JP7539792B2 - Guide carriage for linear guides - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a guide carriage for a linear guide as described in claim 1.

Linear guides or linear rolling bearings are used in a very diverse range of applications and are regularly used for the linear guiding of moving parts, for example parts of machine tools. Such linear guides usually consist of a guide rail and a carriage which runs on the guide rail in a rolling bearing. The carriage is provided with at least two endless rolling element grooves in which rolling elements, for example balls or rollers, run, each rolling element groove having a groove section which receives the rolling elements running on the rail and is loaded (also called forward) and a groove section along which the rolling elements are returned and which is unloaded (also called reverse). The rolling elements can make an appropriate U-turn at the axial end of the carriage, resulting in an endless groove. For this purpose, the carriage ends are provided with two head pieces or end caps, each with a U-turn piece.

To keep frictional resistance as low as possible, lubricant can be applied so that a lubricating film forms on both the running surfaces of the rails and on the rolling elements. The lubricant is usually applied in the area of the U-turn piece of each end cap.

However, it may seem impossible to guarantee sufficient lubrication over the entire length of the guide carriage. This may occur, for example, if the guide carriage is long, i.e. the lubricant may already come off inside the guide carriage, and/or if the travel path of the guide carriage is short, i.e. there is a risk that the supplied lubricant will not be transported to the loaded parts of the guide carriage.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved guide carriage for a linear guide, in particular an improved lubricant supply element, which can ensure application of lubricant over the entire length of the guide carriage.

This problem is solved by a guide carriage for a linear guide as described in patent claim 1.

In the following, a guide carriage for a linear guide is proposed, which has at least one first partial guide carriage with at least one first and second running groove extending in the axial direction and at least one second partial guide carriage with at least one first and second running groove extending in the axial direction. In order to ensure lubricant application over the entire length of the guide carriage, it is proposed to provide a lubricant supply element between the first partial guide carriage and the second partial guide carriage, which has a first connecting running groove extending in the axial direction and a second connecting running groove extending in the axial direction, which are connected on a first axial side with the first and second running grooves of the first partial guide carriage and on a second axial side with the first and second running grooves of the second partial guide carriage, and the lubricant supply element comprises at least one lubricant supply channel that is fluidically connected with the at least one connecting running groove. Preferably, the running grooves and the connecting running grooves of the respective partial guide carriages are connected in a straight line with each other. In this case, a partial guide carriage can be understood as a part or a portion of a guide carriage, or an assembly of several partial guide carriages.

Providing a lubricant supply element between the first and second partial guide carriages has the further advantage that the rolling bodies pass through the lubricant supply element in a straight line, i.e. the lubricant supply does not take place at the end of the guide carriage, but rather in the guide carriage itself. On the one hand, this allows greater flexibility in terms of the positioning of the lubricant supply, and on the other hand, improved lubricant supply can be achieved even in the case of long guide carriages, so that the risk of the lubricant film peeling off inside the long guide carriage is reduced. This is because the long guide carriage can be divided and the lubricant supply element can be provided between the two partial guide carriages. Even in the case of a short transition path of the guide carriage, i.e. where there is a risk that the supplied lubricant is not transported to the loaded part of the guide carriage, the proposed guide carriage allows the lubricant to be supplied just before and/or just after the loaded part of the guide carriage due to the greater flexibility in terms of the positioning of the lubricant supply. In other words, the lubricant can be supplied closer to the loaded part of the guide carriage. Furthermore, applying lubricant in straight sections allows the lubricant to be better distributed to the rolling elements.

The supply of lubricant to the lubricant supply element itself can be made possible, for example, via a lubricant tank provided in the lubricant supply element. Alternatively or additionally, the lubricant supply element may be provided with a lubricant main conduit which is connected to the tank if necessary or permanently. The tank may then be provided at a remote location.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second partial guide carriages are provided with a plurality of first and second running grooves, and the lubricant supply element is provided with a plurality of first and second connecting running grooves that respectively connect the first and second running grooves of the first and second partial guide carriages. This allows for improved guiding of the guide carriage on the rail, since the load is distributed over the plurality of running grooves.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the lubricant supply passage is fluidly connected to the first and/or second connecting running grooves.

This has the advantage that the lubricant passage can simply supply lubricant to a number of connecting running grooves. In particular, the number of first and/or second connecting running grooves that are fluidly connected to the lubricant supply passage can be dependent on the lubricant requirement.

Alternatively, it is of course also possible for several lubricant supply channels to be arranged in one connecting running groove, as this allows lubricant to be supplied over the entire length of the lubricant supply element, thus improving the overall lubricant application. Furthermore, circumferential supply positions for the lubricant can also be implemented, especially around the connecting running groove.

