A powered track assembly (20) is provided for allowing selective forward
and rearward adjustment of a seat assembly (10) along an interior floor
of an automotive vehicle. The upper track (24) is fixedly secured to a
bottom portion of the seat assembly (10). A rigid shaft (32) having a
generally continuous helical thread (38) is rotatably supported by the
upper track (24). A plurality of nuts (40) is threadingly engaged with
the shaft (32). A cage (42) having a plurality of compartments (58) is
fixedly secured to the lower track (22). Each compartment (58) supports
one nut (40) to allow relative rotational movement of the rigid shaft
(32) relative to the nuts (40). The nuts (40) are allowed a predetermined
amount of movement within the respective compartments (58) to prevent
binding between the nuts (40) and the rigid shaft (32) due to relative
lateral or vertical movement between the upper and lower tracks.