| 摘要 |
PURPOSE: A rolling-element hold spacer for retaining, in a rotatable and slidable manner, rolling elements used in a rectilinearly-movable apparatus, such as a rectilinearly-rolling guide apparatus, a ball screw, and a ball spline, as well as a rectilinearly-movable apparatus using the rolling element hold spacer is provided. CONSTITUTION: A rolling-element hold spacer (9) includes a spherical indent (11) which is formed in either side of a rolling element (7) so as to match the curved surface of the rolling element (7); thick hold sections (10a,10b) to be interposed between the rolling elements (7); and thin bent sections (12) for interconnecting only one thick hold section pair (10a,10b) in which the rolling element (7) is to be interposed. The thin bent section (12) is deflected or twisted in a curved portion of a rolling-element circulation path. Further, the rolling-element hold spacers which are adjacent to each other with a single rolling element interposed therebetween mutually perform pivotal movement around the rolling element (7), thereby enabling smooth circulation of the rolling elements (7). Clearance arises between the rolling element (7) and the thick hold sections (10a,10b) as a result of bent of the thin bent section (12). Lubricant enters the clearance, to thereby sufficiently lubricate the rolling elements (7). So long as a rolling-element hold spacer (9) is placed around every other rolling element (7), all the rolling elements (7) are eventually held by the rolling-element hold spacers (9). Consequently, the number of rolling-element hold spacers (9) can be reduced to one-half the number of the rolling elements (7), and the number of rolling elements (7) can be increased correspondingly. |
