GB2143722A

GB2143722A - Linear bearing assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2143722A
Application number: GB08319555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Anthony Davies
Original assignee: FIRSTEEL METAL PROD
Current assignee: FIRSTEEL METAL PROD
Priority date: 1983-07-20
Filing date: 1983-07-20
Publication date: 1985-02-20
Also published as: GB8319555D0

Abstract

A linear bearing assembly has two face-to-face channel members (10,11) which can move longitudinally with respect to each other by means of rollers (12,13A,13B) which engage the flanges of the channels. One member (11) may be narrower and within the other member (10), the latter carrying at one end a single roller (12) which co-operates with both flanges of the narrower member. This member (11) may carry two rollers (13A,13B) or one roller (21, Fig. 4) at the opposite end to co-operate with the flanges of the wider member (10). The flanges and rollers are profiled so that their cooperation produces lateral restraint, keeping the channel members together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Linear bearing assemblies This invention relates to linear bearing assemblies as used for example to facilitate horizontal movement of drawer slides, sliding doors, movable items of furniture or in general any situation requiring free-running linear movement.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bearing assembly which will be simple and economical to manufacture and assemble and which will provide free-running in an intended direction with location in other directions.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in a linear bearing assembly comprising a pair of co-operating elongated channel section members and two spaced bearing rollers, each mounted on a transverse pivot axis and arranged to engage with guide formations on the respective members, the rollers and the guide formations being profiled to engage and locate the parts in directions transverse to the length of the members.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the guide formations or the rollers are formed with grooves to engage projecting ribs on the opposed part. For example, the grooved parts are formed with curved or inclined surfaces which combine with the opposing part to provide an automatic self-centering effect in a direction parallel to the axis of the roller.

In a particular preferred construction one of the channel members is wider than the others and the bearing rollers are of different effective diameters, one engaging the smaller channel member and the other engaging within the larger channel member.

In any case, the rollers are preferably mounted on pivot axles which are connected to the respective channel member and the two bearing rollers may be connected respectively to opposite ones of the channel members. Conveniently, the two channel members have curved sinuous profiles and fit one within the other with the two webs of the channels spaced apart.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment, with some possible modifications, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a linear bearing assembly according to the invention, as seen in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, Figures 2A and 2B combined are a front eleva tion of the assembly, Figure 3 is an end view from the other end in the direction of arrow B, Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2B of a possible modification, Figure 5 is an end view of the Figure 4 embodiment, Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate four stages in the assembly of the parts, and Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a possible alternative.

In the first example of Figures 1 to 3 the assembly comprises an outer channel 10 and an inner channel 11 arranged face-to-face, one within the other, with their webs spaced apart, defining an internal space. A roller 12 is mounted on a fixed pivot axle 15 attached to the outer channel 10 at one end and a pair of spaced rollers 13A, 13B are mounted on fixed pivots 15A, 15B secured to the inner channel 11 adjacent the other end. The side flanges of the outer channel 10 are formed with double corrugations which provide a sinuous internal rib 18 and the side flanges of the inner channel are also curved inwardly, providing smooth internal ribs 19. The rollers 12, 13A, 13B are profiled with shallow curved peripheral grooves 20 which combine respectively with the ribs 18, 19 to locate the rollers in the direction of the pivot axes relative to the engaging channel.Thus it will be seen that the rollers at opposite ends provide for free substantially frictionless longitunal movement while locating the two channels in the direction X in Figure 2 and also in the direction Y in Figure 1.

In the alternative illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a single roller 21 on a fixed pivot 22 is used in place of the double rollers 13A, 13B of Figures 2 and 3.

In other respects this embodiment is similar to the previous example and it will be noted that the roller 21 is of larger diameter than the roller 12 as needed to engage the larger outer channel.

The method of introducing or dismantling the two parts is illustrated in Figures 6 to 9. In Figure 6 the inner channel 11 has been withdrawn to the left to the point where a stop 25 engages the rollers 12 and prevents further withdrawal. At this end the side flanges of the outer channel 10 are cut away as indicated at 26 and this permits the whole of the inner channel 11 to be pivoted upwards as indicated in Figure 7, allowing the stop 25 to ride over the bearing roller 12. The inner channel can then be pivoted downwards as shown in Figure 8 to bring the stop 25 beyond the roller, after which the inner channel can be swung downwards to bring the larger roller 21 out of engagement from the outer channel 10, whereupon the two parts can be fully separated. The reverse sequence is followed for assembly.

Figure 10 illustrates diagrammatically an alternative in which the smaller roller 30 has a peripheral pointed rib 31 which engages in a groove 32 with inclined side walls forming part of the iiner channel 33. Likewise, the bearing roller 34 carried by the inner channel has a peripheral rib 35 engaging a tapered groove 36 formed in the outer channel 10. This provides the same degrees of location as the first example.