According to a further preferred embodiment, each of the first and/or second connecting running grooves is connected to one or more separate lubricant supply channels.

Advantageously, each connecting running groove can then be supplied with lubricant via one or more of its own lubricant supply channels, so that in particular the individual lubricant requirements of each connecting running groove can be met.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first running groove and the first connecting running groove are formed as forward grooves for at least one rolling body, which rolling body is designed to contact the rail along which the guide carriage is movable and to movably support the guide carriage relative to the rail. Furthermore, the second running groove and the second connecting running groove are formed as reverse grooves in which at least one rolling body is guided without contacting the rail. Preferably, one or more rolling bodies are provided, which may be present, for example, in the form of a chain of rolling bodies. The rolling bodies may be, for example, balls, rollers, needles or other rolling elements.

Preferably, the lubricant may be supplied intentionally to the forward groove and/or the reverse groove. Supplying the forward groove has the advantage that the lubricant can be directly introduced into the contact area between the element and the rail, so that starvation of the lubricant can be easily prevented. In contrast, supplying the lubricant to the reverse groove has the advantage that the contact of the reverse groove with the rail is not loaded, so that losses of lubricant can be minimized.

It is particularly advantageous in this case if at least one lubricant supply channel is fluidly connected to at least one reverse groove and/or if each lubricant supply channel is connected to one reverse groove.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the lubricant supply element further comprises at least one receptacle in which and/or in contact with which a lubricant distribution element designed for distributing a defined amount of lubricant and/or a sensor designed for monitoring the lubricant supply can be mounted.

In particular, a defined amount of lubricant can thereby be supplied to one or more running grooves via one or more lubricant supply channels. Furthermore, the lubricant supply can be monitored directly at the lubricant supply element.

Furthermore, a receptacle for a sensor signal conductor and/or sensor signal evaluation electronics may be provided in the lubricant supply element. Alternatively, the sensor signal may be transmitted wirelessly.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the lubricant distribution element is a metering piston or a metering insert which distributes the lubricant at a defined piston stroke of the distribution piston.

According to a further preferred embodiment, each lubricant supply passage is provided with one lubricant distribution element.

This has the advantage that an individually adjustable amount of lubricant can be supplied to each lubricant supply channel. In particular, the amount of lubricant supplied to each running groove can thus be individually determined.

In particular, all lubricant distribution elements may be connected to a lubricant main conduit and/or a tank.

According to a further preferred embodiment, each lubricant supply channel is provided with a sensor and/or each lubricant distribution element is provided with a sensor.

Due to the unique arrangement of the sensor and the lubricant supply path and/or the sensor and the lubricant distribution element, it is advantageously possible to monitor an individually definable lubricant supply situation for the corresponding connecting running groove.

According to a further preferred embodiment, each lubricant distribution element and/or each sensor is received in a separate receiving portion, preferably formed as a cavity in the lubricant supply element, so that the lubricant distribution element and/or the sensor can be integrated into the lubricant supply element.

Advantageously, this allows the lubricant supply element to be shaped more compactly. For example, cavities may be drilled and/or cut into the lubricant supply element. Alternatively or additionally, the lubricant supply element, including its cavities or receptacles and/or passages, may be manufactured using additive manufacturing methods.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second partial guide carriage is formed as an end cap of the guide carriage, and the first and second running grooves of the end cap are connected via a U-turn lane.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are set out in the description, the drawings and the claims, in which case, in particular, the feature combinations set out in the description and the drawings are purely exemplary, so that the features may be present individually or in different combinations.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail on the basis of the embodiments shown in the figures, whereby the embodiments and the combinations shown therein are purely exemplary and do not define the scope of protection of the invention, which is defined only by the dependent claims. Shown in the figures are:

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a guide carriage for a linear guide, according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of a lubricant supply element of a guide carriage for the linear guide according to FIG. 1 . 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2.

In the following, elements that are identical or have the same functional effect are given the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a guide carriage 1 for a linear guide according to one embodiment. The guide carriage 1 for a linear guide includes a first partial guide carriage 2 having four axially extending running groove pairs 8, 10, 12, 14, each having one first running groove 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a and one second running groove 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b.

The guide carriage 1 is provided to be guided by a rail (not shown), and the first running grooves 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a of the running groove pairs 8, 10, 12, 14, respectively, are formed as forward grooves in which a number of rolling bodies (not shown) are guided, which rolling bodies are in contact with the rail and are designed to support the guide carriage 1 on the rail, so that the guide carriage 1 can move along the rail. The second running grooves 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b of the running groove pairs 8, 10, 12, 14 are formed as reverse grooves in which a number of rolling bodies are guided without contacting the rail.

