EP2938894A1

EP2938894A1 - Linear drive and method for manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: EP2938894A1
Application number: EP13828979.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eric Angué; Simone Kopp; Ulrich Diener
Original assignee: Festo SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Festo SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2013-12-24
Filing date: 2013-12-24
Publication date: 2015-11-04
Also published as: WO2015096844A1; US20160265563A1; CN104870141A; JP2016507710A

Abstract

Disclosed is a linear drive (1) comprising a drive unit (2) that includes a drive housing (7) having a single-piece guiding member (10). Guideways (35) for linearly guiding an output carriage (4) are formed on the guiding member (10). The single-piece guiding member (10) is designed as a bent sheet metal part and includes a plurality of leg portions (33) which are bent relative to one another in bending zones (32). Two of said leg portions (33) lie across from each other and form guiding legs (34) which are provided with the guideways (35). Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a linear drive (1) of said type.

Description

Linear drive and method for its production

The invention relates to a linear drive, with a drive unit which has a drive housing having a longitudinal axis, furthermore with a linearly displaceably guided on the drive housing for carrying out a stroke movement oriented in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis

Output slide, and with drive means for generating the lifting movement of the output carriage, wherein the drive housing has an integral guide body, on which a plurality of extending in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis and transversely to the longitudinal axis spaced guideways are formed, where the output carriage to perform the stroke linear is movably guided.

The invention further relates to a method for producing such a linear drive.

A known from DE 33 30 933 AI linear drive of this type has a drive unit and a

Output slide, wherein the output slide is mounted linearly displaceable on a one-piece to a drive housing of the drive unit associated guide body. The output carriage is drivable by means of the drive unit for a linear lifting movement along the one-piece guide body, wherein it receives the required for the execution of the lifting movement of a force from the drive housing forth protruding piston rod experiences, which belongs to drive means of the drive unit. The guide body is a block-shaped component whose outer shape may have been produced by machining, wherein longitudinal grooves are introduced into the outer surface of the guide body, which define guide tracks for the linear guidance of the driven slide. The preparation of the known linear drive should be expensive and probably relatively expensive because of the high cost of materials. Also, the known linear drive should have a relatively high weight, which is particularly disadvantageous if it is to be integrated into a moving system.

From DE 10 2011 016 282 AI, a linear drive is known, which has a block-shaped drive housing, which forms an integral guide body on which an output slide is mounted linearly displaceable with the interposition of a separate linear drive means. Of the

Output carriage has a multi-part construction and has a slide table with a one-piece guide section produced by pressing. By the press-forming of the guide section, the manufacturing cost of this linear drive can be reduced. Nevertheless, here is the production of the drive housing, probably through

Extrusion and / or produced by machining, relatively time consuming and expensive.

The invention has for its object to make measures that allow a particularly simple and cost-effective production of a linear drive.

To solve this problem, it is provided according to the invention in a linear drive of the type mentioned, that the one-piece guide body is a metallic sheet metal bent part is that has a plurality of leg portions which are bent relative to each other at bending portions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein at least two of these leg portions are spaced apart transversely to the longitudinal axis and each form a guide leg having at least one of the guideways.

The object is also achieved in conjunction with the method features of the type mentioned above in that the one-piece guide body is produced on the basis of a previously contoured contoured plate-shaped sheet metal blank by bending as a metal sheet bending part, wherein the sheet metal blank to form a plurality of leg portions of the guide body at several Bending areas extending parallel to the longitudinal axis is bent in such a way that at least two of these bent leg sections are spaced apart transversely to the longitudinal axis and each form a guide leg associated with at least one guide track.

The design of the guide body as a one-piece bent sheet metal part opens the possibility for a technologically simple and cost-effective production of the drive housing. In the production of the guide body ei ^¬ nerseits complex machining operations can be saved and also results in a significant material savings compared to conventional designs. In bending shaping, guide legs equipped with the guideways can be produced by simple bending operations, in which the bent sheet metal part is bent at bending areas extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive housing, two leg sections lying opposite of the resulting leg sections of the bent sheet metal part being provided with the guideways. hen thighs can be used. For the production of the guide body is preferably resorted to a plate-shaped sheet metal blank whose contour is contoured taking into account the desired final shape of the guide body and in particular tailored accordingly - for example by laser cutting or punching - and then using suitable bending tools, such as bending rolls, reshaped or is bent, that the guide body results in the desired final shape with the two guide tracks having guide legs. Particularly advantageous in the structure and manufacturing method according to the invention is the variability in the possible design of the guide body, which allows cost-effective manner to realize individually designed guide body, in particular taking into account the nature of the drive means used for use.

Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The guideways used for the linear guide of the driven slide are preferably formed by groove-like depressions of the guide limbs. These could be embossed, for example, before the bending shaping in the FührungsSchkel forming sections of the sheet metal part blank. However, it is considered to be particularly advantageous if the guideways are formed by profiled bending structures of the guide legs, ie the two guide limbs are directly bent in such a way that they have a respective cross-sectional contour forming the at least one guideway. The guide legs are converted in particular into channel-shaped bending structure sections. gene, so that set groove-like depressions whose boundary surfaces are used as guideways.

If the guideways in the form of profiled bending structure sections are realized directly by the bending process of the bent sheet metal part, one has the advantage of not having to resort to different production technologies, which allows a further cost reduction.

The guideways are preferably formed on the mutually facing inner sides of the opposite guide leg. This allows the realization of a compact linear actuator, in which the

Tapping carriage between the guide legs dips. But also possible is also a design in which the guideways are located on the opposite outer sides of the guide legs, wherein they are conveniently encompassed by the guide carriage.

Each guide leg is expediently an integral part of an at least substantially L-shaped profiled ^¬ profiled guide body portion. In this case, a design is possible in which a leg portion of the sheet metal bending part is simultaneously part of two L-shaped profiled guide body sections.

Particularly useful is a design considered in which each FührungsSchenkel is an integral part of an at least substantially U-shaped profiled guide body portion. In the simplest case, the guide body will be formed solely by a substantially U-shaped profiled guide body portion. The Führungskör he is preferably made of a steel sheet. A special corrosion resistance can be achieved when using a stainless steel sheet.

Expediently, at least one guide element resting on the output carriage with respect to the drive housing is supported on the guideways of the guide body in each case at a distance from the longitudinal axis of the drive carriage. Each guideway preferably has a plurality of guide elements arranged successively in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis of the drive housing. If the guide tracks are components of groove-like depressions, which are formed in particular by channel-shaped curved sections of the guide body, the guide elements engage in these guide grooves and are exactly centered in this way.

The guide elements are preferably rolling elements, for example in the form of balls, rollers or needles. In this case, for example, a cage principle may be used, in which several rolling elements per guide track are combined by a cage element to form a rolling element assembly, which during the stroke movement of the

Move the drive carriage along the guideways. Advantageously, an embodiment according to the so-called recirculation principle, in particular recourse to ball recirculation is used, in which spherical rolling elements in the linear movement of the driven carriage rotate in a self-contained guide channel, which is partially limited by the guideways of the guide body.

Due to the bending shape of the guide body usually has such a contour that it defines one or more longitudinally passing through him interiors. This one or more interior spaces may be channel-shaped and open at one point alongside along the entire length. If the guide body has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile, it defines a single interior, which is bounded laterally by the guide legs having the guideways. It is advantageous if the drive housing has at least one end body which can be attached or attached to an end face of the guide body in order to completely or partially close each end area defined by the guide body.

In an advantageous construction, the drive means responsible for the generation of the lifting movement are arranged at least partially in at least one interior space defined by the one-piece guide body. It is even possible a design in which the drive means are accommodated in their entirety in at least one interior of the guide body.

Expediently, the one-piece guide body is bent around the bending areas extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide body such that it defines a central inner space extending directly between the guide legs. This interior space may be open on one longitudinal side, said movable carriage is driven in the area of this open Längssei ^¬ te linear. Conveniently, the drive means are at least partially housed in the central interior.

A further possible embodiment provides that the one-piece guide body is bent in such a way that, in addition to a central interior, it also defines at least one outer interior flanking the central interior alongside. This outer interior can be replaced by at least one or at least partially separated from the central interior by a plurality of leg sections of the guide body. An embodiment in which the guide body is bent in such a way that two outer internal surfaces flanking the central inner space on opposite longitudinal sides, which are each separated from the inner space between them by at least one leg section, is considered to be particularly expedient.