1. A linear bearing assembly comprising a pair of co-operating elongated channel section members and two spaced bearing rollers, each mounted on a transverse pivot axis and arranged to engage with guide formations on the respective members, the rollers and the guide formations being profiled to engage and locate the parts in directions transverse to the length of the members.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Linear bearing assemblies This invention relates to linear bearing assemblies as used for example to facilitate horizontal movement of drawer slides, sliding doors, movable items of furniture or in general any situation requiring free-running linear movement. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bearing assembly which will be simple and economical to manufacture and assemble and which will provide free-running in an intended direction with location in other directions. Broadly stated, the invention consists in a linear bearing assembly comprising a pair of co-operating elongated channel section members and two spaced bearing rollers, each mounted on a transverse pivot axis and arranged to engage with guide formations on the respective members, the rollers and the guide formations being profiled to engage and locate the parts in directions transverse to the length of the members. According to a preferred feature of the invention the guide formations or the rollers are formed with grooves to engage projecting ribs on the opposed part. For example, the grooved parts are formed with curved or inclined surfaces which combine with the opposing part to provide an automatic self-centering effect in a direction parallel to the axis of the roller. In a particular preferred construction one of the channel members is wider than the others and the bearing rollers are of different effective diameters, one engaging the smaller channel member and the other engaging within the larger channel member. In any case, the rollers are preferably mounted on pivot axles which are connected to the respective channel member and the two bearing rollers may be connected respectively to opposite ones of the channel members. Conveniently, the two channel members have curved sinuous profiles and fit one within the other with the two webs of the channels spaced apart. The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment, with some possible modifications, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a linear bearing assembly according to the invention, as seen in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, Figures 2A and 2B combined are a front eleva tion of the assembly, Figure 3 is an end view from the other end in the direction of arrow B, Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2B of a possible modification, Figure 5 is an end view of the Figure 4 embodiment, Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate four stages in the assembly of the parts, and Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a possible alternative. In the first example of Figures 1 to 3 the assembly comprises an outer channel 10 and an inner channel 11 arranged face-to-face, one within the other, with their webs spaced apart, defining an internal space. A roller 12 is mounted on a fixed pivot axle 15 attached to the outer channel 10 at one end and a pair of spaced rollers 13A, 13B are mounted on fixed pivots 15A, 15B secured to the inner channel 11 adjacent the other end. The side flanges of the outer channel 10 are formed with double corrugations which provide a sinuous internal rib 18 and the side flanges of the inner channel are also curved inwardly, providing smooth internal ribs 19. The rollers 12, 13A, 13B are profiled with shallow curved peripheral grooves 20 which combine respectively with the ribs 18, 19 to locate the rollers in the direction of the pivot axes relative to the engaging channel.Thus it will be seen that the rollers at opposite ends provide for free substantially frictionless longitunal movement while locating the two channels in the direction X in Figure 2 and also in the direction Y in Figure 1. In the alternative illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a single roller 21 on a fixed pivot 22 is used in place of the double rollers 13A, 13B of Figures 2 and 3. In other respects this embodiment is similar to the previous example and it will be noted that the roller 21 is of larger diameter than the roller 12 as needed to engage the larger outer channel. The method of introducing or dismantling the two parts is illustrated in Figures 6 to 9. In Figure 6 the inner channel 11 has been withdrawn to the left to the point where a stop 25 engages the rollers 12 and prevents further withdrawal. At this end the side flanges of the outer channel 10 are cut away as indicated at 26 and this permits the whole of the inner channel 11 to be pivoted upwards as indicated in Figure 7, allowing the stop 25 to ride over the bearing roller 12. The inner channel can then be pivoted downwards as shown in Figure 8 to bring the stop 25 beyond the roller, after which the inner channel can be swung downwards to bring the larger roller 21 out of engagement from the outer channel 10, whereupon the two parts can be fully separated. The reverse sequence is followed for assembly. Figure 10 illustrates diagrammatically an alternative in which the smaller roller 30 has a peripheral pointed rib 31 which engages in a groove 32 with inclined side walls forming part of the iiner channel 33. Likewise, the bearing roller 34 carried by the inner channel has a peripheral rib 35 engaging a tapered groove 36 formed in the outer channel 10. This provides the same degrees of location as the first example. CLAIMS

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the guide formations or the rollers are formed with grooves to engage projecting ribs on the opposed part.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, in which the grooved parts are formed with curves or inclined surfaces which combine with the opposing part to provide an automatic self-centering effect in a direction parallel to the axis of the roller.

4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which one of the channel members is wider than the other and the bearing rollers are of different effective diameters, one engaging the smaller channel member and the other engaging within the larger channel members

5. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the rollers are mounted on pivot axies which are connected to the respective channel member.

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the two bearing rollers are connected respectively to opposite ones of the channel members.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the two channel members have curved sinuous profiles and fit one within the other with the two webs of the channels spaced apart.