Continuous bearing

Abstract

A outer bail gimbal bearing having a closed loop filled with circulating ls is disclosed. The balls circulate about an axis parallel to the bail's axis of rotation. A shallow region within the loop allows the balls to emerge from the loop and engage a race made in the outer edge of the outer bail.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A recirculating bearing apparatus comprising: a first arcuate ball race;   a second arcuate ball race segmentally opposite of said first ball race, of the same radius as, and rotatably concentric to, said first ball race, having a shallow region located between the ends of said second ball race;   a first plurality of balls disposed in load-bearing engagement between said first ball race and said shallow region of said second ball race;   a second plurality of balls;   a ball return connected to said second ball race such that said ball return and said second ball race meet to define a closed loop, so that said first and second pluralities of balls are received within said closed loop so as to circulate around said closed loop;   a transition plate enclosing said ball return and said second ball race, said transition plate having a slot over said shallow region of said second ball race so that said first plurality of balls protrude through said transition plate slot and thereby engage engage said first ball race.   
     
     
       2. A recirculating bearing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ball return is made of lubricant impregnated material. 
     
     
       3. A recirculating bearing apparatus for supporting a bail of a gimbal sensor platform comprising: a first arcuate ball race adapted to be connected with said bail of said gimbal platform;   a second arcuate ball race segmentally opposite of said first ball race, of the same radius as, and rotatably concentric to, said first ball race, having a shallow region located between the ends of said second ball race;   a first plurality of balls disposed in load-bearing engagement between said first ball race and said shallow region of said second ball race;   a second plurality of balls;   a ball return connected to said second ball race such that said ball return and said second ball race meet to define a closed loop, so that said first and second pluralities of balls are received within said closed loop so as to circulate around said closed loop; a transition plate enclosing said ball return and said second ball race, said transition plate having a slot over said shallow region of said second ball race so that said first plurality of balls protrude through said transition plate slot and thereby engage said first ball race;   means for securing said second ball race, ball return and transition plate together;   means for mounting said second ball race, ball return and transition plate on said platform in an operative position relative to said first ball race.   
     
     
       4. A recirculating bearing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said ball return is made of lubricant impregnated material.