DE19538665A1 - Linear guide equipment with circulating rollers inside traveller body - Google Patents

Abstract

The linear guide has at least one guide carriage (20) which can move in the direction of the axis of a guide rail. It is guided by at least one endless rolling element circuit, which has a series of rolling elements. A diversion plate (64) is inserted in the axial direction between the carriage body (62) and an end plate (52), and is manufactured separately from the body and the housing (48) of the guide carriage. The plate has integral guide surfaces (98) in order to act as a curved guide (46) for the rolling elements. Both the plate and the carriage body are held together in the correct position by the housing.

Description

The invention relates to a linear guide device comprising a guide rail with one axis and at least one this guide rail movable in the direction of the axis ambulance, which mediated at least one endless Rolling body circulation is guided on the guide rail, this Rolling element circulation consisting of a supporting row of rolling elements in simultaneous engagement with a load-bearing rolling element barrel track of the guide rail and a load-bearing rolling element raceway of the carriage, from a returning row of rolling elements in a rolling element return guide of the carriage and from Arch rolling element rows, which the load-bearing rolling element row and the returning row of rolling elements at their ends with each other connect and in rolling element arch guides of the carriage are guided, the carriage is designed with a Carriage housing and with one inside the carriage housing housed, separate from the carriage body dert manufactured body, further the carriage housing at least one par to the axial direction alleles and the rolling element circulation adjacent side part includes and further at least one to the axial direction substantially orthogonal and one adjacent to the rolling element arch row End plate includes, with the supporting row of rolling elements the car body is guided.

In a linear guide known from EP-0 474 948 A1 direction is a body of a carriage body enclosed. The carriage body has the shape of a right corner frame with side parts, which are parallel to the axis of the Guide rail run and with end plates, which are orthogonal lie to the axis of the guide rail. In the side parts are radially outer arc guide surfaces of the rolling element arc guides and then these rolling element guide surfaces of the roller body return guides shaped. Are on the car body Shaped guide rails, which when inserting the car body pers in the carriage body in the radial area outer sheet guide surfaces and the return guide surfaces of the side parts and thus the rolling element arch guides  and complement the rolling element return guides.

The guide rails of the car body, which is usually made of steel, are necessarily shorter in this embodiment in the direction of the axis of the guide rail than the position of the end faces of the car body resting on the end plates. This means that a complex processing of the car body is necessary to adapt it to the body of the carriage so that it can be used in the position of the carriage housing. So it is not easily possible to win the car body from drawn material simply by cutting a strand of material; it is also not sufficient to regrind cut pieces of the material strand yielding the car body by simple grinding processes for the purpose of increasing the accuracy. Much more milling operations are required to work out the ribs from a cut piece of a strand of material. According to a first embodiment of EP-0 474 948 A1 (see FIG. 2 there), radially inner guide surfaces of the rolling element arc guides are formed on the ends of the ribs. This means that a particularly complex processing of the ribs is necessary in order to obtain the radially inner guide surfaces of the Wälzkörperbo gene guides on these. According to a modified embodiment form (see Fig. 5 of EP-0 474 948 A1), the radially inner arc guide surfaces of the rolling element arc guides are formed on deflection pieces, which in turn are integrally formed on the side parts of the guide carriage housing. This makes the manufacture of the radially inner sheet guiding surfaces easier insofar as these sheet guiding surfaces become parts of the guide carriage housing, which can be produced, for example, as a molded part or as a cast part made of plastic or metal. However, the problem of the elaborate manufacture of the carriage body is not solved because the ribs still have to be shorter than the longitudinal extension of the guide carriage body in the direction of the guide rail axis, with the result that in any case a cross-milling processing of the guide carriage body is necessary.

A linear guide device is known from EP-0 494 682 knows, in which on a profilkon over its entire length stanten and therefore relatively easy to manufacture car body Deflection plates for radially outer curved guide surfaces of the roller body bow guides are attached. The two of them same baffles are each with a side part connected in one piece. Each of these side panels is on its own from the associated baffle end with a snap hook, which when assembled in a hook holder the other deflection plate engages snap. The Position the baffle plates on the carriage body in the transverse direction Direction to the guide rail axis is done by positioning tongues, which are in axially parallel position engaging grooves on the car body. The manufacture of the Deflection plates with the molded-on side part and the each molded hook receptacle is very shaping complex, even if it should be intended, this Manufacture baffle plates by casting or injection molding.

For sealing the rolling element circulation and the feed to it Lubricant is provided a sealing frame, the longitudinal sealing lips in parallel to the guide rail axis and end seal plates for sealing engagement with the guide tion rail profile. But this sealing frame serves not the cohesion of the baffle plates, but it is - in Quite the opposite - from those held together by the side panels Deflection plates worn.

The invention has for its object a linear guide to design the facility of the type described at the beginning, that it can be made simplified.

To solve this problem it is proposed that in axial Direction between the car body and the end plate one geson different from the carriage body and the carriage housing posed baffle plate is used, on which guide surfaces the roller arch guide are formed, and that the deflection  plate and the carriage body through the carriage housing are held together in the correct position.

Since in the embodiment according to the invention the outer arches guiding surfaces of the rolling element arch guides on deflection plates are executed that are not directly related to the cohesion of the Serve guide car, the spatial shape of the deflection plates relatively simple. It is also a prerequisite created for it, also the car body proportionally simply with a minimum amount of machining to manufacture gears. The carriage housing is also given one relatively simple spatial shape.

