, so that the rolling elements do not simultaneously fit in the irregularly spaced impressions while the slider is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Agari
  • Patent number: 5893647
    Abstract: This invention provides a bearing retainer for a sliding mechanism for use in a machine tool, especially a press. The bearing retainer has a tubular or generally cylindrical retainer body. The retainer body has a plurality of supporting holes to support rollers. Tongue-like portions are formed at the edge portions of each supporting hole for preventing a roller from falling out of the supporting hole. Cavities are provided between the adjacent supporting holes. Each cavity permits the edge portion including the tongue-like portion to deform elastically in the direction that the aperture of each supporting hole will be enlarged on the outer side surface of the retainer body. Thus, when the outer mold has moved away from the inner mold during the injection molding process of the retainer the retainer can be obtained from a mold set without cracking or breaking the tongue-like portion of the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Isel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 5863132
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for bearing a load along a force vector includes at least two roller elements in rolling contact with one another and arranged along the force vector such that the load is borne through the roller elements. The roller elements are retained within a retainer such that they remain aligned along the force vector while subjected to loads. The retainer used to house the roller elements may be designed to abut the roller elements at minimum points of contact, or alternatively to distribute the load borne by one or both of the roller elements across a greater surface area. One application of the preferred thrust bearings is in an apparatus such as a keyboard support for reducing repetitive stress injuries. A main disk is rotatably coupled to a base and supports a support member on a plurality of the thrust bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Idea Development, Engineering and Service, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Smith, Robert J. Crosson
  • Patent number: 5711611
    Abstract: A guide mechanism has a linear guide rail, a guide block displaceable along the linear guide rail, and a roller carrier plate interposed between the linear guide rail and the guide block and having an array of rollers held in line-to-line rolling contact with a side surface of the linear guide rail. The rollers roll in line-to-line rolling contact with the side surface of the linear guide rail, thus reducing resistance to the movement of the guide block along the guide rail and minimizing wear on the rollingly contacting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Masahiko Someya, Hiroyuki Shiomi
  • Patent number: 5707153
    Abstract: A bearing unit for linearly moving selector shafts in a toothed-wheel gearbox with rows of beating balls in a cage rolling on the one hand on an inner surface of a sleeve permanently fitted to the gearbox housing and on the other hand on the gear change shaft. The sleeve has a flange at one end by which the sleeve can be secured to a gearbox housing in such a way that it extends freely into the gearbox housing over its entire length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Steinberger, Manfred Winkler
  • Patent number: 5553946
    Abstract: A cage that contributes to smooth operation of a rolling guide unit and said rolling guide unit itself are provided. Projections are formed continuously between each of a plurality of openings, arranged in a row for insertion of rolling elements, that prevent rolling elements from coming out of those openings, thereby increasing the rigidity of the cage to prevent warping. The openings are provided with different sized diameters on opposite sides of the cage. On a given side, larger and smaller diameters alternate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Agari
  • Patent number: 5549391
    Abstract: The linear bearing consists of two identical rails (2, 3), each with two V-shaped grooves (10), in each of which a row of rolls (4) rolls off. The rolls (4) are contained in a ribbon-shaped flat cage (5) and are held there positively and captively. A high load capacity, economical manufacture, and a longer lifetime are achieved thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Hydrel AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Engbersen, Heinz Greiner, Peter Schorscher
  • Patent number: 5489253
    Abstract: The inner surface of an outer cylinder is made an outer cylinder raceway having a simple circular sectional configuration having a radius of curvature. On the outer circumference of an inner cylinder, a plurality of grooves having the radius of curvatures dimensioned equally to the aforesaid radius of curvature are arranged extendedly at the same pitch. The outer circumference of barrel shaped rollers inserted between the grooves and the inner surface of the outer cylinder is dimensioned equally to the aforesaid radius of curvature. The barrel shaped rollers and the inner and outer raceways constitute linear contacts, thus enhancing the ability of the load resistance to make it possible to prevent the peeling off, cracking, and other damages from taking place by the heavy load to be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Ito, Takamasa Ohira, Kiyoshi Miki