The drive means present for driving the output slide can be arranged at least partially in the at least one outer inner space. If the drive means comprise a revolving drive train, for example a toothed belt, two outer inner chambers flanking the central inner space can be used to receive in each case one of two mutually parallel extending troughs of the drive train. In this case, it is provided in particular that a drive motor is arranged on or in a closing body, which is attached to the end face of the guide body.

However, in particular it is also possible to use the two outer interiors in each case for receiving a fluid-actuated actuator, for example a pneumatic cylinder. Defined the guide body only a single central interior, this central interior can be used, for example, to accommodate a fluid-actuated actuator or components of an electric drive system, such as a rotatably mounted drive spindle.

The linear drive is suitable for equipping with any type of drive means. Preferably, it is equipped with electric and / or fluid-operated drive means. equips. The type of drive means will be oriented in particular to the intended use of the linear drive.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this show:

1 shows a preferred first embodiment of the inventive linear drive in an isometric view,

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the linear drive from FIG. 1 according to section line II-II,

3 shows a cross-section of the linear drive from FIGS. 1 and 2 according to section line III-III from FIG. 1, wherein the contour of a sheet metal part blank underlying the bending deformation is indicated by dotted lines and schematically indicated by dashed arrows of the bending process carried out to produce the guide body,

4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the linear drive according to the invention in an isometric view,

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the linear drive of Figure 4 in the region of the guide body according to section line V-V of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is an end view of another embodiment of the linear drive according to the invention under Weglas ^¬ solution of a possibly end face attached end body. In FIGS. 5 and 6, as in FIG. 3, the outer contour of a sheet-metal part blank 25 underlying the bending deformation is indicated by dot-dash lines and the bending-forming process is schematically illustrated by dashed-dotted arrows 26.

In the drawing, several embodiments of a generally designated by reference numeral 1 linear drive can be seen, which has a drive unit 2 with a drive housing 7 and with respect to the drive housing 7 for carrying a linear stroke 3 illustrated by a double arrow linearly displaceable mounted drive carriage 4.

The linear drive 1 has a longitudinal axis 5, which is also the

Longitudinal axis of the drive unit 2, the drive housing 7 and the output carriage 4 forms. The lifting movement 3 extends in the axial direction of this longitudinal axis 5. Der

Output slide 4 can move relative to the drive housing 7 in opposite directions of movement.

The driven carriage 4 is arranged alongside next to the drive housing 7. It may be completely outside of the drive housing 7, as is the case in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, but it may also be completely or partially sunk in the drive housing 7, as is exemplified by the figures 4 to 6.

Overall designated by reference numeral 6 linear guide means ensure that the output slide 4 is supported at right angles to the longitudinal axis 5 with respect to the drive housing 7 and performed linearly to perform the lifting movement. The Components of the linear guide means 6 belonging to the drive housing 7 are, in particular exclusively, formed on a one-piece guide body 10 of the drive housing 7, whose construction will be discussed in more detail below.

In addition to the drive housing 7, the drive unit 2 also includes drive means 8, which are drivingly coupled in at least one coupling area 24 with the output slide 4 for transmitting drive movements of the lifting movement 3. These drive means 8 are expediently accommodated at least partially in the interior of the drive housing 7. By way of example, the drive means 8 each comprise at least one drive section 12 which is movable relative to the drive housing 7 and engages in the coupling section 24 on the output carriage 4 and is fastened thereto and which can execute a drive movement 14 in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 5 indicated by a double arrow. The drive movement 14 of the drive section 12 can be caused by external energy input, for which purpose the drive means 8 are of electrically and / or fluid-actuated design.

The linear drive 1 of Figures 1 to 3 is equipped with drive means 8 of the fluid-actuated type. Here, the drive means 8 in particular contain a fluid-actuated linear drive unit 15, which is preferably designed as a fluid-actuated working cylinder and whose drive section 12 is a piston rod 12a. The piston rod 12a is connected to a drive piston 12b, which is received linearly displaceably in a cylinder tube 15a and which can be pressurized axially in order to produce the drive movement 14. The piston rod 12a projects out of the drive housing 7 on a front end side 16 and is there in a coupling region 24 with a front end face in front of the front end 16. te 16 projecting drive leg 18 of the output slide 4 mechanically coupled. In the drive housing 7 extend two control channels 22a, 22b, which open into one of two by the drive piston 12b from each other divided drive chambers 15b, 15c and controlled from the outside in a coordinated manner with a drive fluid

can be acted upon to drive the drive piston 12b and thus also the piston rod 12a and the drive portion 12 formed by the piston rod 12a.