The car body on which great executives can appear can be made of steel with relatively little effort be cut, for example by cutting to length Profile strand, only before or after cutting to length minor machining postprocessing necessary are. The baffle plates and the carriage housing can due to their relatively simple spatial shape with relatively little Molds can be manufactured precisely, for example cast sen or injected, namely from plastic or a metal accessible for casting or injection molding processing.

The assembly of the individual parts, i. H. of the carriage car housing, the car body and the baffle plate despite the increased number of parts relatively fold, and the finished car fulfills all after assembly Requirements for leadership accuracy, since these are essentially chen by the carriage body, the rolling elements and Guide rail is determined. Since the for the sheet guidance of the Rolling elements and at least z. T. also for the return guide the parts responsible for the rolling elements, namely the carriage end housing and baffle plates, simple room shape, let can be easily manufactured with sufficient precision, to ensure that the rolling elements run smoothly over the to obtain the respective orbit.  

Balls are particularly suitable as rolling elements. The invent The design of the linear guide device in accordance with the invention is basic additionally for all size and performance requirements (load availability!) applicable. A particularly interesting application The area for the construction according to the invention is the production so-called miniature rail guides, which for example Guide rails with a basic width (across the guide rail axis measured) of 9 mm, a ball diameter of 1.7-2.5 mm, a total height of approx. 10 mm, measured from the Base area of the guide rail up to the base-far limit surface of the carriage, and a carriage length in the direction of the guide rail axis of approx. 30 mm. Such linear leadership devices are used in the computer industry, at for example for drives, in office machine construction, in measuring instru mentenbau, in semiconductor manufacturing, in precision engineering, in medical technology, robotics and the manufacture of Tool setting devices used. Basically they are Linear guide units according to the invention for all subordinates neten guided tours and suitable at manual workplaces, e.g. Belly as attacks.

With regard to the state of the art with regard to linear guide units, reference is also made to the following publications:
US-A 4,505,522;
Brochure THK Bearings from THK Company Ltd. with the print number SA 600 310;
Brochure THK LM system linear guides, catalog number 100-1 AG;
Brochure INA miniature ball recirculation, unit KUME, brochure number T 452 D - 03/92;
DE 33 13 575 A1;
DE 31 52 257 C2;
EP-0 474 948 A1;
EP 379 827 A1;
DE 31 28 628 A1;
US-A 4,637,739;
DE 36 07 592 C2; z EP-0 494 682 A2;
EP-0 608 832 A2;
DE 34 16 207 C2;
Brochure Franke & Heydrich KG, Franke linear guides with new ball bearing element KU;
Brochure Franke & Heydrich, single and double ball guides DE-A-20 27 338.

The embodiment of a linear guide according to the invention Unit can be designed in such a way that at both ends of the car body a deflection plate between the car body and an associated end plate of the carriage housing is arranged.

If according to a common linear guide exercise two spaced apart side surfaces of a guide rail at least one rolling element circulation is provided, so can the carriage housing on both sides of the guide rail have a side part, then on each of these sides share at least one rolling element circulation is provided.

For simple assembly of the carriage according to the invention it is advantageous if the carriage body and the baffle plate in the direction orthogonal to the axis direction of the rail Carriage housing inserted and fastened there.

In the linear guide unit according to the invention, it is possible to that a radially inner guide surface of the rolling element arch guide tion is attached to the carriage housing and others, preferably all other guide surfaces of the rolling element bo  guide are attached to the baffle plate. In this way becomes the total number of parts forming the carriage reduced and thus the assembly of the carriage unite folds without the effort for the precise production essential is enlarged.

The manufacture of the carriage housing can be for Simplify series production in that the at least one Side part with the at least one end plate in one piece represents is.

A further simplification is possible in that the mind least one side part together with the at least one end plate made of pourable or sprayable material, in particular art fabric that is made in one piece. As a rule, the Füh Rungswagen housing designed in the manner of a rectangular frame be, this rectangular frame preferably both a Sym metry with respect to an orthogonal to the rail axis the plane of symmetry running the longitudinal center of the carriage as well as symmetry with respect to the axis of the guide has longitudinal symmetry plane containing guide rail.

Side parts and end plates can be made in one piece represents, for example made of pourable or sprayable material al, especially plastic.

The baffle plates can also be made of pourable or sprayable mate rial preferably be made in one piece, in particular from Plastic.

A particular advantage of the design according to the invention is that that the car body can be designed as a profile body can, which - in sectional planes orthogonal to the axis direction considered at the management level - essentially through his total longitudinal extension parallel to the axial direction constant Owns profile. This is how the car is made body extremely simple, and the number of cutting Be  operations performed after cutting to length from a drawn Profile strand are still necessary, reduced to a minimum; such machining operations may be possible superfluous. The rolling element return guide can be put together acting return guide surfaces of the car body and Housing be formed. This will result in the number of operations processing operations further reduced because drilling operations are ready position of return guides are unnecessary.

The assembly of the carriage can be simplified be that on the carriage body, on the carriage body or / and molded on the baffle positioning surfaces are what when installing the car body or the deflection plate in the carriage housing for a functional position nation of these parts relative to each other. Need it at this construction no longer take any special adjustment measures to become the essential parts of the carriage in to bring the right mutual position.

An embodiment suitable for many applications at least one roller on both sides of a guide rail body circulation, in total at least two rolling element circulations in front; then the carriage body in the form of a rectangle frame with two side parts and two end plates that are connected to each other by the side parts. The two side parts and the two end plates then form a positioning shaft, which the introduction of the car body or / and the baffle plate in an insertion direction allowed. This direction of introduction can then approximately or thogonal to the rail axis and to a loop plane of the Rolling element revolutions.

