Linear motion bearing with improved outer housing sleeve

Abstract

A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein. The ball tracks including an open load-bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. At lease one load bearing plate is axially positioned adjacent said ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load-bearing portion of the ball tracks. Various outer housing sleeves are disclosed including a structure split axially and a monolithic structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A linear motion bearing assembly comprising:
 a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, the ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions;   a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks;   a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure, the load bearing plates effective to receive a load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks;   a first outer housing sleeve effective to hold the ball retainer structure, the first outer housing sleeve having a shape of a hollow half-cylinder; and   a second outer housing sleeve on top of the first outer housing sleeve and effective to hold the ball retainer structure, the second outer housing sleeve having a shape of a hollow half-cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a strap or a clip extending around the first and second outer housing sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising walls defining a recess disposed circumferentially around the first and second outer housing sleeve, the recess effective to receive the strap or clip. 
     
     
         4 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second outer housing sleeve have the same structure. 
     
     
         5 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second outer housing sleeve are substantially identical. 
     
     
         6 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second outer housing sleeves have walls defining openings; and
 the ball retainer structure includes clips effective to mate with the openings.   
     
     
         7 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second outer housing sleeves have walls defining openings; and
 the ball retainer structure includes clips effective to mate with the openings.   
     
     
         8 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprising a plurality of pieces and defining at least two spaces in between the pieces, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extending circumferentially around the first and second outer housing sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a strap or a clip extending around the first and second outer housing sleeve;   walls defining a recess disposed circumferentially around the first and second outer housing sleeve, the recess effective to receive the strap or clip; and   a bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprising a plurality of pieces and defining at least two spaces in between the pieces, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extending circumferentially around the first and second outer housing sleeve; wherein   the first and second outer housing sleeve have the same structure;   the first and second outer housing sleeves have walls defining openings; and   the ball retainer structure has clips effective to mate with the openings.   
     
     
         10 . A linear motion bearing assembly comprising:
 a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, the ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions;   a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks;   a plurality of load bearing plates axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure, the load bearing plates effective to receive load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks, each load bearing plate including at least a first mating member; and   a monolithic outer housing sleeve effective to hold the ball retainer structure, the outer housing sleeve including a second mating member effective to mate with the first mating member.   
     
     
         11 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first and second mating members each include one of a recess or a protuberance. 
     
     
         12 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprising a plurality of pieces and defining at least two spaces in between the pieces, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extending circumferentially around the outer housing sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least one load bearing plate includes an outer radial surface, an inner radial surface, a pair of side walls in between the radial surfaces and a longitudinal groove formed in each side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first mating member is on the outer radial surface. 
     
     
         15 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of open axial ball tracks is comprised of at least two pair of two nested ball tracks. 
     
     
         16 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprising a plurality of pieces and defining at least two spaces in between the pieces, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extending circumferentially around the outer housing sleeve; and wherein
 the first and second mating members each include one of a recess or a protuberance;   at least one load bearing plate includes an outer radial surface, an inner radial surface, a pair of side walls in between the radial surfaces and a longitudinal groove formed in each side wall; and   the first mating member includes a protuberance or recess on the outer radial surface.   
     
     
         17 . A linear motion bearing assembly comprising:
 a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, the ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions;   a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the ball tracks;   a monolithic load bearing plate axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure, the load bearing plate effective to receive load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks, the load bearing plate including a first mating member; and   a monolithic outer housing sleeve effective to hold the ball retainer structure, the outer housing sleeve including a second mating member effective to mate with the first mating member.   
     
     
         18 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second mating members each include one of a recess or a protuberance. 
     
     
         19 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprising a plurality of pieces and defining at least two spaces in between the pieces, the bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extending circumferentially around the outer housing sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the first and second mating members each include one of a recess or a protuberance.