That the drive unit 2 may be equipped with a plurality of and in particular with two functionally parallel connected fluid-actuated linear drive units 15, illus ^¬ trated the embodiment of Figure 6. Here contains the drive unit 2 in particular two by fluid power and in particular pneumatically actuable working cylinder as fluidbe--actuated linear drive units 15 ,

FIG. 4 illustrates, by way of example, drive means 8 of an electrically actuable type, which are preferably electromechanical drive means 8. Here, the drive section 12 consists of a flexurally flexible, but tensile drive train 12c, which may for example be a chain, but is preferably designed as a toothed belt. This ring-shaped self-contained drive train 12c revolves around two deflecting wheels 23a, 23b of an electromechanical drive unit 23 of the drive means 8, spaced apart from one another in the axial direction 5, one of which being a rotationally driven deflection wheel 23a, which is driven by an electric motor 23c electromechanical drive unit 23 is rotationally driven in order to cause a rotational movement of the drive train 12c about the two deflection wheels 23a, 23b in one or the other direction of rotation. In the orbital motion ^¬ ser two lead parallel to one another intermediate see the two pulleys 23a, 23b in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 5 extending strand spaces 12d, 12e, the above-mentioned linear drive movement 14, one of which (12d) is mounted in a coupling region 24 on the output slide 4 to this depending on the direction of the drive movement 14 in one or the other axial direction to pull and thereby cause the lifting movement 3.

The illustrated and previously explained embodiments of drive means 18 are particularly advantageous for the realization of the invention, but may alternatively have a different structure. For example, between the driving section 12 and the output carriage 4 could be a berüh ^¬-contact coupling are present by means of magnetic forces. The drive means 8 could also be, for example, of the type of an electromechanical spindle drive or of the type of an electrodynamic linear direct drive. This list is not meant to be exhaustive.

The linear drive 1 can be designed so that the output slide 4 extends at least in a retracted basic position, which can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, along a major part of the length of the drive housing 7. During the lifting movement 3, the driven carriage 4 moves more or less far beyond the front end face 16 of the drive housing 7. Alternatively, the output slide 4 can also be designed so that it always remains entirely independent of its current position within the axial length of the drive housing 7, so that the absolute length of the linear drive 1 does not change during its operation.

The output slide 4 expediently has one or more, in the drawing partly only schematically indicated Mounting interfaces 19 on which can be fixed to be moved and / or positioned external components, such as machine parts or a gripping device.

The main component of the drive housing 7 is the already mentioned guide body 10, which has a one-piece structure and which consists of metal and in particular of steel. Specifically, the guide body 10 is a sheet metal body, which consists of a metal sheet and in particular of a steel sheet. A particular advantage results from the fact that it is the one-piece guide body 10 is a metallic sheet metal bent part, ie to a body which has been produced by bending deformation of a previously provided sheet metal part blank 25, as indicated in phantom in Figures 3, 5 and 6 ,

The sheet metal part blank 25 is formed by bending by means of one or more suitable bending tools in the desired final shape of the guide body 10, which is indicated by different arrows 26. Prior to the bending Umformvorgang the present preferably as a flat plate present sheet blank 25 is suitably contoured edge, where it is tailored for the purpose of this contouring in particular, which is done because of the variability in particular by laser cutting, but in principle also performed by a punching process or another trimming can be .

The guide body 10 has the already mentioned longitudinal axis 5 and a perpendicular to this longitudinal axis 5 transverse axis 27. In addition, the guide body 10 has a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 5 and the transverse axis 27 vertical axis 28. By means of the linear guide means 6 of the output slide 4 in the supported by the transverse axis 27 and the vertical axis 28 spanned plane relative to the guide body 10 on all sides immovably. The driven carriage 4 has only the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 5 as the only degree of freedom of movement with respect to the guide body 10.

The guide body 10 has a plurality of bending regions 32 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 5, on which leg portions 33 of the guide body 10, which are bent over relative to one another, merge into one another. At these bending areas 32, the sheet metal part blank 25 was bent during the production of the guide body 10 under plastic deformation. The bending takes place in particular in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 5.