Generalized, it is advantageous if on the carriage a positioning shaft for the car body and for min least a baffle plate is formed. This position The manhole can be implemented with the introduction of the Carriage body and at least one deflection plate serving one  leadership areas, which the introduction in the sense of a proximity of the respective part on the guide rail axis In addition, the positioning shaft can be an insertion tion have floor space so that through the Posi tioning shaft the position of the car body or Deflection plate is clearly defined. Can on the bottom surface at least one deflection piece of a rolling element arch guide be attached, preferably in one piece with the Floor area. This deflection piece is then with a loop fenplane of an associated rolling element circulation essentially orthogonal, radially inner sheet guiding surface for this Rolling element circulation trained.

To provide additional sheet guiding surfaces you can in a contact surface of a deflection facing the car body plate a part-arc-shaped guide trough for the rolling elements arrange the respective row of curved rolling elements recessed, namely essentially concentric to the radially inner arches development area.

The smooth transition from a rolling element arch guide to a load-bearing row of rolling elements can be ensured that that on the baffle plate as part of the rolling elbow tion a guide tongue is formed, which essentially tangential to an associated load-bearing rolling element raceway Guide rail runs in.

For the universal use of a linear guide unit it is important that the rolling elements of the load-bearing rolling elements per row on the carriage also secured against loss are when the carriage is pulled off the guide rail is. The filling of the carriage with rolling elements, in particular their balls are usually made by the manufacturer of the car, and the user of the car can easily become one later slide onto a guide rail. For Securing the rolling elements of the load-bearing rolling element row in the Carriages can have at least one safety bar  be essentially parallel to the axis of the guide rail extends. With regard to the goal simplest Her position and assembly, it is advantageous that the Siche bridge separately from the deflection plate and the guide carriage housing is made. Basically, it is too conceivable, the carriage on an auxiliary rail z. B. from Postpone plastic after the balls have been filled are. In this case, the safety bar may be avoidable.

The securing web can be attached to the guide carriage be based on the fact that the safety bar is connected to at least one of its ends with one essentially orthogo to the axis Nalen mounting leg is provided, which on a Axis essentially orthogonal part of the carriage can be secured, preferably an end plate. For carriages, that with respect to their orthogonal to the guide rail axis Middle plane are symmetrical, you can a Siche use the bridge with two fastening legs in the is essentially U-shaped.

One also belongs to the simple assembly of the carriage simple method of filling the rolling elements and in particular of the balls. It is therefore further proposed that the Safety bridge between a safe position and a Ball filling position essentially orthogonal to the axis is adjustable. The prerequisite for this is, of course, that the The balls are filled as long as the carriage is off the The guide rail is removed.

This allows handling when filling the rolling elements design particularly simple that for the mounting leg on the end plate next to one of the safety positions of the siche rungsstegs corresponding first locking position one of the ball filling position of the safety bar corresponding second rest position is provided. Then it succeeds in fixing leg from the second locking position to the first locking position  can be transferred by pressure and in the first rest stop sition automatically and precisely locked.

To prevent mutual interference between the safety web and rolling elements to avoid there is a possibility that the load-bearing roller body track of the guide rail of two partial tracks is formed by a receiving groove for the fuse are separated from each other. This possibility is from the State of the art known. For this purpose, for example, on the DE 33 13 575 A1 or DE 20 27 338 referenced.

For the smooth transition of the rolling elements from the rolling elements it is from Advantage if the safety bridge in the transition area from the load-bearing rolling row to an arch rolling row an outer surface of a deflection tongue for the rolling elements runs, which outer surface of a deflecting surface of the deflecting tongue faces away is.

It is also possible to secure the rolling elements two secures webs on the load-bearing roller row on both sides of their Line of contact with the load-bearing rolling element raceway of the Let guide rail rest, the mutual The distance between these two safety bars must then be less than the diameter of the rolling elements, if, for example, as Balls are formed.

It turns out in the linear guide unit according to the invention of course the problem of lubrication. This problem can through a continuous or periodic supply of lubricant remedied from the outside or through a life permanent filling. Depending on the viscosity of the lubricant then the problem of sealing the lubricant. For One way to solve this problem is on a side panel of the carriage housing a longitudinal seal in sealing Position against the guide rail; on the other hand can be on a side facing away from the car body  End plate at least one sealing arrangement in sealing posi Position against a profile of the guide rail. By attaching these sealants, not only the Loss of lubricant and therefore the need more often Relubrication avoided, but also ensures that on the guide rail none or negligible at most Lubricant film outside the respective position range of the carriage remains.

The seal assembly that matches the profile of the guide rail should cooperate, is preferably as a sealing plate with a sealing lip resting on the profile of the guide rail educated.

The carriage body and / or the deflection plate can be snapped Lanyards to be secured to the carriage housing. In this way, the assembly of the carriage continues facilitated.

A preferred construction is characterized in that the Deflection plate directly on an end plate by snap is secured and in turn the security of the Carriage body within the carriage housing by the Protrusions overlapping the car body.

A seal arrangement can also be on the carriage housing be secured by snap connection means, in particular at the end faces of the end plate remote from the car body ten.

The carriage body is often used to guide a workpiece or a tool or a measuring device on a guide rail should be determined. In view of this, it can be provided that the car body for attaching a through it along the Guide rail guided unit is formed, approximately in the way that on the car body at least one over the Carriage housing projecting contact surface for construction  unit is formed.

