SLIDING SUPPORTS AND BEARING BALL RETAINERS

摘要

The present invention relates to sliding supports and particularly sliding supports having two elongate members of channel section and a locating assembly positioned therebetween. The locating assembly includes a plurality of bearing balls and a plurality of contact elements, and is capable of functioning without the use of grease or additional lubrication. The sliding support is particularly suitable for use in harsh environments.

主权项

1. A locating assembly for use with a sliding support comprising first and second elongate slide members slidable relative to one another in a first direction, wherein the locating assembly comprises:
a first plurality of bearing balls arranged with their centers aligned along a first axis parallel to the first direction, a first plurality of contact elements, each contact element including at least one contact face, wherein adjacent of the first plurality of bearing balls are separated by a respective one of the first plurality of contact elements, and at least one of the contact elements is positioned such that at least one of its contact faces is in contact with one of the bearing balls at i) only a single contact point positioned on the first axis or ii) at least three contact points, wherein the at least three contact points are positioned with rotational symmetry about the first axis of at least order 3.