Abstract:
A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a rolling element retainer structure and an outer housing sleeve enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of said rolling element retainer structure. A bearing block effective to enclose substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the outer housing sleeve, the bearing block including a first bearing block segment effective to enclose a first part of the outer housing sleeve; and a second bearing block segment effective to enclose a second part of the outer housing sleeve, wherein the first bearing block segment and the second bearing block segment include first elements and second elements effective to interlock with each other when the bearing block encloses the outer housing sleeve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates to a linear bearing. In a linear motion bearing, a generally cylindrical housing is designed to move relative to a shaft. The housing includes a load bearing plate structure comprising a plurality of rolling element retaining segments. Each rolling element retaining segment includes a plurality of rolling element bearings moveable in a track. The segments are mounted within the housing so that movement of the housing with respect to the shaft is effectuated through engagement of the bearings with the shaft. As the housing moves, the rolling element bearings move in respective tracks. This disclosure describes an improvement on these prior art systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the invention includes a linear motion bearing assembly. The linear motion bearing assembly comprises a rolling element retainer structure, the rolling element retainer structure including a plurality of rolling element retainer segments. Each of the rolling element retainer segments including an inner portion defining at least one rolling element track having an open load bearing portion, an open return portion, and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. The linear motion bear assembly further comprises a plurality of bearing rolling elements disposed in the rolling element tracks, the rolling elements effective to transmit a load from a shaft to load bearing plates and to facilitate a movement of the linear motion bearing assembly along the shaft, and the load bearing plates positioned axially positioned adjacent to each rolling element retainer structure, the load bearing plates effective to receive a load from the rolling elements disposed in the load bearing portion of the rolling element tracks. The linear motion bear assembly further comprises an outer housing sleeve enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the rolling element retainer structure, the outer housing sleeve having an inner surface in direct contact with the load bearing plates, the outer housing sleeve being configured and dimensioned to maintain the load bearing plates in position and effective to receive load from the load bearing plates. The outer housing sleeve including a first sleeve portion including a first number of the rolling element retainer segments; and a second sleeve portion including a second number of the rolling element retainer segments. The first sleeve portion is effective to mate with the second sleeve portion to form the outer housing sleeve. 
     Another embodiment of the invention includes a linear motion bearing assembly. The linear motion bear assembly comprises a shaft and a rolling element retainer structure effective to move along the shaft, the rolling element retainer structure including a plurality of rolling element retainer segments, each of the rolling element retainer segments including an inner portion defining at least one rolling element track having an open load bearing portion, an open return portion, and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. The linear motion bear assembly further comprises a plurality of bearing rolling elements disposed in the rolling element tracks, the rolling elements effective to transmit a load from a shaft to load bearing plates and to facilitate a movement of the linear motion bearing assembly along the shaft, and the load bearing plates positioned axially positioned adjacent to each rolling element retainer structure, the load bearing plates effective to receive a load from the rolling elements disposed in the load bearing portion of the rolling element tracks. The linear motion bear assembly further comprises an outer housing sleeve enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the rolling element retainer structure, the outer housing sleeve having an inner surface in direct contact with the load bearing plates, the outer housing sleeve being configured and dimensioned to maintain the load bearing plates in position and effective to receive load from the load bearing plates. The outer housing sleeve including a first sleeve portion including a first number of the rolling element retainer segments; and a second sleeve portion including a second number of the rolling element retainer segments. The first sleeve portion is effective to mate with the second sleeve portion to form the outer housing sleeve. The linear motion bear assembly further comprises a bearing block effective to enclose substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the outer housing sleeve, the bearing block including a first bearing block segment effective to enclose a first part of the outer housing sleeve; and a second bearing block segment effective to enclose a second part of the outer housing sleeve. The first bearing block segment and the second bearing block segment include first elements and second elements effective to interlock with each other when the bearing block encloses the outer housing sleeve. The first element includes a mortise and the second element includes a tenon. The first bearing block segment includes a tie rod hole, a tie rod, and a nut. The first and second sleeve portions are substantially identical. The first sleeve portion is mated with the second sleeve portion through a protuberance and a hole. The first and second sleeve portions have a first exterior cross-section. The bearing block segments include a second interior cross-section. The first cross-section section is sized and shaped so as to mate with the second cross-section. The first and second cross-sections each define a cylinder. