Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Ina Schaeffler Kg

Franziska Hausberger

Martin Menges

Thomas Winkler

A rolling element chain () which includes a plurality of rolling elements that are disposed in a row one after the other in a cage strip () and interspaced by separating webs () of the cage strip (). The separating webs (), on their front end disposed transverse to the rolling element chain (), are connected to a flexible cage belt () which extends along the rolling element chain (). On the other free front end disposed transverse to the rolling element chain (), the separating webs () have recesses () for engaging with a retaining rim () for retaining the rolling element chain (), with the recesses being continuous in a longitudinal direction of the rolling element chain ().

Rolling element chain

A linear rolling bearing comprises a guide carriage ( ) that can be mounted on a guide rail ( ) through rolling elements ( ). The guide carriage ( ) comprises at least one endless rolling element channel ( ) for the rolling elements ( ). The rolling element channel ( ) comprises a load-bearing channel ( ) for load-bearing rolling elements ( ), a return channel ( ) for returning rolling elements ( ) and deflecting channels ( ) arranged at both ends of the load-bearing channel ( ) and the return channel ( ), which deflecting channels ( ) connect the load-bearing channel ( ) and the return channel ( ) endlessly to each other and deflect the rolling elements ( ) out of the return channel ( ) into the load-bearing channel ( ), and vice versa. The rolling elements ( ) are received in pockets ( ) of a cage strip ( ) having at least two free ends ( ). The cage strip ( ) comprises spacers ( ) that define the cage pockets ( ) and are arranged, as seen in circulating direction, between successive rolling elements ( ). The cage strip ( ) further comprises cage belts ( ) arranged on both sides of the rolling element row to connect the spacers ( ) to one another. The cage belts ( ) are received in guide channels ( ) of the rolling element channel ( ) for guiding the cage strip ( ) in the rolling element channel ( ). Adjacent free ends ( ) of the cage strip ( ) comprise movable legs ( ) that are arranged substantially crosswise to the cage strip ( ), and opposing end surfaces of the legs ( ) are configured as contact surfaces ( ) for the legs ( ) with each other.

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Saarbrucken, Germany

Franziska Hausberger