According to a further aspect of the invention, this relates to one Linear guide unit comprising a guide rail with a Axis and at least one on this guide rail in Rich tion of the axis movable carriage, which under Ver averaging at least one endless rolling element circulation on the Guide rail is guided, this rolling element circulation exists from a load-bearing row of rolling elements in simultaneous engagement with a load-bearing rolling element orbit of the guide rail and a supporting rolling element orbit of the guide carriage, from a returning row of rolling elements in a rolling element return guidance of the carriage and from the rolling element row hen, which the load-bearing rolling row and the return Connect the row of rolling elements at their ends and in Rolling elbow guides of the carriage are guided, wherein the rolling elements of the load-bearing rolling element row also against Loss are secured when the carriage is removed from the guide tion rail is withdrawn, and being used to secure this Rolling elements at least one securing web is provided, wel cher parallel to the axial direction of the guide rail stretches. In order to achieve the one hand with such a carriage Fill in rolling elements slightly, but on the other hand fill these rolling elements before being slid on the carriage, captive in the guide To be able to hold an ambulance, it is proposed that the Safety bridge between a safe position and a Ball filling position is adjustable. The safe can rungssteg, as already indicated above, be U-shaped; he can continue in the respective position by locking means and measures may be taken to on the one hand, unintentional moving of the safety bar prevent, on the other hand its transfer from the rolling element filling position into the securing position slightly to make possible.

The accompanying figures explain the invention using a Embodiment. They represent:  

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the Linearführungsein unit;

Fig. 2 is a perspective bottom view in the direction of arrow 11
. FIG 1 of the carriage;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the carriage;

Fig. 4 is a section along line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section along line VV of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective bottom view again in the direction of arrow 11 of Figure 1 of the carriage, with safety bars for the balls occupy a filling position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective bottom view again in the direction of arrow II of Fig. 1 on a modified with respect to the ball lock embodiment and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a further embodiment modified with regard to the ball lock.

FIG. 9 is a section corresponding to that of FIG. 4 from the embodiment of FIG. 8
In Fig. 1, a guide rail is designated 10 . This guide rail 10 has an axis 12 , a base surface 14 , side surfaces 16 and load-bearing roller raceway zones 18 and 18 ', which together each form a load-bearing roller raceway 18-18 ' of the guide rail 10 , namely a load-bearing ball raceway 18-18 '. A guide carriage 20 is guided on the guide rail 10 . The guide rail 10 can be mounted with its base surface 14 on a supporting structure, for example, the bed of a machine tool or the frame of a measuring device and fastened there by means of fastening bolts which pass through the guide rail 10 in fastening holes 22 . The carriage 20 is used to guide a workpiece or a tool along the guide rail 10 and is designed for this purpose with bearing surfaces 24 for the tool or workpiece and with mounting holes 26 . The structure of the guide carriage for the first embodiment results from FIGS. 2-6.

From Fig. 2 it can first be seen that the guide carriage 20 is substantially U-shaped with two leg regions 28 and a web region 30 , which are indicated schematically in dash manner. The leg regions 28 lie adjacent to the side surfaces 16 of the guide rail according to FIG. 1, while the web region 30 lies adjacent to the top surface 19 of the guide rail 10 according to FIG. 1. The carriage 20 is guided on the load-bearing rolling element raceways 18-18 'through rolling element revolutions 32 , which are best seen in FIGS . 4 and 5. The rolling element revolutions 32 are formed by balls 34 in an endless loop arrangement. Each ball circulation 32 has a load-bearing row of balls 36 , a returning row of balls 38 and two rows of curved balls 40 . The load-bearing ball row 36 is guided according to FIG. 4 on the load-bearing ball race 18-18 'of the guide rail 10 . On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the load-bearing rows of balls 36 are guided on load-bearing ball raceways 42 of the guide carriage 20 . The returning rows of balls 38 are guided in a ball return guide 44 of the guide carriage 20 , and the arc ball rows 40 are guided in ball bearing guides 46 of the guide carriage 20 .

From Fig. 3 you can see the structural structure of the guide carriage 20th The guide carriage 20 comprises a guide carriage housing 48 with two side parts 50 and two end plates 52 . The side parts 50 and the end plates 52 form a positioning shaft 54 , which is indicated by the double arrow 54 . This positioning shaft 54 is delimited by insertion surfaces 56 , 58 and by a bottom surface 60 .

The guide carriage 20 further comprises a carriage body 62 and two deflection plates 64 . The baffle plates 64 have contact surfaces 66 which are intended for contact with axially normal end faces 68 of the carriage body 62 . Furthermore, the deflection plates 64 have projections 70 directed towards one another, which take over the rela tive positioning of the deflection plates 64 and the carriage body 62 by engaging in longitudinal grooves 72 on the top of the carriage body 62 . The installation of the carriage body 62 and the deflection plates 64 in the positioning shaft 54 can be imagined in such a way that the deflection plates 64 on the end surfaces 68 of the carriage body 62 come to rest and the projections 70 are brought into engagement in the longitudinal grooves 72 and that the thus formed , by hand or by mounting tools held together package then in the positioning shaft 54 is is lowered, said counter-guide surfaces 74 of the car body are passed to the lead-in surfaces 58 62, and remote from the carriage body 62 end surfaces 76 of the baffles 64 to the lead-in surfaces 56 of the positioning shaft 54 are performed until the lower surfaces 78 of the carriage body 62 and the lower surfaces 80 of the baffle plates 64 come to rest on the floor surface 60 . Then the essential components of the guide carriage 20 , namely the guide carriage housing 48 , the carriage body 62 and the baffle plates 64 , are correctly positioned with respect to one another. In addition, the projections 82 are provided on the baffle plates 64 for positioning which engage in notches 84 in assembled state to the side parts 50 of the guide carriage housing 48th The fuse of the deflecting plates 64 against lifting from the positioning shaft 54 is effected by bars 86 which snap in the course of the insertion movement in the positioning shaft 54 in slots 88th For this purpose, the strips 86 can be chamfered in a wedge shape so that they push the end plates 52 apart from one another during the insertion movement into the positioning shaft 54 until the strips 86 then fall into the respective slot 88 . The stop of the carriage body 62 against lifting from the positioning shaft 54 is then ensured by the projections 70 of the deflection plates 64 .

