Importance

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Abstract

A linear motion ball bearing is disclosed for providing relative linear motion in combination with a shaft. A housing has an axially elongated opening therethrough and an axially elongated generally tubular shaped ball retainer is positioned within the housing opening and defines a plurality of endless ball loops therein extending generally in the axial direction of the retainer. The retainer has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface and the ball loops are spaced generally circumferentially about the retainer. Each loop contains a plurality of balls and has a first ball duct for a row of loaded balls and a second ball duct for a row of unloaded balls. Each first ball duct is open through the radially inner and radially outer surfaces of the cage, and each ball loop is arranged with the first ball duct next adjacent the first ball duct in the adjacent ball loop along one axially extending side and the second ball duct therein adjacent the second ball duct in the next adjacent ball loop along the other axially extending side. The housing defines a land opposite each pair of adjacent first ball ducts and extending radially inward, each land extending sufficiently radially inward and being of sufficient circumferential dimension to support the loaded balls of adjacent pairs of the first ball ducts and having a contoured relatively smooth surface for accommodating the loaded balls positioned within the corresponding opposed pair of respective first ball ducts of respectively adjacent ball loops. A uniquely shaped complex ball support surface connects each pair of ball ducts while maintaining constant floor to ceiling height about the balls to provide smooth, quiet operation of the bearing so as to combine with the uniform loaded ball arrangement to provide a unique bearing having improved load life performance and substantially quiet characteristics, while simplifying the manufacturing procedures.

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First Claim