Self-contained linear bearing unit and linear bearings embodying such units

Claim 1

A wholly self-contained, permanently sealed assembly of components constituting an individual linear bearing unit adapted to provide a single line of bearing support for a member relatively slidably moveable therewith and such unit being adjacently positionable to and with additional like ones of such unit to provide correspondingly additional lines of bearing support for said member, said unit comprising the assembly components of an elongated laterally expansive retainer presenting opposite retainer faces one of which confronts the said member, said retainer having a central body part and opposed end sections, said retainer having an endless course raceway therein including ball turnaround paths disposed in the respective end sections and straight line longitudinally directed ball-unloaded and ball-loaded paths extending between corresponding ends of the turnaround paths, the ball-loaded path having an opening at the said one face of said retainer, the ball-unloaded path being defined by a groove open at the other face of said retainer, a plurality of balls received in said raceway and moveable around said endless course responsive to relatively slidable movement of said member in bearing contact with the balls in the ball-loaded path, an elongated bearing plate, said retainer including seat defining means receptive of said bearing plate in disposition thereof along the ball-loaded path and wherein the balls in the ball-loaded path can engage said bearing plate remote from the bearing contact of said balls with said member to thereby transfer bearing loading from the balls to said bearing plate, said bearing plate extending beyond the ends of said retainer central body part a distance into the retainer end sections, and cap means non-removably received on each of the end sections of said retainer for captively holding the balls in the ball turnaround paths as they transit same in moving to and from the ball-unloaded and ball-loaded paths and for captively holding said bearing plate in said seat, the retainer central body party carrying a capture lip extending along a margin of said ball-unloaded path defining groove to hold captive the balls as they move along said ball-unloaded path, the retainer and said cap means structures having transverse outer peripheries which describe identical envelope courses.