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of assembling a linear motion bearing assembly. The method comprises placing a rolling element retainer structure in an outer housing sleeve, the rolling element retainer structure including a plurality of rolling element retainer segments, each of the rolling element retainer segments including an inner portion defining at least one rolling element track having an open load bearing portion, an open return portion, and turnarounds interconnecting the said load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing rolling elements disposed in the rolling element tracks, the rolling elements effective to transmit a load from a shaft to the load bearing plate and to facilitate a movement of the linear motion bearing assembly along the shaft, the load bearing plates positioned axially positioned adjacent to each rolling element retainer structure, the load bearing plates effective to receive a load from the rolling elements disposed in the load bearing portion of the rolling element tracks. The outer housing sleeve enclosing substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the rolling element retainer structure, the outer housing sleeve having an inner surface in direct contact with the load bearing plates, the outer housing sleeve being configured and dimensioned to maintain the load bearing plates in position and effective to receive load from the load bearing plates. The outer housing sleeve including a first sleeve portion including a first number of the rolling element retainer segments; and a second sleeve portion including a second number of the rolling element retainer segments. The first sleeve portion is effective to mate with the second sleeve portion to form the outer housing sleeve. The method further comprises placing the outer housing sleeve in a bearing block, the bearing block effective to enclose substantially all of an exposed exterior surface of the outer housing sleeve. The bearing block including a first bearing block segment effective to enclose a first part of the outer housing sleeve; and a second bearing block segment effective to enclose a second part of the outer housing sleeve. The first bearing block segment and the second bearing block segment include first elements and second elements effective to interlock with each other when the bearing block encloses the outer housing sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the bearing assembly of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a rolling element retainer segment in accordance with the linear motion bearing assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a rolling element retainer segment in accordance with the linear motion bearing assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in an assembled configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in an assembled configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is an exploded perspective view of a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing assembly and disassembly of a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the figures. Elements of like structures or function are represented with like reference numerals throughout the figures. The figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the invention or as a guide on the scope of the invention. In addition, an aspect described in conjunction with a particular embodiment of the invention is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in conjunction with any other embodiments of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , there is shown a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly  40  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Bearing assembly  40  includes a load bearing plate structure, shown generally at  42 , load bearing plates  44 , bearing rolling elements  46 , outer housing sleeves  48 ,  50  and bearing blocks  1 ,  2 . 
     In  FIG. 1-5  details of the load bearing plate structure  42  are illustrated. Load bearing plate structure  42  comprises four rolling element retainer segments  54 , each operatively associated with adjacent rolling element retainer segments  54  along longitudinal sides thereof to form a polygonally shaped load bearing plate structure  42  having a bore therethrough for receiving a shaft or rail  70 . Each rolling element retainer segment  54  includes an outer radial surface  56  and an inner radial surface  58 . Axial rolling element tracks  60  are formed in the outer radial surface  56  of each rolling element retainer segment  54  and include load bearing portions  62 , return portions  64  and turnarounds  66 . The load bearing and return portions of the rolling element tracks in this embodiment are undercut to facilitate loading and retention of the bearing rolling elements  46  therein. This also eliminates the need for separate retainer structure to keep the bearing rolling elements in the rolling element tracks. A longitudinal bore  68  in the inner radial surface  58  of the rolling element retainer segment  54  extends substantially the length of the load bearing portions  62  and accesses support shaft  70 . Although support shaft  70  is illustrated as a substantially cylindrical shaft, other configurations may also be used. 
     Rolling element retainer segments  54  may be easily molded from an appropriate engineering plastic. By individually forming each of the rolling element retainer segments, the molding process is greatly simplified and thus results in a lower cost to produce. Rolling element bearing segments may be created from an engineering metal. 
     Bearing rolling elements  46  in load bearing tracks  62  extend at least partially into longitudinal bores  68  to contact support shaft  70 . In this embodiment, a pair of axial rolling element tracks  60  is formed in each outer radial surface  56  of the rolling element retainer segment with the corresponding load bearing tracks being oriented in substantially parallel adjacent relation. This orientation facilitates enhanced load capacity and maximizes space utilization for a more compact and efficient bearing rolling element arrangement. Locking structure in the form of locking clips  72  are formed on opposing longitudinal ends of each rolling element retainer segment  54  to facilitate assembly with outer housing sleeves  48 ,  50 . 
     The load bearing plate structure  42  described herein relates to a dual track configuration. Other configurations may be used. For example, a single track load bearing plate structure may be used as is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,346,313 and 5,558,442, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additional examples of other track load bearing plate structures are described in U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/364,525 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. For a further example, a half bearing segment load bearing plate structure may also be used as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,228, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The linear motion bearing assembly in accordance with one embodiment includes a pair of outer housing sleeves  48 ,  50  which, when assembled define a cylinder in cross-section and serve to close and protect the exposed outer radial surfaces  56  of load bearing plate structure  42 . Outer housing sleeves  48 ,  50  may be identical in configuration and are configured such that any one outer housing sleeve can securely mate with any other outer housing sleeve. Each of sleeves  48 ,  50  may be molded from an engineering plastic to facilitate ease of manufacture and assembly. However, the sleeves may be made in differing configurations and/or from engineering metals. 
     The outer radial surface  74  of sleeves  48 ,  50  may be of a smooth cylindrical shape and are configured and dimensioned to fit within bearing blocks  1 ,  2 . The inner radial surface  76  of sleeves  48 ,  50  include mounting surfaces  78  which are configured to receive at least a portion of load bearing plates  44  therein. 
