Linear rolling bearing

Abstract

In a linear rolling bearing comprising a guide rail ( 1 ) and a guide carriage ( 2 ) that partially surrounds the guide rail ( 1 ) and is supported for sliding through rolling elements ( 3 ) on two long sides of the guide rail ( 1 ), the rolling elements ( 3 ) being arranged on each of the two long sides in at least two parallel, endlessly re-circulating rows ( 4, 5 ) of rolling elements ( 3 ) while a spacer ( 6 ) is inserted between every two successive rolling elements ( 3 ) of a row ( 4, 5 ), on each long side of the guide rail ( 1 ), a common spacer ( 7 ) for both rows ( 4, 5 ) is inserted between every two adjacent rolling elements ( 3 ) of the one row ( 4 ) and between every two adjacent rolling elements ( 3 ) of the other row ( 5 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A linear rolling bearing comprising a guide rail and a guide carriage that partially surrounds the guide rail and is supported by rolling elements for sliding on two long sides of the guide rail, the rolling elements being arranged on each of the two long sides in at least two parallel, endlessly re-circulating rows of rolling elements while a spacer is inserted between every two successive rolling elements of a row, wherein, on each long side of the guide rail, a common spacer for both of said two rows is inserted between every two adjacent rolling elements of a first of said two rows and between every two adjacent rolling elements of a second of said two rows.  
     
     
         2 . A linear rolling bearing comprising a guide rail and a guide carriage that partially surrounds the guide rail and is supported by rolling elements for sliding on two long sides of the guide rail, the rolling elements being arranged on each of the two long sides in at least two parallel, endlessly re-circulating rows of rolling elements while being guided by spacers that are situated in said two rows between the rolling elements, wherein, on each long side of the guide rail, every two adjacent rolling elements of a first of said two rows and every two adjacent rolling elements of a second of said two rows are guided in a common spacer for both of said two rows.  
     
     
         3 . A linear rolling bearing of  claim 1 , wherein, in a region situated between the two parallel rows of rolling elements, each spacer comprises a V-shaped notch into which a retaining bar fixed on the guide carriage adjacent to each long side of the guide rail engages.  
     
     
         4 . A linear rolling bearing of  claim 2 , wherein, in a region situated between the two parallel rows of rolling elements, each spacer comprises a V-shaped notch into which a retaining bar fixed on the guide carriage adjacent to each long side of the guide rail engages.  
     
     
         5 . A linear rolling bearing of  claim 2 , wherein the rolling elements guided by a spacer are enclosed over a larger portion of a circular periphery by a material of the spacer.  
     
     
         6 . A linear rolling bearing of  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of spacers are manufactured as plastic parts in form of a single composite structure by injection molding, a common, thin connecting web that can be easily torn off being formed on every two successive spacers.  
     
     
         7 . A linear rolling bearing of  claim 2 , wherein, in a region of rolling element osculation, at least one spacer comprises pockets that can be used as lubricant reservoirs.  
     
     
         8 . A linear rolling bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are made of a porous material that stores and continuously releases lubricant.  
     
     
         9 . A linear rolling bearing of  claim 2 , wherein the spacers are made of a porous material that stores and continuously releases lubricant.