Ball guide

US5156462A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Werner Jacob · Frankfurt, DE
• Helmut Basener · Aalen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 6, 1991
• Grant date: Oct 20, 1992
• Expiry date: Aug 6, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C43/08
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A ball guide (1) has a cage (6)which is produced by coiling a strip (8). The strip (8) is pre-manufactured and includes apertures (9) to retain balls (7), for the guidance of exterior component (2) and shaft (4) relative to each other. The side edges (15) and (16) of the strip (8) are discontinuously joined with each other by spot welds. The cage (6) can additionally be equipped with a backup ring (17). The backup ring (17) is supported by the face area (18) of the cage (6). The backup ring support surface (21) serves as a contact surface for a compression spring (19). The other end of the spring is supported by the support surface (20) of a shoulder ring (22) to return the cage (6) to a center or home position. Through the use of a strip (8), the cages (6) may be produced in different diameters and lengths through a simple process.