Antifriction slide assemblies

Abstract

Opposite side of the base section of the slide assembly are supported by two sets of ball bearings for reciprocable movement in an elongate recess formed in the slide section of the assembly. Each set of ball bearings is supported in an elongate retainer plate which extends between a pair of confronting grooves formed in the confronting surfaces of the base and slide sections at each side of the recess. Each set of ball bearings at opposite sides thereof has rolling engagement with a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending bearing rods that are mounted in each confronting groove. An elongate slot which is formed in the slide section opens at one side thereof on the bottom of one of the grooves in that section, and on the space which separates the pair of bearing rods mounted in that groove. A plurality of screws are adjustably mounted in the slide section to extend transversely across the slot, so that when the screws are adjusted the slot can be closed slightly, thereby reducing slightly the spacing between the associated pair of bearing rods, thus effecting preloading of the bearings.

I claims: 
     
       1. An antifriction . .ball.!. slide assembly, comprising a pair of elongate members, means forming on each of said members a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel . .ball.!. bearing races,   means mounting said members for longitudinal reciprocation relative to each other, and with the pair of races on one of said members confronting upon and registering with the pair of races on the other of said members,   each of said races comprising a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending bearing surfaces,   said mounting means including two linear sets of . .ball.!. bearing each of which sets is mounted for limited reciprocation between a confronting pair of said races, and with the . .ball.!. bearings of each set thereof having portions thereof . .projecting between and.!. having tangential rolling engagement with each pair of spaced bearing surfaces of the associated pair of said races, and   adjustable means on said one member operable selectively and positively to reduce the space separating one of said pair of spaced bearing surfaces defining one of said races on said one member, thereby to effect a corresponding preloading of said . .ball.!. bearings.Iadd.,   said one member having therein an elongate slot extending between opposite ends of said one member, and opening at one side thereof on the space between said one pair of spaced bearing surfaces on said one member,   said one pair of spaced bearing surfaces extending longitudinally of said one member adjacent opposite sides, respectively of said slot, and   said adjustable means comprising means for selectively applying compressive forces to said one member at opposite sides of said slot, thereby slightly to close said opening at said one side of said slot, and simultaneously to reduce the space separating said one pair of spaced bearing surfaces.Iaddend.. . .   
     
     
       2.  An antifriction ball slide assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said one member has therein an elongate slot extending between opposite ends of said one member, and opening at one side thereof on the space between said one pair of spaced bearing surfaces on said one member,   said one pair of spaced bearing surfaces extending longitudinally of said one member adjacent opposite sides, respectively of said slot, and   said adjustable means comprises means for selectively applying compressive forces to said one member at opposite sides of said slot, thereby slightly to close said opening at said one side of said slot, and simultaneously to reduce the space separating said one pair of spaced bearing surfaces..!.   
     
     
       3. An antifriction . .ball.!. slide assembly as defined in claim . .2.!. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein said means for applying compressive forces to said one member comprises a plurality of screws adjustably threaded in said one member,   each of said screws having a head section rotatable on said one member adjacent one side of said slot, and having an integral, reduced diameter shank section extending transversely through said slot and threading into said one member at the opposite side of said slot.   
     
     
       4. An antifriction . .ball.!. slide assembly . .as defined in claim 1, wherein.!..Iadd., comprising a pair of elongate members,   means forming on each of said members a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel bearing races,   means mounting said members for longitudinal reciprocation relative to each other, and with the pair of races on one of said members confronting upon and registering with the pair of races on the other of said members,   each of said races comprising a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending bearing surfaces,   said mounting means including two linear sets of bearings each of which sets is mounted for limited reciprocation between a confronting pair of said races, and with the bearings of each set thereof having portions thereof having tangential rolling engagement with each pair of spaced bearing surfaces of the associated pair of said races, and   adjustable means on said one member operable selectively and positively to reduce the space separating one of said pair of spaced bearing surfaces defining one of said races on said one member, thereby to effect a corresponding preloading of said bearings, .Iaddend.   each of said members . .has.!. .Iadd.having .Iaddend.therein a pair of like, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending grooves,   a pair of spaced, parallel, . .cylindrical.!. bearing rods . .are.!. mounted in each of said grooves to extend longitudinally thereof, each of said rods forming one of said bearing surfaces for said . .ball.!. bearings, and   said adjustable means . .includes.!. including means for selectively compressing one of said grooves to reduce the space separating the pair of bearing rods in said one groove.   
     