So much for the mechanical structure of the carriage.

To explain a rolling element circulation 32 is now simultaneous reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The load-bearing row of balls 36 is guided on the guide carriage 20 according to FIG. 3 on the load-bearing ball track 42 , which is part of the carriage body 62 , as can be seen in FIG. 3. On the hedging tion of the balls of the load-bearing row of balls 36 in engagement with the load-bearing ball race 42 of the carriage body 62 will be discussed later.

The ball return duct 44 in Fig. 4 and 5 on the one hand of a return track 90 of the car body 62 and the other part formed by a return guide rail 92 of the guide carriage housing 48.

The ball arch guide, generally designated 46 in FIG. 5, in each case comprises a deflection piece 94 which is integrally formed on the bottom surface 60 of the guide carriage housing 48 and which has a radially inner arch guide surface 96 . Furthermore, the spherical arch guide 46 comprises a groove 98 which is sunk into the contact surface 66 of the deflection plate 64 . Circular recesses 100 and 102 are formed on the deflection plate 64 in the region of the trough 98 , which receive the deflection piece 94 , so that its radially inner arc guide surface 96 together with the trough 98 results in the semi-toroidal ball arch guide 46 . For trouble-free transfer of the rotating balls 34 from the straight guide section of the load-bearing row of balls 36 into the ball arch guide 46 and vice versa 64 deflection tongues 104 (FIGS . 3 and 5) are formed on the deflection, which one of the associated load-bearing ball race 18-18 'of the guide rail 10 have adapted semicircular profile and, as can be seen from Fig. 5, decrease towards their tongue tips towards wall thickness, so that they form a substantially tangential into the respective load-bearing ball track 18-18 'of the guide rail 10 entering inlet surface 106 .

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is now carried out how the balls 34 , each of which the load-bearing row of balls 36 bil, are held on the guide carriage 20 , so that even when the guide carriage 20 is separated from the guide rail 10, these balls 34 are different can not solve the carriage 20 . For this purpose, a securing web 108 is provided, which is formed from a piece of wire. This securing web 108 is in the assembled state of the guide rail 10 and guide carriage 20 in a longitudinal groove 110 which, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the two raceway zones 18 , 18 'of the load-bearing ball race 18-18 ' of the guide rail 10 from each other separates. This securing web 108 is attached to the guide carriage housing 48 , as can best be seen in FIG. 3. On the securing web 108 fastening legs 112 are formed, which have semicircular curvatures 114 at their ends. The mounting legs 112 are inserted into recesses 116 on the side of the end plates 52 remote from the car body. Within these Ausneh measures 116 two positions for the fastening leg 112 and thus for the respective securing web 108 are possible. In a first position, the securing position, which is shown in FIG. 2, the semicircular curvature 114 engages in a groove 118 of the recess 116 remote from the rail, which is defined by the circumferential boundary 120 of the recess 116 and by a cam 122 . In a second position, the ball filling position, which is shown in FIG. 6, the semicircular curvature 114 engages in a groove 124 which is formed within the recess 116 between the cam 122 and a further cam 126 .

As seen from Fig. 2, the securing crosspiece 108 can engage in the transition region to the respective mounting leg 112 in a slot 128 of the Umlenkzunge 104 so that the locking web is held in the correct position 108.

In Fig. 6 one can see the Kugeleinfüllposition the backup web 108th The securing web 108 is lifted there so far from the load-bearing ball track 42 (not shown in FIG. 6, but probably in FIGS. 3 and 4) of the carriage body 62 that the balls 34 are in a filling position of the guide carriage, in which the securing web 108 is located vertically above the horizontally held load bearing ball track 42 of the car body 62 can be undisturbed inserted by the securing web 108 and can be moved gradually in the area of the ball return guide 44 and the ball curved guides 46 until the ball screw 32 is complete. Then only the securing web 108 needs to be moved from the position according to FIG. 6 into the position according to FIG. 2 by exerting a pressure in the direction of arrow 130 in FIG. 6. The semi-arcuate curvatures 114 then inevitably pass from the trough 124 into the trough 118 ; the transition is facilitated by the inclined surface 132 on the cam 122 . In the securing position, as shown in FIG. 2, the securing crosspiece 108 is in the direct vicinity, but without contact to the balls 34 when this abuts against the load bearing ball track 42 of the trolley body 62.