  • Patent number: 5466069
    Abstract: An elongated retainer for use in a linear motion guide unit is provided. The retainer has a generally U-shaped cross sectional shape and formed with a recessed portion at each end thereof. The recessed portion is engageable with a corresponding stopper provided at each end of the guide unit so that the effective stroke of the retainer is increased by a sum of the depths of these two recessed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Agari
  • Patent number: 5427454
    Abstract: The linear roller bearing comprises: a pair of ways with their raceway grooves facing each other; a cage disposed between the ways; cylindrical rollers held in the cage between the ways; a rack installed in a cutter escape groove formed in each raceway groove of the way; and a pinion in mesh with the rack and supported in the cage. The meshing between the rack and pinion of the linear roller bearing eliminates the possibility of the cage coming off the ways, thus allowing the ways to be controlled to move reliably and smoothly relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 5322370
    Abstract: Linear sliding guides with rolling elements for translating couplings or the like, which include by a pair of contoured elements suitable for being fitted one with the other wherein rolling elements are interposed between the contoured elements, and wherein both of the contoured elements are provided with seats for at least partially housing the rolling elements. The rolling elements are retained by an intermediate cage element. Inside the seats the contoured elements have at least one mutually opposite face treated by high-thickness hard anodizing. The rolling elements are made of a plastic material and the contoured elements are manufactured from an extruded light alloy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: T.M.T. Transmissioni Meccaniche Torino S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fiorenzo Gallone
  • Patent number: 5251984
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit includes a pair of guide members each formed with a guide groove and provided to be relatively movable parallel with a longitudinal axis of the unit. A plurality of rolling members are provided in rolling contact with the guide grooves of the guide members. A retainer assembly, including a retainer plate formed with a plurality of windows and at least one grooved wheel mounted at one end of the retainer plate, is disposed in a space defined between the guide grooves. A wire is passed around the grooved wheel and fixedly attached to the guide members. The total length of the retainer assembly is shorter than either of the guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Mottate
  • Patent number: 5181781
    Abstract: A ball cage for a telescopic rail, comprising a plastic cage buffer mounted in a recess in the body of the ball cage. The cage buffer (4, 5) consists of a stop member (5) in abutment with the rear edge (6) of the recess (8) and a buffer member (4) of a different material comprising at least one spring chamber (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Thomas Regout N.V.
    Inventor: Hendricus T. Wojcik
  • Patent number: 5180230
    Abstract: A linear bearing assembly comprising sets of guides (ways) for guiding rolling elements (ball bearings or rollers) constrained within a cage. Typically, two sets of rolling elements and cages are used between a moving part and a stationary part. Each set has four resilient elements (springs) with one end of each spring anchored to the cage and with the other ends of two springs anchored to the stationary way or part and the other ends of the other two springs are anchored to the movable way or part. This arrangement provides a restoring spring force that gradually forces the cage to its correct tracking position. If the cage is tracking properly, the spring forces cancel out and there is no inherent rubbing in the restoring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: ETEC Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. McCarthy, deceased, Manuel Pastor
  • Patent number: 5022768
    Abstract: A moulded roller bearing cage assembly for use for drawers and cabinets replaces standard metallic bearing cages and balls. The bearing cage, its rollers detachably fixed within the apertures, is loaded between the flanges of the channels on the standard two or three part drawer slide. The rollers before and during assembly are fixed at their ends integrally with the cage to allow for easy installation. Once the rollers come in contact with the raceways of the installation the detachable links are broken allowing the rollers to be free to rotate. The rollers and cages can be moulded in any configuration to allow for different channel and raceway shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Waterloo Metal Stampings Ltd.
