摘要 |
An easily fabricated and assembled ball-screw mechanism (10) of compact design comprises a hollow cylindrical member (12) having a helical guideway (20) on its inner circumferential surface (18). The cylindrical member (12) is operatively engaged through bearing members (24) with a screw member (14) having a helical groove (22) in opposed relationship with said helical guideway (20). A tubular bearing return means (32) connecting each end of said helical guideway (20) is freely received in a cavity (26) in the cylindrical member (12). Each end of the tubular bearing return (32) has a ramp (34, 36) which cooperates with the helical guideway (20) to receive and release the bearing members (24). The bearing members (24) are held captive in the tubular ball return (32) and between the helical groove (22) and helical guideway (20). An aperture (38) is located in the tubular bearing return (32) for loading the bearing members (24). A keeper (40) is received in the cylindrical member (12) to retain the tubular bearing return (32) and includes a node (46) to guide members (24) across the the bearing loading aperture (38). |