The ball revolutions 32 usually have to be lubricated, and the more or less liquid lubricant supplied to them must be substantially protected against leakage from the areas to be lubricated. For this purpose, 3 sealing plates 134 are shown in FIG. Provided at which sealing lips 136 are integrally formed. The sealing plates 134 are injection molded from plastic or rubber, and the sealing lips 136 are so flexible due to the small wall thickness that they lie essentially close to the profile 16-19 of the guide rail 10 . The sealing plates 134 are applied to the remotely-located from the carriage body end faces of the end plates 52 and thereby locked in that detents 138 of the sealing plates 134 in latching recesses 140 of the end plates 52 is to be snapped, to engage behind and then the end plates 52; the locking lugs 138 find space in recesses 142 on the end faces 76 of the deflection plates 64 . Lubricant supply bores 144 are provided in the sealing plate 134 , which in the assembled state are aligned with lubricant through-channels 146 of the end plates 52 and lubricant through-channels 148 of the deflection plates 64 . Check valves can prevent lubricant from flowing out. There is also a risk of lubricant escaping in the gap between the side surfaces 16 of the guide rail 10 and the leg areas 28 of the guide carriage 20 . For this reason, as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, 48 longitudinal sealing strips 150 are attached to the side parts 50 of the guide carriage housing 48 , which may be injection-molded or cast in one piece with the guide carriage housing from plastic or rubber and, due to the low material thickness, to conform to the Guide rail 10 necessary lubrication ability. In this way, lubrication chambers are formed which extend over all the rela tive movement of balls and ball guide surfaces subject to lubrication points and are essentially sealed. Loss of lubricant is avoided. The unvermeidli cherweise in contact with the guide rail 10 passing lubricant is always mitgenom men, so that no substantial lubricating film left by the carriage 20 outside of the guide carriage 20 on the guide rail 10 degrees.

From Fig. 1 it is seen that the bearing surface 24 pers projecting the Wagenkör 62 upward beyond the guide carriage housing 48 so that a tool or work piece on the support surface 24 without the positioning of interfering contact with the guide carriage housing can be mounted 48.

Adequate precision of the guide is ensured by the interaction of the carriage body 62 , the load-bearing rows of balls 36 and the guide rail 10 . These parts are usually made of steel. The usually made of plastic parts, namely carriage housing 48 , deflection plates 64 and sealing plates 134 , are subject to Precision requirements only to the extent that an undisturbed run of the ball revolutions 32 must be ensured. This precision is easy to achieve, all the more because the shape of parts 48 , 64 and 134 is straightforward.

The sealing plates 134 serve to additionally secure the fastening legs 112 in the recesses 116 ; they can be made so elastic that the semicircular curvatures gene 114 when transferring the securing webs 108 from the ball filling position shown in FIG. 6 in the ball securing position shown in FIG. 2 can still slide over the cams 122 , with a slight deflection of the sealing plates 134 occurs.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from that of FIGS . 1-6 only by a different design of the ball lock on the carriage 20 a. The ball lock is formed by a tensioned O-ring 152 a, which is inserted into the recess 116 a and hooked onto the cam 122 a. Here, the longitudinal section 154 a of the closed O-ring 152 a takes over the ball lock and the longitudinal section 156 a runs along a support surface 158 a of the side part 50 a, which can be formed, for example, on the lip base 151 of the sealing lip 150 according to FIG. 4. The O-ring 152 a here engages in the slots 128 a. The ball filling can be done simply by elastic lifting of section 154 a. The design of the recess 116 a could also be made simpler here and is only carried out in accordance with the design in FIGS. 1-6 for the use of a matching guide carriage housing 48 a.

Analog parts are designated in Fig. 7 with the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1-6 with the addition of a.

The embodiment according to FIG. 8 differs from that according to FIGS . 1-6 by a further modified design of the securing means for the ball lock. One can see here a cage 160 b with two double webs 162 b, which are connected to one another by connecting strips 164 b. The Fixie tion takes place here on the deflection tongues 104 b, which can be snapped in the Mon days of the cage 160 b between the sheet metal strips 162 'b and 162 ''b forming the respective double web. The ball filling can be done by elastic deflection of the material strips 162 'b, 162 ''b. B on the recesses 116 may then be dispensed with, unless these are desired for reasons of standardization, to use b to the same guide carriage housing 48 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6.

In Fig. 9 you can see the two strips of material 162 'b and 162 ''b whose distance is less than the ball diameter, so that the balls 34 b are held in engagement with the load-bearing raceway 42 b.

Analog parts are here also provided with the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1-6, each supplemented by b.

The linear guide unit according to the invention can also have two superimposed pairs or three superimposed Pairs of recirculating ball bearings can be manufactured.

The raceways 42 can be hardened. The deflection tongues 104 can also be understood as turning vanes, which ge, if desired, shovel-like 18- 18 'applied from the bearing raceways of the guide rail and a lubricant scoop out from these, and to pass on to the sheet guides 46 nen Kgs.

The securing webs 108 and their fastening parts can consist of spring steel wire, spring steel sheet or elastic material.

In the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the sealing lips 136 can also be formed by the O-ring sections 156 a.

Claims (35)