The bending process takes place in such a way that the guide body 10 produced thereby has two leg sections 33 which are at a distance from each other transversely to the longitudinal axis 5 and which, because of their function, are designated as guide legs 34. These FührungsSchenkel 34 are the above-mentioned, formed by the guide body 10 components of Linearführungs- medium 6, since they each have at least one in the Achs ^¬ direction of the longitudinal axis 5 extending guideway 35 on which the output slide 4 for performing the lifting movement 3 linearly movable is guided. Since the arranged on the one guide leg 34 at least one guideway 35 is spaced from the arranged at the other guide leg 34 at least one further guideway 35 transversely to the longitudinal axis 5, the linear guide means 6 are able to absorb even initiated in the driven carriage 4 tilting forces.

In all embodiments, each guide leg 34 defines a single guideway 35, but which may well composed of several longitudinally spaced apart guide track sections which extend longitudinally side by side. In embodiments not shown, each guide leg 34 is provided with a plurality of guideways 35 extending parallel to each other.

Conveniently, the guideways 35 are formed such that located on the two guide legs 34 guideways 35 opposite pairs in the axial direction of the transverse axis 27. Preferably, at least one guide track 35 of the respective one guide leg 34 with respect to the vertical axis 28 is thus placed at the same height as a guide track 35 of the respective other guide leg 34.

Conveniently, the guideways 35 are each formed by a groove-like recess 36 of the respective guide leg 34. This applies to all embodiments. In particular, spaced-apart groove flanks of these groove-like depressions 36 each form one of the guide tracks 35,

The realization of the guideways 35 by groove-like depressions 36 has the advantage that the guideways 35 can cooperate in an optimally supporting manner with guide elements 37 of the linear guide means 6 which engage or immerse with at least part of their cross-section in the corresponding groove-like depression 36. Preferably engage in each groove-like depression 36 a plurality of guide elements 37, which are all supported on the one hand on the associated guideway 35 and on the other hand on a formed on the output slide 4 counter-guideway 38. Each counter-guide track 38 is preferably of a defined by the output carriage 4, in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 5 erstre- ckenden longitudinal groove 42 is formed, wherein this longitudinal groove 42 a groove-like recess 36 of the guide body 10 is opposite, so that a guide channel is formed, which receives a plurality of guide elements 37. If the

Output slide 4 performs the lifting movement 3, resulting from the design of the guide elements 37 a

Sliding along or rolling along the guide elements 37 on the guideway 35 and the opposite reference path 38th

Although the linear guide means 6 can basically also form a sliding guide, it is nevertheless advantageous to realize them in the form of a rolling guide. In this context, the guide elements 37 are formed as rolling elements, in particular as shown as a spherical body. The guide elements 37 also belong to the linear guide means 6.

The guide elements 37 designed as rolling elements, insofar as they are assigned to one and the same guideway 35, can be combined by a cage element into a rolling element assembly which moves uniformly along the guideway 35 during the lifting movement 3 of the driven carriage 4, all rolling elements on the relevant guideway 35 unroll. In another preferred embodiment, the linear guide means 6 are designed as so-called recirculating ball bearings, wherein the rolling elements associated with a respective guide track 35 circulate in the linear movement of the driven carriage 4 in a circulation channel, which is defined by preferably cassette-shaped guide units, which on a carriage body of the

Output slide 4 are mounted.

The linear drive 1 of the embodiment is particularly cost-effective due to the bending shaping of the guide body 10. tig produced. A further cost reduction is possible, although the output slide 4, at least as far as it defines the counter guide tracks 38, has a one-piece slide body, which is also a metal sheet bent part. In this way, the carriage body of the driven carriage and the guide body 10 of the drive housing 7 can be manufactured with the same forming technology.

The groove-like recesses 36 defining the guideways 35 can be introduced, for example, by an embossing process into the associated guide leg 34, in particular before the bending deformation of the sheet metal part blank 25. It is advantageous in any case when the groove-like depressions 36 are formed by non-cutting production in the guide limbs 34. It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the two guide legs 34, which applies to all embodiments, are directly bent in such a way that they have a respectively associated groove-like depression 36 forming cross-sectional contour, wherein the cross-section is meant, in one of the Transverse axis 27 and defined by the vertical axis 28 plane defined. In other words, the guideways 35 are formed, in particular, by bending structure sections 41 of the respective guide leg 34, whose profiling is produced by the bending deformation of the sheet metal part blank 25.

Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, the guide legs 34 for forming the guide tracks 35 or the groove-like depressions 36 defining the guide tracks 35 are bent to form a channel-shaped structure.

The exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrates that the guideways 35 are disposed on the outer side facing away from one another. Pages 43 of the two guide legs 34 may be arranged. In this case, the guide body 10 is overlapped on the outside in the region of the guide legs 34 like a rider. It can be said that here the guideways 35 define the inner tracks for the guide elements 37.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a particularly advantageous alternative design, in which the guideways 35 are located on the facing inner sides 44 of the guide legs 34. As a result, a particularly compact embodiment is possible in which the driven carriage 4 engages between the guide legs 34. In this embodiment, the guideways 35 virtually form the outer tracks of the raceways of the guide elements 37.

The guide body 10 is expediently shaped so that each guide leg 34 is an integral part of an at least substantially L-shaped profiled guide body portion 45, which is referred to below for simplicity as L-guide body portion 45. This design applies to all embodiments. The transition region between the two L-legs 45a, 45b of the respective L-guide body section 45 is formed by one of the bending areas 32, wherein the one, first L-leg 45a has a leg section 33 forming the guide leg 34. However, this first L-leg 45a can also be bent on at least one bending region 32 in such a way that, in addition to the guide leg 34, it also contains a further leg section 33 of the guide body 10.

The respective other, second L-leg 45b of each L-guide body portion 45 is preferably oriented in the axial direction of the transverse axis 27. The first L-leg 45a, however expediently has an extent at least substantially in the height direction of the linear drive. 1

Preferably, the L-guide body portions 45 are aligned so that their second L-legs 45b face each other and thereby lie with respect to the axial direction of the vertical axis 28 at the same height. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the two second L-legs 45b merge into one another in one piece and form an integral base leg 46 of a substantially U-shaped profiled guide body section, which is referred to below as a U-guide body section 47 for simplicity.

One and the same guide body 10 can thus be bent so that it has both two L-guide body sections 45 and a U-guide body section 47, wherein expediently the U-guide body section 47 simultaneously forms the two L-guide body sections 45.

In the U-guide body section 47, the leg sections adjoining the base leg 46 on both sides have the guide legs 34.

The guide body 10 can also be profiled by the bending production so that the two second L-legs 45b do not directly linearly merge into each other, but via an integrally connected with them, arbitrarily profiled intermediate structure, such an intermediate structure, for example, at least partially arcuate or circular arc or can be profiled polygonal.

The guide body 10, when viewed in cross-section, is profiled in particular in such a way that it has a central axis extending directly between the two guide legs 44. defined 48. In the exemplary embodiments, the central inner space 48 is the inner area partially surrounded by the U guide body section 47.

The central interior 48 is predestined to at least partially receive the drive means 8. 1 to 3 show a possible embodiment in which, inter alia, the drive section 12 of the drive means 8 extends in the central inner space 48. In particular, it is possible to accommodate a fluid-actuated linear drive unit 15 in the central inner space 48.

Appropriately, on both sides of the guide body 10 in each case with respect to the guide body 10 separately trained end body 52, 53 are recognized, which are to better distinguish the front end body 52 and rear end body 53 and in addition to the guide body 10 further components of the drive housing. 7 form. Expediently, the central inner space 48 is closed at both end faces by the closing body 52, 53 respectively placed there.

The closing bodies 52, 53 can be fixed to the guide body 10, for example, by being clamped to the front and the rear end faces of the guide body 10 by means of at least one tie rod 54, which runs through the central inner space 48 in the longitudinal direction. By way of example, two tie rods 54 are provided for this purpose.

In a modified design of the linear drive 1, the central inner space 48 is closed only at one end face by a closing body and open at the other end face. The one-piece Führungsungskör er 10 may be profiled by bending also so that it at least one central interior 48 along ^¬ flanking outer interior 55 forms in addition to a central interior 48, which at least partially by a leg portion 33 of the guide body 10 from the central Interior 48 is separated. This at least one leg section 33 will also be referred to below as the separating leg section 33a.

At least one separating leg section 33a is expediently formed with the cooperation of one of the guide legs 34. For example, according to FIG. 6, a guide leg 34 can form a separating leg section 33a, which as the sole separating leg section 33a separates the central inner space 48 from an outer interior 55. Deviating from this, however, there is also the possibility illustrated in FIG. 5 of connecting a further leg section 33 to the guide leg 34 forming a separating leg section 33a by means of a bending section 32, 32a defining a return bend, which forms a further separating leg section 33a, so that the central inner space 48 passes through a Double arrangement of separating leg portions 33a from the adjacent outer interior 55 is separated. The two separating limb sections 33a preferably extend in mutually parallel planes.

