Circulating bearing ball location in spindle nut assembly - uses low friction plastics spacer discs to prevent point contact between balls

摘要

A screw spindle (6) and nut (7) assembly includes a number of recirculating bearing balls (10). To prevent point contact and thus excessive wear between neighbouring bearing balls, the balls (10) are separated by spacers (25) which are made from low friction plastic material. The spacers are made from a sphere (28) whose dia. is less the bearing ball dia (24). Two concave curvatures (18) on opposite sides on the spacer provide precise locations for the bearing balls. The min. thickness (23) between the concave seats (18) is not more than 20% of the spacer ball dia. (28).