1. Linear guide device comprising a guide rail ( 10 ) with an axis ( 12 ) and at least one on this guide rail ( 10 ) in the direction of the axis ( 12 ) movable guide carriage ( 20 ), which mediates at least one endless rolling element circulation ( 32 ) the guide rail ( 10 ) is guided,
this rolling element circulation ( 32 ) consisting of a supporting rolling element row ( 36 ) in simultaneous engagement with a supporting rolling element raceway ( 18-18 ') of the guide rail ( 10 ) and a supporting rolling element raceway ( 42 ) of the guide carriage ( 20 ), from a returning rolling element row ( 38 ) in a rolling element return guide ( 44 ) of the guide carriage ( 20 ) and from curved rolling element rows ( 40 ), which connect the load-bearing rolling element row ( 36 ) and the returning rolling element row ( 38 ) to one another at their ends and in rolling element arc guides ( 46 ) of the guide carriage ( 20 ) are led,
wherein the carriage (20) is executed with a guide carriage housing (48) and with an accommodated within the guide carriage housing (48), of which approximately Füh carriage housing (48) separately prepared carriage body (62),
wherein the guide carriage housing ( 48 ) comprises at least one side part ( 50 ) which is substantially parallel to the axial direction and adjacent to the rolling element circumference ( 32 ) and further comprises at least one end plate ( 52 ) which is essentially orthogonal to the axial direction and one of the rolling element arc rows ( 40 ) ,
wherein the load-bearing row of rolling elements ( 36 ) is guided on the wa genkörper ( 62 ), characterized in that in the axial direction between the carriage body ( 62 ) and the end plate ( 52 ) a separate from the carriage body ( 62 ) and the guide carriage housing ( 48 ) manufactured Umlenkplat te ( 64 ) is used, on which guide surfaces ( 98 ) of the rolling element arch guide ( 46 ) are integrally formed, and that the deflection plate ( 64 ) and the carriage body ( 62 ) th through the carriage housing ( 48 ) are held together in the correct position. 2. Linear guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that at each end of the carriage body ( 62 ) a deflection plate ( 64 ) between the carriage body ( 62 ) and an associated end plate ( 52 ) of the carriage housing ( 48 ) is arranged. 3. Linear guide device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on two spaced-apart side surfaces ( 16 ) of the guide rail ( 10 ) at least one Wälzkörperum running ( 32 ) is provided and that the carriage housing ( 48 ) on both sides of the guide rail ( 10 ) each has a side part ( 50 ). 4. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the carriage body ( 62 ) and the deflection plate ( 64 ) in the direction orthogonal to the rail ( 10 ) orthogonal direction ( 54 ) in the carriage housing ( 48 ) are inserted and fastened there . 5. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that a radially inner guide surface ( 96 ) of the rolling element arc guide ( 46 ) on the carriage housing ( 48 ) is introduced and further, preferably all other, guide surfaces ( 98 ) Rolling element arch guide ( 46 ) are attached to the deflection plate ( 64 ). 6. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the at least one side part ( 50 ) with the at least one end plate ( 52 ) is made in one piece. 7. Linear guide device according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one side part ( 50 ) together with the at least one end plate ( 52 ) made of pourable or sprayable material, in particular plastic, is made in one piece. 8. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the deflection plate ( 64 ) from pourable or sprayable mate rial, preferably in one piece, is made, in particular from plastic. 9. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the carriage body ( 62 ) is designed as a profile body, which - viewed in section planes orthogonal to the axis direction - has a substantially constant profile over its entire longitudinal direction parallel to the axial direction. 10. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the rolling element return guide ( 44 ) by cooperating return guide surfaces ( 90 , 92 ) of the carriage body ( 62 ) and the carriage housing ( 48 ) is ge. 11. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that on the guide carriage housing ( 48 ), on the carriage body ( 62 ) and / and on the deflection plate ( 64 ) positioning surfaces ( 56 , 58 , 60 , 66 , 68 , 74 , 76 , 78 ) are integrally formed which, when the carriage body ( 62 ) or the deflection plate ( 64 ) is installed in the guide carriage housing ( 48 ), ensure that these parts are correctly positioned relative to one another. 12. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-11, characterized in that when executing the guide carriage ( 20 ) with at least one pair of rolling element revolutions ( 32 ) lying on both sides of a guide rail ( 10 ), and when executing the guide carriage housing ( 48 ) in the form of a rectangular frame with two side parts ( 50 ) and two end plates ( 52 ) through the side parts ( 50 ) and the end plates ( 52 ) a positioning shaft ( 54 ) is formed, which the introduction of the carriage body ( 62 ) or / and the deflection plate ( 64 ) allows in an insertion direction, which is a guiding direction approximately orthogonal to the rail axis ( 12 ) and to a loop plane of the rolling element revolutions ( 32 ). 13. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that a positioning shaft ( 54 ) for the carriage body ( 62 ) and for at least one deflection plate ( 64 ) is formed on the carriage housing ( 48 ) that this positioning shaft ( 54 ) the introduction of the carriage body (62) and at least one baffle plate (64) in the sense of approach to the axis (12) serving for introduction surfaces (56, 58) and the introduction limiting bottom surface (60) and in that on the bottom surface (60) at least one deflection piece ( 94 ) of a rolling element arc guide ( 46 ) is preferably attached in one piece, which forms an essentially orthogonal radially inner curved guide surface ( 96 ) for this rolling element circulation ( 32 ) to a loop plane of an associated rolling element circulation ( 32 ). 14. Linear guide device according to claim 13, characterized in that in a carriage body ( 62 ) facing contact surface ( 66 ) of a baffle plate ( 64 ) is a part-arched guide groove ( 98 ) for the rolling elements ( 34 ) of a sheet rolling row ( 40 ) is sunk , which is essentially concentric with the sheet guiding surface ( 96 ). 