Device for converting a rotational movement into a rectilinear movement

US6116109A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• INA Wälzlager Schaeffler oHG · DE

Inventor

• Alexander Zernickel · Herzogenaurach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 7, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 12, 2000
• Expiry date: Jun 7, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T74/19786
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for converting a rotational movement into a rectilinear movement includes a threaded spindle, a nut (8) which surrounds the latter concentrically at a spacing, and a number of rolling bodies which are disposed in the spacing and roll on the track-forming outer thread of the threaded spindle as well as on the corresponding track (4) forming inner thread of the nut (8). The rolling bodies are guided by a cage (9) which includes slot-shaped pockets (11) disposed sequentially at spacings in the circumferential direction for receiving the rolling bodies, whereby, during a rotation of the nut (8) relative to the threaded spindle, each rolling body is axially displaceable by the amount of the threaded pitch inside the cage (9). At the conclusion of this rotation inside an axial groove (13) in the nut (8), the rolling body can be returned to its initial position by a cam (15) disposed in the vicinity of an end face of the cage (9). According to the invention, balls (3) are provided as rolling bodies and are respectively disposed in groups in a plurality of cage elements (10), and each cage element (10) is guided for displacement in an axis-parallel manner relative to the threa…