In order to define the at least one outer interior 55, the guide body 10 expediently has a box-shaped profiled section 57, which expediently connects in one piece to a guide leg 34.

FIGS. 5 and 6 make it clear that, in an advantageous embodiment, the guide body 10 can also have two outer internal spaces 55 which form the central inner space 48 Flanking in the axial direction of the transverse axis 27 opposite longitudinal sides and can be realized in each case in the same way, as just described. Preferably, the two outer internal spaces 55 are defined by identically designed sections of the guide body 10. In particular, both outer internal spaces 55 can be defined by box sections 57 of the guide body 10 which are identically profiled with one another.

The drive means 8 can be arranged at least partially in at least one and expediently in each outer interior 55. FIG. 6 shows a possible design in which a fluid-actuated linear drive unit 15 is accommodated in each outer inner space 55. In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, the two outer interiors 55 are used to each one of the two

Strangtrume receive 12d, 12e of the drive train 12c, which extends in the respective outer interior 55 in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 5.

Of course, it is possible to use only one of the outer internal spaces 55 for accommodating components of the drive means 8. There is also the possibility ^¬ ability to use both the central interior 48 and one or all outer interiors 55 for the accommodation of components of the drive means 8.

Closing bodies 52, 53 arranged on the front side of the guide body 10 are preferably designed such that they completely or preferably completely close off all the internal spaces 48, 55 defined by the guide body 10 at the corresponding end face. The guide body 10 has two in the axial direction of

Looking at the guide body 10 in cross-section, it has a continuous integral course between the two edge portions 58. These edge portions 58 are formed before bending the sheet metal part blank 25 of opposing, longitudinally extending edge portions of the sheet metal part blank 25.

The guide body 10 may now be bent, for example, such that the edge portions 58 are arranged on the guide legs 34, i. the guide legs 34 on one side with one of the edge portions 58 end. In addition, it is possible to bend the guide body 10 so that the guide legs 34 are each arranged between two bending regions 32 and consequently also each between two further bent leg portions 33 in this regard. In this context, according to Figures 5 and 6, the advantageous possibility to an end of at least one Führungsschenkeis 34 to connect a box-shaped portion 57 to form an outer interior 55.

According to Figure 5, the box-shaped portion 57 may be formed so that a free-ending edge portion 58 of the guide body in the height direction of the guide body 10 is arranged spaced from the FührungsSchenkel 34, so zwi ^¬ tween the edge portion 58 and the guide leg 34 in the axial direction of the Longitudinal axis 5 extending air gap 62 is formed ^¬ , through which the output slide 4 can dive with an edge region in the box-shaped portion 57.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the guide body 10 is bent such that the free boundary edge sections 58 are at the same height with the base leg 46 of the U-guide body portion 47. The edge portion 58 is in particular in the immediate vicinity of a bending region 32 which connects the two L-legs 45a, 45b with each other. It is possible here to weld the edge section 58 to the aforementioned bending region 32 in order to increase the overall structural rigidity. Shown, however, is an embodiment in which the aforementioned components are not connected to each other.

All embodiments are characterized in that the various leg portions 33 have a substantially linear longitudinal extent, if viewed in cross section at right angles to the longitudinal axis 5. It should be noted, however, that the guide body 10 can also be profiled in such a way that rounded sections result. In particular, it is possible to make at least one section of a circular arc, so that it is particularly directly usable to accommodate components of the drive means 8, for example, a circular cylindrical housing of a linear drive unit 15th

In a preferred embodiment, at least one bead 50 extending in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 5 is formed in the guide body 10 by means of a corresponding bending shaping, as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. Thereby, the rigidity of the guide body 10 can be increased.

Conveniently, at least one outer surface portion of the guide body 10 forms a support surface 51 for placing the guide body 10 on a base and / or a support structure. In Figure 3, such a support surface 51 is designated. The above-mentioned bead 50 may in particular be shaped so that it is flanked by two extending in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 5 strip-shaped bearing surfaces, which is illustrated in Figure 6.