15. Linear guide device according to one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that on the deflection plate ( 64 ) as part of the rolling element arc guide ( 46 ) a deflection tongue ( 104 ) is formed, which is substantially tangential to an associated load-bearing rolling element raceway ( 18-18 ') The guide rail ( 10 ) runs. 16. Linear guide device according to any one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the rolling bodies (34) of the bearing row of rolling bodies (36) are also chert gesi on the guide carriage (20) against loss when the guide carriage (20) rail of the guide ( 10 ) is subtracted. 17. Linear guide device according to claim 16, characterized in that the rolling elements ( 34 ) of the supporting rolling element row ( 36 ) in the guide carriage ( 20 ) are secured by at least one securing web ( 108 ) against loss, which is essentially parallel to the axis ( 12 ) the guide rail ( 10 ) extends. 18. Linear guide device according to claim 17, characterized in that the securing web ( 108 ) is made separately from the deflection plate ( 64 ) and the guide carriage housing ( 48 ). 19. Linear guide device according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the securing web ( 108 ) is provided on at least one of its ends with a to the axis ( 12 ) substantially orthogonal len mounting leg ( 112 ) which on one to the axis ( 12 ) in essential orthogonal part of the carriage ( 20 ) can be secured, preferably an end plate ( 52 ). 20. Linear guide device according to claim 19, characterized in that the securing web ( 108 ) with two fastening legs ( 112 ) is substantially U-shaped. 21. Linear guide device according to one of claims 17-20, characterized in that the securing web ( 108 ) between a securing position ( Fig. 2) and a ball filling position ( Fig. 6) is substantially orthogonal to the axis ( 12 ) adjustable. 22. Linear guide device according to one of claims 19-21, characterized in that for the fastening leg ( 112 ) on the end plate ( 52 ) in addition to one of the securing position ( Fig. 2) of the Si securing web ( 108 ) corresponding first latching position one of the ball filling position ( Fig the securing web (corresponding second detent position 108) is provided. 6). 23. Linear guide device according to claim 22, characterized in that the fastening leg ( 112 ) from the second Rastpo position ( Fig. 6) in the first latching position ( Fig. 2) can be transferred by the action of pressure and in the first Rastpo position ( Fig. 2) automatically locked. 24. Linear guide device according to one of claims 17-23, characterized in that the load-bearing rolling element raceway ( 18-18 ') is formed by two partial raceways ( 18 , 18 '), which are formed by a receiving groove ( 110 ) for the securing web ( 108 ) from one another are separated. 25. Linear guide device according to one of claims 17-24, characterized in that the securing web ( 108 ) in the transition region from the load-bearing rolling element row ( 36 ) to an arc rolling element row ( 40 ) via an outer surface of a deflection tongue ( 104 ) for the rolling bodies ( 34 ) which outer surface of a deflecting surface ( 106 ) of the deflecting tongue ( 104 ) is turned away. 26. Linear guide device according to one of claims 17-23, characterized in that two securing webs ( 162 'b, 162 ''b) on the load-bearing row of rolling elements ( 36 ) on both sides of their line of contact with the load-bearing rolling element raceway ( 18 b) of the guide rail ( 10 ) concern. 27. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-26, characterized in that on a side part ( 50 ) of the carriage housing ( 48 ) has a longitudinal seal ( 150 ) in the sealing position GE compared to the guide rail ( 10 ) is attached. 28. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-27, characterized in that on a side of the end plate ( 52 ) facing away from the carriage body ( 62 ) at least one sealing arrangement ( 134 ) is attached in the sealing position with respect to a profile of the guide rail ( 10 ). 29. Linear guide device according to claim 28, characterized in that the sealing arrangement ( 134 ) is designed as a sealing plate with a sealing lip ( 136 ) resting on the profile of the guide rail ( 10 ). 30. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-29, characterized in that the carriage body ( 62 ) and / and the deflection plate ( 64 ) by snap connection means ( 86 , 88 ) on the guide carriage housing ( 48 ) are secured. 31. Linear guide device according to claim 30, characterized in that the deflection plate ( 64 ) is secured directly to an end plate ( 52 ) by snap connection means ( 86 , 88 ) and in turn securing the carriage body ( 62 ) within half of the carriage housing ( 48 ) by the Carriage body ( 62 ) overlaps projections ( 70 ). 32. Linear guide device according to one of claims 28-31, characterized in that the sealing arrangement ( 134 ) on the guide carriage housing ( 48 ) is secured by snap connection means ( 138 , 140 ). 33. Linear guide device according to one of claims 1-32, characterized in that the carriage body ( 62 ) for attaching a unit guided by it along the guide rail ( 10 ) is formed. 34. Linear guide device according to claim 33, characterized in that on the carriage body ( 62 ) at least one over the Füh approximately carriage housing ( 48 ) projecting contact surface ( 24 ) is formed for the structural unit. 35. Linear guide device comprising a guide rail ( 10 ) with an axis ( 12 ) and at least one on this guide rail ( 10 ) in the direction of the axis ( 12 ) movable guide carriage ( 20 ), which mediates at least one endless rolling element circulation ( 32 ) the guide rail ( 10 ) is guided,
this rolling element circulation ( 32 ) consisting of a supporting rolling element row ( 36 ) in simultaneous engagement with a supporting rolling element raceway ( 18-18 ') of the guide rail ( 10 ) and a supporting rolling element raceway ( 42 ) of the guide carriage ( 20 ), from a returning rolling element row ( 38 ) in a rolling element return guide ( 44 ) of the guide carriage ( 20 ) and from curved rolling element rows ( 40 ), which connect the load-bearing rolling element row ( 36 ) and the returning rolling element row ( 38 ) to one another at their ends and in rolling element arc guides ( 46 ) of the guide carriage ( 20 ) are led,
The rolling elements ( 34 ) of the load-bearing rolling element row ( 36 ) are also secured against loss when the guide carriage ( 20 ) is pulled off the guide rail ( 10 ), and at least one securing web ( 108 ) is used to secure these rolling elements ( 34 ). is provided, which extends parallel to the axial direction of the guide rail ( 10 ), characterized in that the securing web ( 108 ) between a securing position ( Fig. 2) and a ball filling position ( Fig. 6) is adjustable, if necessary in conjunction with at least a further feature of claims 1-34.