The guide carriage 1 further includes a second partial guide carriage 4, which may be formed as an end cap as shown, with a U-turn lane (not shown) connecting each forward channel 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a with the corresponding reverse channel 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b. Alternatively, the second partial guide carriage 4 may take over the load-bearing function, like the first partial guide carriage 2.

Between the first partial guide carriage 2 and the second partial guide carriage 4, a lubricant supply element 6 is provided, which is shown in a side view in FIG. 2.

The lubricant supply element 6 likewise has several pairs of axially extending connecting running grooves 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, which connect the forward grooves 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a and the reverse grooves 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b of the first partial guide carriage 2 with the forward and reverse grooves of the second partial guide carriage.

The connecting running grooves 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a of the lubricant supply element 6 are arranged so that the rolling elements guided in the running grooves come into contact with the rail, like the forward running grooves 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a, whereas the connecting running grooves 18b, 20b, 22b, 24 guide the rolling elements without contacting the rail, like the reverse running grooves 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b. Preferably, the running groove pairs 8, 10, 12, 14 of the first partial guide carriage 2 and the connecting running grooves 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b of the lubricant supply element 6 are formed in a straight line with each other. Furthermore, the connecting running grooves 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b and the running groove pairs of the second partial guide carriage 4 are formed in a straight line with each other.

The lubricant supply element 6 further has at least one lubricant supply passage 16 (FIGS. 3, 4), and in the embodiment shown, each of the four connecting running groove pairs 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b is connected to one lubricant supply passage. In order to better understand the overall view, only one lubricant supply passage 16 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In this case, each of the lubricant supply channels 16 is fluidically connected to the associated connecting running grooves 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b. Preferably, the lubricant supply channel 16 is fluidically connected to the connecting running grooves 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b arranged in the reverse grooves 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b. Additionally or alternatively, the lubricant supply channel may also be fluidically connected to the connecting running grooves 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a arranged in the forward grooves 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a.

Preferably, each lubricant supply channel 16 is provided separately from the others, so that there is an unambiguous arrangement between the lubricant supply channel 16 and the associated connecting running groove 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a, 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b. It is of course also possible to fluidly connect several connecting running grooves 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a, 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b with the same lubricant supply channel 16 or to arrange several lubricant supply channels 16 in one connecting running groove 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a, 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b. For example, the associated connecting running grooves 18b and 20b may each be supplied with lubricant via the same lubricant supply channel on one side of the rail.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A in Figure 2, while Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line B-B in Figure 2. As can be seen in Figure 3, the lubricant supply element 6 incorporates four lubricant distribution elements 26, 28, 30, 32.

The lubricant distribution elements 26, 28, 30, 32 are designed to distribute a defined amount of lubricant. Each lubricant distribution element 26, 28, 30, 32 is fluidly connected to one of the lubricant supply lines 16 (see FIG. 4). Alternatively, the lubricant distribution elements 26, 28, 30, 32 may also be connected to several lubricant supply lines. The lubricant distribution elements 26, 28, 30, 32 themselves are supplied with lubricant via a main lubricant line 34 which is connected to a main lubricant line connection 36. Alternatively, each lubricant distribution element 26, 28, 30, 32 may also be supplied with lubricant via a separate supply line.

To monitor the lubricant supply to the connecting running grooves 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a, 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b, a sensor receptacle 38 (FIG. 4) is formed in the lubricant supply element 6, which is designed to receive a sensor 40 in each case. The sensor 40 may be suitable in particular for monitoring the lubricant flow or the lubricant supply.

The sensor signal of the sensor 40 is sent via a sensor signal conductor 42 to a sensor signal evaluation electronics 44 (FIG. 2) which is provided for appropriately evaluating the sensor signal and providing evaluation data. The sensor signal evaluation electronics 44 may preferably be integrated into the lubricant supply element 6. For example, a receptacle capable of receiving the lubricant supply element 6 may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor signal may be transmitted wirelessly. Preferably, for each lubricant supply path, a respective sensor with an associated sensor receptacle is provided. Additionally or alternatively, a respective sensor may also be provided for each lubricant distribution element.

In summary, a lubricant supply element 6 is provided between the first partial guide carriage 2 and the second partial guide carriage 4 of the guide carriage 1 so that the rolling bodies of the linear guide pass through the lubricant supply element 6. On the one hand, this allows greater flexibility in terms of the positioning of the lubricant supply and, on the other hand, allows an improved supply of lubricant even in the case of long guide carriages.

