Linear ball bearing for carriage of machine tool

US4729669A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• SKF Linearsysteme GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Lothar Walter · Schweinfurt, DE
• Uwe Mayer · Schweinfurt, DE
• Zoltan Laszlofalvi · Schweinfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 21, 1986
• Grant date: Mar 8, 1988
• Expiry date: Nov 21, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C29/0623
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A linear ball bearing for a carriage in a machine tool has a support with a pair of raceways which oppose a corresponding pair of raceways formed in the carriage. Two endless rows of balls are arranged to circulate in adjacent planes, with the loaded balls rolling between the opposing raceways. One or two rails are fastened to the support for guiding the loaded balls outwardly of the support. The loaded balls of one row mesh in the interstices of the loaded balls of the other row. Each rail has a guiding web for laterally guiding the loaded balls and at least one retaining web for partly encompassing the loaded balls. The longitudinal gaps between the rail and the support have widths less than the ball diameter, thereby blocking the balls from falling out of the support when the bearing is disassembled.