Claims

claims

1. Linear drive, with a drive unit (2) having a longitudinal axis (5) exhibiting drive housing (7), further comprising a on the drive housing (5) for carrying out in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis (5) oriented stroke movement (3 ) guided linearly displaceable

Output carriage (4), and with drive means (8) for generating the lifting movement (3) of the driven carriage (4), wherein the drive housing (7) has an integral guide body (10) on which several in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis (5 ) and the transverse to the longitudinal axis (5) spaced guideways (35) are formed, on which the driven slide (4) for performing the lifting movement (3) is guided linearly movable, characterized in that the one-piece guide body (10) a metallic bent sheet metal part having a plurality of leg portions (33) bent relative to each other at bending portions (32) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (5), at least two of said leg portions (33) being spaced apart transversely of the longitudinal axis (5) opposite each other and each form a guide leg (34) having at least one of the guide tracks (35).

2. Linear drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide tracks (35) of groove-like depressions (36) of the guide limb (34) are formed.

3. Linear drive according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide tracks (35) of profiled Bie- gestrukturabschnitten (41) of the guide legs (34) are formed.

4. Linear drive according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide legs (34) on the profiled bending structure sections (41) to form the guide tracks (35) are curved channel-shaped.

5. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide tracks (35) on the mutually facing inner sides (44) or on the mutually remote outer sides (43) of the guide legs (34) are arranged.

6. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each FührungsSchenkel (34) is an integral part of an at least substantially L-shaped profiled guide body portion (45).

7. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each guide leg (34) is an integral part of an at least substantially U-shaped profiled guide body portion (47).

8. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the guide body (10) consists of a bent sheet steel part.

9. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the guide tracks (35) of the guide body (10) at least one of the output slide (4) with respect to the drive housing (7) transversely to the longitudinal axis (5). abstützendes and preferably designed as a rolling element guide element (37) is applied, wherein expediently at the same time several guide elements (37) abut each guide track (35).

10. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that on one or both end sides of the guide body (10) with respect to the guide body (10) separate end body (52, 53) of the drive housing (7) is arranged, wherein the Guide body (10) is expediently traversed longitudinally by at least one inner space (48, 55), which is at least partially closed at the front by the end body (52, 53) arranged on the respective end face.

11. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the drive means (8) at least partially in at least one of the one-piece guide body (10) at least partially bounded interior (48, 55) are arranged.

12. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the one-piece guide body (10) is bent so that it defines a directly between the guide legs (34) extending central interior (48), in which expediently at least partially Drive means (8) are arranged.

13. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the one-piece guide body (10) is bent so that it defines a directly between the guide legs (34) extending central interior (48) and moreover at least one central interior (48) alongside flanking outer interior defined by at least one leg portion (33, 56) of the guide body (10) at least partially separated from the central inner space (48).

14. Linear drive according to claim 13, characterized in that the guide body (10) defines two the central interior (48) on opposite longitudinal sides flanking outer internal spaces (55).

15. Linear drive according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the drive means (8) are arranged at least partially in the at least one outer interior (55) of the guide body (10).

16. Linear drive according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the drive means (8) as electrical and / or fluid-operated drive means (8) are formed.

17. A method for producing a linear drive which comprises a drive unit (2) which has a drive housing (7) having a longitudinal axis (5) and which is provided with a drive housing (7) for executing in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis ( 5) oriented lifting movement (3) linearly displaceably guided driven carriage (4) and also with drive means (8) for generating the lifting movement (3) of the driven carriage (4) is equipped, wherein the drive housing (7) has a one-piece guide body (10) , at which a plurality of in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis (5) extending and transversely to the longitudinal axis (5) spaced guide tracks (35) are formed, on which the output slide (4) for performing the lifting movement (3) is guided linearly movable, characterized in that the one-piece guide body (10) is formed on the basis of a previously contoured plate-shaped sheet metal Part blanks (25) by bending deformation as metallic

Sheet metal bending part is produced, wherein the sheet metal part blank (25) for forming a plurality of leg portions (33) of the guide body (10) at several parallel to the longitudinal axis (5) extending bending regions (32) is bent such that at least two of these bent leg portions (33 ) are spaced apart from each other transversely to the longitudinal axis (5) and each form a guide leg (34) associated with at least one guide track.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that for the production of the guide tracks (35), the two guide legs (34) forming leg portions (33) are bent directly in the bending deformation such that they have a groove-shaped structure, wherein the trough-shaped Structure is used as a guide track (35).