Furthermore, each lubricant supply passage 16 may be provided with a lubricant distribution element 26, 28, 30, 32 and a sensor, so that an individually adjustable amount of lubricant can be supplied to each lubricant supply passage 16, which amount can also be monitored individually, so that the respective lubricant supply situation for the corresponding running groove can be controlled and monitored.

REFERENCE SIGNS 1 guide carriage 2 first partial guide carriage 4 second partial guide carriage 6 lubricant supply element 8, 10, 12, 14 running groove pair 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a forward groove 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b reverse groove 16 lubricant supply channel 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a connecting running groove (forward)
18b, 20b, 22b, 24b Connecting running groove (reverse)
26, 28, 30, 32 Lubricant distribution element 34 Lubricant main conduit 36 Lubricant main conduit connection 38 Sensor receptacle 40 Sensor 42 Sensor signal lead 44 Sensor signal evaluation electronics

Claims (10)

at least one first partial guide carriage (2) having at least one first and one second running groove (8a, 10a, 12a, 14a; 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b) extending in the axial direction;
and at least one second partial guide carriage (4) having at least one first and second running grooves extending in the axial direction.
In a guide carriage (1) for a linear guide,
Between the first partial guide carriage (2) and the second partial guide carriage (4) a lubricant supply element (6) is provided, which on a first axial side is connected to the first and second running grooves (8a, 10a, 12a, 14a; 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b) of the first partial guide carriage (2) and on a second axial side is connected to the first and second running grooves of the second partial guide carriage (4), 1. A guide carriage (1) having a first axially extending connecting running groove (18a, 20a, 22a, 24a) and a second axially extending connecting running groove (18b, 20b, 22b, 24b) which are connected to each other, wherein the lubricant supply element (6) comprises at least one lubricant supply channel (16) which is fluidly connected to at least one of the connecting running grooves (18a, 20a, 22a, 24a; 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b). The guide carriage (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second partial guide carriages (2, 4) are formed with a plurality of the first and second running grooves (8a, 10a, 12a, 14a; 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b), and the lubricant supply element (6) is formed with a plurality of the first and second connecting running grooves (18a, 20a, 22a, 24a; 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b) that respectively connect the first and second running grooves of the first and second partial guide carriages (2, 4). The guide carriage (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lubricant supply passage (16) is fluidly connected to the first and/or second connecting running grooves (18a, 20a, 22a, 24a; 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b). A guide carriage (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first and/or second connecting running grooves (18a, 20a, 22a, 24a; 18b, 20b, 22b, 24b) is connected to one or more separate lubricant supply channels (16). The guide carriage (1) is movable along a rail, the first running groove (8a, 10a, 12a, 14a) and the first connecting running groove (18a, 20a, 22a, 24a) are formed as a forward groove for at least one rolling body, which is designed to contact the rail and to movably support the guide carriage (1) relative to the rail, and the second running groove (8b, 10b, 12b, 14b) and the second connecting running groove (18b, 20b, 5. The guide carriage (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the reverse grooves (18b, 20b, 22b, 24b) is formed as a reverse groove in which at least one rolling element is guided without contacting the rail, and wherein at least one lubricant supply channel (16) is fluidically connected to at least one of the reverse grooves (18b, 20b, 22b, 24b) and/or each of the lubricant supply channels (16) is connected to one of the reverse grooves (18b, 20b, 22b, 24b). The guide carriage (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lubricant supply element (6) further comprises at least one receptacle in which and/or in contact with which a lubricant distribution element (26, 28, 30, 32) designed for distributing a defined amount of lubricant and/or a sensor (40) designed for monitoring the lubricant supply can be mounted. A guide carriage (1) according to claim 6, wherein each of the lubricant supply passages (16) is provided with one of the lubricant distribution elements (26, 28, 30, 32). A guide carriage (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each of the lubricant supply passages (16) is provided with one of the sensors (40) and/or each of the lubricant distribution elements (26, 28, 30, 32) is provided with one of the sensors (40). A guide carriage (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein each of the lubricant distribution elements (26, 28, 30, 32) and/or the sensor (40) is received in a separate receiving portion , the receiving portion being formed as a cavity in the lubricant supply element (6), so that the lubricant distribution elements (26, 28, 30, 32) and/or the sensor (40) can be integrated into the lubricant supply element (6). A guide carriage (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second partial guide carriage (4) is formed as an end cap of the guide carriage (1), and the first and second running grooves of the end cap are connected via a U-turn lane.

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