Patent ID: 9624972
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: F16C

Claim:
1. A linear bushing having a lengthwise direction and comprising: an elongated shaft extending in the lengthwise direction and having a round shape in transverse section and an outside circular surface defining a first raceway surface; a slider which fits over the shaft for movement relative to the shaft in a lengthwise direction of the shaft; a plurality of rolling elements between said shaft and said slider; and a pair of polygonal end rings; wherein the slider comprises an outer sleeve having opposite ends, polygonal outside and inside surfaces, the inside surface defining a second raceway surface to allow the rolling elements to run through lengthwise of the slider, and a return passage extending in parallel with the second raceway surface, the slider further comprising a retainer fitted into the outer sleeve, the retainer having a length between opposite ends extending out of opposite ends of the outer sleeve, and the retainer having a polygonal outside surface conforming to the inside surface of the outer sleeve, the polygonal outside surface of the retainer having a plurality of circulating grooves forming a circuit to allow the rolling elements to move in a circulating manner, and the rolling elements are balls rolling through the circulating grooves in the retainer; wherein each of the end rings fits over a respective end of the retainer to abut against the ends of the outer sleeve so that the end rings cover the respective ends of the retainer; wherein each of the circulating grooves in the retainer is composed of: a raceway groove having a slit extending lengthwise to allow the rolling elements to make rolling contact with the first raceway surface of the shaft; a return groove extending in parallel with the raceway groove; and a pair of turnaround grooves, each turnaround groove communicating the raceway groove with the return groove at a respective end of the retainer; wherein the polygonal outside surface of the retainer has an outside groove extending lengthwise along the length of the retainer and further has first projections extending radially outwardly from the outside groove at opposite ends of the outside groove; wherein each of the end rings has an inside circular surface having a plurality of inside circular grooves, each with an arched surface, extending in the lengthwise direction of the bushing, and second projections lying at midpoints of the circular grooves and extending inwards from the inside circular grooves; and wherein after the outer sleeve is fitted into the retainer to keep the outer sleeve in place relative to the retainer, the end rings are kept circumferentially in position against the retainer while the retainer is kept against movement in the lengthwise direction against the outer sleeve, the end rings are positioned circumferentially against the retainer and the retainer is positioned in the lengthwise direction against the outer sleeve.