Guide sleeve, guide post and improved ball bearing assembly

Abstract

In combination, a guide post having a longitudinal slot and a ball bearing cage adjustably receiving the post and adapted for relative longitudinal and rotary movements, there being an internal annular open top recess in the cage inwardly of one end. A truncated roller bearing with opposed hemispherical surfaces and opposed flat sides in guidably positioned within the slot with the roller bearing maintaining a rolling point contact with the bottom wall of the slot and with the roller flat sides loosely and slidably registerable with the side walls of the slot. A hemispherical surface of the roller bearing being positioned and retained within an internal annular recess within the ball cage. An end cap with a shank is threaded into the cage, with the shank terminating in an annular open bottom recess cooperatively receiving said roller bearing from trapping the roller bearing in the cage.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination, a guide post having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal slot substantially throughout its length and having end portions; a cylindrical ball bearing cage having a co-axial longitudinal bore adjustably receiving said guide post, and adapted for relative longitudinal and rotary movements thereon;   said ball bearing cage mounting a plurality of spaced circularly arranged ball bearings extending substantially the length of said cage and projecting inwardly and outwardly thereof, respectively, there being an internal open top annular recess in said cage spaced inwardly of one end thereof, and terminating in a threaded counter bore extending to said one end;   a truncated roller bearing having opposed hemispherical surfaces and opposed flat sides, guidably positioned within said longitudinal slot with a hemispherical surface maintaining a rolling point contact with the bottom of said slot and said flat sides loosely and slidably registerable with opposed sides of said slot;   said roller being alternately registerable with opposite end portions of said slot, limiting rectilinear movements of the ball cage relative to said guide post;   a hemispherical portion of said roller being positioned within the cage annular recess;   an end cap having a depending shank threaded into said counter bore;   there being an internal annual open bottom recess upon the end of said shank cooperatively receiving a hemispherical portion of said roller; and   said cage including its recess and cap recess being adapted for rotary sliding movement relative to said roller in a direction at right angles to said axis, said cap trapping said roller within said ball cage.   
     
     
       2. In the combination of claim 1, further comprising said open top annular recess having an arcuate cross section of about 45 degrees, said annular open bottom cap recess having an arcuate cross section of about 45 degrees, said recess cooperatively receiving said truncated roller bearing. 
     
     
       3. The combination defined in claim 2, further comprising said open top recess being greater than 45 degrees and said open bottom cap recess being than 45 degrees. 
     
     
       4. In the combination of claim 2, further comprising said open bottom recess being tapered downwardly and outwardly and having a cross section of about 20 degrees. 
     
     
       5. In the combination defined in claim 1, further comprising a guide sleeve having a coaxial longitudinal axis, with said ball cage and guide post projected into said sleeve for relative longitudinal movements and for rotary movements of said cage relative to said sleeve. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a top annular flange upon said end cap overlying and tightly engaging said ball cage. 
     
     
       7. In the combination defined in claim 6, further comprising said guide post and sleeve being upright and at their ends projected into and respectively secured within the upper and lower relatively movable die shoes of a die set assembly. 
     
     
       8. In the combination defined in claim 6, further comprising said top flange having the same diameter as and merging with said cage as a continuation thereof. 
     
     
       9. In the combination of claim 1, further comprising a pair of diametrically opposed spanner apertures in the top of said cap, to facilitate unthreading thereof. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  In combination, a guide post having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal slot substantially throughout its length and having end portions; a cylindrical ball bearing cage having a co-axial longitudinal bore adjustably receiving said guide post, and adapted for relative longitudinal and rotary movements thereon;   said ball bearing cage mounting a plurality of spaced circularly arranged ball bearings extending substantially the length of said cage and projecting inwardly and outwardly thereof, respectively, there being an internal open top annular recess in said cage spaced inwardly of one end thereof, and terminating in a threaded counter bore extending to said one end;   a key positioned within said longitudinal slot, said key being alternately registerable with opposite ends of said slot, limiting rectilinear movements of said ball cage relative to said guide post, a portion of said key being positioned within said cage annular recess;   an end cap having a depending shank threaded into said counter bore;   there being an internal annual open bottom recess upon the end of said shank cooperatively receiving a portion of said key; and   said cage including its recess and cap recess being adapted for rotary sliding movement relative to said key in a direction at right angles to said axis, said cap trapping said key within said ball cage. .Iaddend.