     
       5. An antifriction . .ball.!. slide assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said grooves is generally rectangular in configuration, and the two bearing rods in each of said grooves are seated in and extend axially of the two corners of the associated rectangular groove,   an elongate slot is formed in said one member centrally of the bottom of said one groove in said one member, said slot extending longitudinally of said one member between opposite ends thereof, and opening at one side thereof on said one groove, and   said compressing means comprising a plurality of screws extending transversely through said slot and rotatably adjustable in said one member simultaneously to compress said slot and said one groove thereby to effect the reduction of the space separating said pair of bearing rods in said one groove.   
     
     
       6. An antifriction . .ball.!. slide assembly, comprising a pair of elongate members, each having therein a pair of like, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel grooves,   means mounting said members for longitudinal reciprocation relative to each other, and with the .Iadd.centerlines of the .Iaddend.pair of grooves in one of said . .one.!. members confronting upon and registering with the .Iadd.centerlines of the .Iaddend.pair of grooves in the other of said members,   said mounting means including a pair of . .spaced,.!. parallel. .,cylindrical.!. bearing . .rods.!. .Iadd.surfaces .Iaddend.mounted in and extending longitudinally of each of said grooves, and with the pair of bearing . .rods.!. .Iadd.surfaces .Iaddend.in each groove on said one member being disposed in spaced, confronting relation to the pair of . .rods.!. .Iadd.bearing surfaces .Iaddend.in the confronting groove on said other member,   said mounting means further including two linear sets of bearings each of which is mounted for limited reciprocation between a confronting pair of said grooves, and with the bearings of each set thereof having rolling engagement with the bearing . .rods.!. .Iadd.surfaces .Iaddend.in the associated pair of said grooves, . .and.!.   adjustable means on said one member operable selectively to bend at least a portion of said one member . .at one side of.!. .Iadd.adjacent .Iaddend.one of said grooves therein .Iadd.to shift the set of bearings confronting upon said one groove .Iaddend.slightly toward the . .opposite side of said one groove,.!. .Iadd.other set of bearings .Iaddend.thereby . .to reduce the space between the two bearing rods in said one groove, and.!. operatively to effect a corresponding preloading of said bearings.Iadd.,   said one member having therein an elongate slot extending between opposite ends of said one member in a plane extending parallel to a plane containing the centerlines of said pair of grooves therein, and   said adjustable means comprising a plurality of screws in said one member extending transversely of said slot, and rotatable selectively to bend said portion of said one member in a direction slightly to effect said preloading of said bearings.Iaddend.. . .   
     
     
       7.  An antifriction ball slide assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said one member has therein an elongate slot extending between opposite ends of said one member, and opening at one side thereof on the bottom of said one groove and on the space between said two bearing rods in said one groove, and   said adjustable means comprises a plurality of screws in said one member extending transversely of said slot, and rotatable selectively to bend said portion of said one member in a direction slightly to close said slot and said one groove, thereby simultaneously to reduce the space separating said two bearing rods..!..Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  An anti-friction slide assembly, comprising a pair of elongate members each having therein a pair of like, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel grooves,   a pair of parallel bearing surfaces disposed in and extending longitudinally of each of said grooves,   means mounting said members for longitudinal reciprocation relative to each other with the pair of grooves in one of said members confronting upon and registering with the pair of grooves in the other of said members, and with the pair of bearing surfaces in each groove on said one member being disposed in spaced, confronting relation to the pair of bearing surfaces in the confronting groove on said other member,   said mounting means including two linear sets of bearings each of which sets is mounted for linear movement in a common plane between a confronting pair of said grooves, and with portions of the bearings of each set thereof having rolling engagement with the bearing surfaces in the associated pair of grooves,   said one member having therein an elongate slot extending in a plane parallel to said common plane between opposite ends of said one member adjacent one of said grooves in said one member, and   adjustable means on said one member operable selectively to bend at least a portion of said one member at at least one side of said slot, thereby operatively to shift one of said sets of bearings toward the other to effect a corresponding pre-loading of said bearings. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  An anti-friction slide assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said adjustable means comprises a plurality of screws adjustably threaded in said one member and extending transversely of and communicating with said slot, and rotatable selectively to effect the bending of said portion of said one member. .Iaddend.