     Mounting surfaces  78  are configured to fit the shape of individual rolling element retainer segments  54 . A plurality of locking bores  82  are formed in respective ends of sleeves  48 ,  50  in alignment with locking clips  72  of rolling element retainer segments  54 . Thus, when the rolling element retainer segments  54  are assembled into the sleeves  48 ,  50 , locking clip  72  extends into respective locking bores  82  and assists in holding linear motion bearing assembly  40  together. 
     A plurality of individual load bearing plates  44  are incorporated into the linear motion bearing assembly  40  and serve to receive load from the bearing rolling elements  46  in contact with shaft  70 . Load bearing plate  44  is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the bearing assembly and includes an outer radial surface  84 , an inner radial surface  86 , and a pair of side wall surfaces  88 . The outer radial surface  84  is substantially arcuate and includes a crown portion  90  disposed on the outer radial surface  84  in a medial position. Crown portion  90  is configured and dimensioned to permit the load bearing plates to rock both circumferentially and longitudinally into and out of parallelism with the axes of the rolling element retainer  42 . 
     The inner radial surface  86  of the load bearing plate of this embodiment may be provided with a pair of axial grooves which serve as the upper surface of load bearing portions  62  of rolling element tracks  60 . By providing a single load bearing plate  44  for each pair of load bearing portions  62  in each outer radial surface  56 , the linear motion bearing assembly  40  is easier to fabricate and assemble. Further, the bearing assembly has a high load bearing capacity. 
     In this embodiment, a longitudinal groove  92  is formed in each side wall surface  88  of load bearing plates  44 . These grooves  92  make up a side wall of the axial rolling element tracks  60  and guide bearing rolling elements  46  as they move through the return portion thereof. 
     Bearing blocks  1 ,  2  are illustrated having an inner radial surface  94  conforming substantially in dimension to the outer radial surface  74  of sleeves  48 ,  50 . Bearing blocks  1 ,  2  have a plurality of mortises  101  and tenons  100  that interlock with each other. That is, a male portion  100  that fits within a female portion  101  to interlock. The configuration of the mortises  101  and tenons  100  can vary, for example, the mortises  101  and tenons  100  can be configured such that each bearing block is identical and can mate with each other bearing block. One such example is shown for linear bearing  200  in  FIG. 6 . Tie rod holes  102  may be bored through each bearing block and can be used to provide additional strength to the bearing blocks  1 ,  2  to prevent the bearing blocks  1 ,  2  from opening. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , bearing blocks  1 ,  2 , sleeves  48 ,  50  and load bearing plate structures  42   a ,  42   b ,  42   c ,  42   d  are aligned along a horizontal axis thus creating  2  identical structures defined along the vertical axis. Thus, bearing block  1 , sleeve  48  and load bearing plate structures  42   c ,  42   d  form one-half  201  of a clam shell linear motion bearing assembly  200 , and bearing block  2 , sleeve  50  and load bearing plate structures  42   a ,  42   b  form another half  202  of clam shell linear motion bearing assembly  200 . Each half  201 ,  202  is identical and is configured to interlock with each other. As shown in  FIG. 6A , sleeve  48  and/or sleeve  50  may include cylindrical protuberances  120  and/or recesses  122  to help facilitate mating of sleeve  48  with sleeve  50 .  FIG. 6A  also shows an example where plain sliding contact  43  may be used. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate other designs for interlocking bearing blocks  1 ,  2 . In  FIG. 7 , tension rods  300  provide secure interlocking. Each tension rod can be inserted through the assembled bearing blocks  1 ,  2 . The tension rods can be threaded and nuts  302  applied to each end to secure the bearing blocks  1 ,  2  in place. In  FIG. 8 , dowel pins  400  are used to interlock bearing blocks  1 ,  2 . Bearing pins  400  are inserted into holes  401 . Holes  401  are located on each bearing block  1 ,  2  and one bearing pin is used for two mating holes. In addition, cap screws  402 ,  403  can be used in place of tension rods  300 . A threaded end of each cap screw is inserted into bearing blocks  1 ,  2 . Nuts  404  can be used to secure cap screws  402 ,  403 . Bearing blocks  1 ,  2  can include threads to secure cap screws  402 ,  403 . Although the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 8  shows all cap screws entering from one side of bearing blocks  1 ,  2 , a configuration wherein two alternating cap screws can be inserted into each bearing block to create two identical halves (i.e. no left or right halves) including one bearing block and two cap screws may be used. Other systems for interlocking bearing blocks  1 ,  2  may be used. 
     The bearing blocks  1 ,  2  may be formed of a hard abrasion resistant material such as, for example, stainless steel or ceramic. Alternatively, a softer material such as bronze or aluminum may also be used. 
     Various seals and/or wiper structure may be incorporated into the bearing assembly to inhibit the ingress of dust, dirt or other contaminants. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,826 to Magee et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , among other potential benefits, a linear bearing in accordance with the disclosure may be installed and removed from a shaft without requiring that the bearing be moved off the end of the shaft. The shaft thus need not be removed from shaft supports  130 ,  132  to replace a bearing. System realignment and assembly time may be reduced. A lower system envelope may be achieved as space is not needed on ends of the rail to remove a bearing. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to any particular exemplary embodiment disclosed herein.