    Inventor: Alan R. Baxter
  • Patent number: 5018879
    Abstract: A cage made of polymeric material for a rolling bearing for longitudinal movements comprising two longish, parallel cage plates disposed at a distance from each other and containing pockets arranged crosswise to their longitudinal extension for the reception of cylindrical rolling elements, the cage plates being joined to each other by at least one first crossbar made in one piece with the cage plates, and extending over a part of the length of the cage plates the thickness of the crossbar being less than the thickness of the cage plates and the crossbar acts as a so-called film hinge to permit the cage plates to be brought into different inclined positions relative to each other, characterized in that at least one other crossbar is arranged along another partial length of the cage plates and has a roof-like, curved or similar shape so that its neutral axis between the two cage plates is longer than the neutral axis of the first-mentioned crossbar, and the cage has a stable shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Rabe
  • Patent number: 4961651
    Abstract: A cage for rolling bearings consisting of individual cage elements provided with rolling element pockets whereby the individual cage elements, at their ends in the region of at least one rolling element pocket have a reduced constructional height where they are placed on one another to overlap in the axial direction and are joined together in this region, characterized by the fact that in the region of the reduced constructional height, cut-outs and lugs are provided which engage with one another in a form fit when these regions are placed on one another and made to overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Rabe
  • Patent number: 4776707
    Abstract: In a linear rolling bearing element, especially for tripod joints, the cage is formed of a relatively thick sheet metal and limit projections for a linearly movable support are formed by stamping out of the material of the cage. The rollers are likewise held in the cage by projections formed out of the cage. This results in a stable cage which can take the high forces from the engagement of the support. The outer roller may be close to the limit projection, in order to assure a good support of the roller in the extreme position of the tripod joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Olschewski, Berthold Beyfuss, Hermann Hetterich, Klaus Muschiol, Ingo Laufer, Peter Horling
  • Patent number: 4720197
    Abstract: A ball sleeve for guiding axially displaceable parts includes bearing cage (3) that is formed integrally with coil springs (4), (4) which extend from both axial sides of cage (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventors: Gunter Scharting, Bernhard Breuer
  • Patent number: 4701059
    Abstract: There is a holding device of a rolling bearing for rectilinear motion in which a plurality of rolling members such as balls or rollers are rectilinearly arranged at regular intervals in track grooves or track surfaces. This holding device has a rectangular plate-like shape made of a plastic material. Many windows are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the holding device. Each window is formed so as to have the relation of S<L<D<E (where, S and L are outside diameters on both sides of the window and E is an inside diameter thereof and D is a diameter of each ball). The outside diameter of the adjacent windows in the same side surface of the holding device differ. This holding device is manufactured by injecting and molding a plastic material into the rectangular molding die at high pressure and high temperature. In this case, many barrel-shaped window pins are disposed in the cavity of the die at regular intervals in its longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Yokota
  • Patent number: 4699522
    Abstract: A telescopic shaft useful, for example, on an automobile steering assembly includes an external sleeve and an internal bolt within the sleeve and axially extending rows of rolling elements in respective axially extending raceways for defining the axial bearing between the bolt and the sleeve. The disclosure concerns a cage for the bearing which is comprised of resilient wire and includes a pair of yokes at the axially opposite ends of the rows of rollers, and the yokes are held together by lengths of wire at their circumferential ends. The yokes are of a circumferential length so as to cover the axial ends of the rows of rollers, whereby the yokes generally extend over more than 180.degree.. One cage yoke includes radially directed extensions which extend into a borehole in the bolt or the sleeve. The one yoke is interrupted intermediate its arcuate length and the extensions are defined at the interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: SRO Kugellagerwerke J. Schmid-Roost AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Engel, Jaroslav Vopat
  • Patent number: 4598957
    Abstract: A linear roller bearing assembly having a base plate formed with a plurality of pockets, in each of which is located a separate holder for a roller or ball. The holder is removably inserted into the pocket and a clearance between the holder and the pocket is provided allowing the holder to freely move so as not to bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: NSK Torrington Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyomi Shibayama
  • Patent number: RE34981
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit includes a pair of guide members each formed with a guide groove and provided to be relatively movable parallel with a longitudinal axis of the unit. A plurality of rolling members are provided in rolling contact with the guide grooves of the guide members. A retainer assembly, including a retainer plate formed with a plurality of windows and at least one grooved wheel mounted at one end of the retainer plate, is disposed in a space defined between the guide grooves. A wire is passed around the grooved wheel and fixedly attached to the guide members. The total length of the retainer assembly is shorter than either of the guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Mottate