JP2012229366A - Lubricant supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep a lubricating state efficient and stable to a portion to be lubricated, while preventing a lubricant from being excessively supplied from a portion that comes into contact with the portion to be lubricated.SOLUTION: A lubricant-containing polymer member 11, the lubricant supplier, includes: a base material that has a contact portion S coming into contact with the portion H to be lubricated and comprises a resin formed in a porous sponge shape; and the lubricant filled in air gaps K of the porous sponge shape in the base material. Moreover, the ratio of the air gaps K in the base material becomes greater than the vicinity of the contact portion S as it goes away from the contact portion S.

Description

  The present invention comprises a base material made of a synthetic resin formed in a porous sponge shape and having a contact portion with a lubricated portion, and a lubricant filled in the porous sponge-like gap portion of the base material. The present invention relates to a lubricant supply body.

  This type of lubricant supply body is made of a synthetic resin in which a lubricant is previously contained in a porous sponge-like gap. And, for example, a linear guide bearing, a ball screw, an oil seal, etc. are mounted so as to come into contact with a place where the lubricant needs to be supplied, and gradually exude from the synthetic resin to the place where the lubrication is required. A lubricant is supplied (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-292176 A

However, although the lubricant supply body described in Patent Document 1 can gradually exude the lubricant from the synthetic resin that is the base material to the portion that requires lubrication, the base material itself has a portion to be lubricated. The contact portion with the contact portion and the other portions are not particularly creative in terms of configuration, so if more lubricant than necessary is supplied near the contact portion, the lubricant supply body may be used for a long time. There is a problem that you can not.
Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and while suppressing excessive supply of the lubricant from the contact portion with the lubricated portion, the present invention is efficient for the lubricated portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant supply body capable of maintaining a stable lubrication state for a lubricated part over a long period of time.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a contact portion with a lubricated portion, a base material made of a resin formed in a porous sponge shape, and a porous sponge-like gap portion of the base material. A lubricant supply body having a filled lubricant, wherein the ratio of the voids in the base material is increased from the vicinity of the contact part as the distance from the contact part with the part to be lubricated increases. .

According to the lubricant supply body according to the present invention, since the ratio of the void portion in the base material is larger than the vicinity of the contact portion as it is away from the contact portion with the lubricated portion, the contact with the lubricated portion is increased. As the distance from the vicinity of the surface increases, the density of the lubricant (for example, oil) can be increased, and the density of the lubricant can be decreased near the contact surface. Therefore, while suppressing excessive supply of lubricant from the vicinity of the contact portion with the lubricated portion to the lubricated portion, more lubricant should be stored in a portion away from the contact portion with the lubricated portion. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a stable lubrication state efficiently and over a long period with respect to the lubricated part.
Here, in the lubricant supply body according to the present invention, it is preferable that the region for roughening the gap is configured in stages. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily manufacture the lubricant supply body.

  As described above, according to the lubricant supply body according to the present invention, since the ratio of the void portion in the base material increases from the vicinity of the contact portion as the distance from the contact portion with the lubrication portion increases, While suppressing excessive supply of the lubricant from the contact portion with the portion, it is possible to maintain a stable lubrication state efficiently and over a long period with respect to the lubricated portion.

It is a perspective view explaining the linear guide which is one Embodiment of the linear guide apparatus provided with the lubricant supply body which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lubricant supply body according to the present invention. It is a front view of one embodiment of a lubricant supply body according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the image which expanded a part of base material of the lubricant supply body which concerns on this invention. It is a front view of the modification of the lubricant supply body which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view in the axial direction showing an example in which the lubricant supply body according to the present invention is incorporated for supplying lubricant to a seal lip portion of an oil seal device. It is an axial sectional view showing an example in which a lubricant supply body according to the present invention is mounted on a nut end surface as a seal and lubricant supply body of a seal type ball screw device.

Hereinafter, a linear guide which is an embodiment of a linear motion guide device including a lubricant supply body according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
As shown in the overall perspective view of FIG. 1, the linear guide includes a guide rail 1 that has rolling element rolling grooves 3 and 3 ′ on the outer surface and extends in the axial direction, and a slider 2 that is assembled across the guide rail 1. And. The slider 2 includes a slider body 2A and an end cap 2B.

  The slider body 2A is provided with rolling element rolling grooves (not shown) facing the rolling element rolling grooves 3 and 3 ′ of the guide rail 1 on the rail side inner surface of both sleeve portions 4 in the width direction. . In addition, a rolling body return path (not shown) penetrating in the axial direction is formed in the thick portion of the sleeve portion of the slider body 2 </ b> A so as to face the rolling body rolling grooves of both sleeve portions 4. The end cap 2B has a rolling element rolling groove of the slider body 2A and a curved path (not shown) for communicating the rolling element return path parallel to the rolling element rolling groove. An infinite circulation path of the rolling element is formed by the moving groove, the rolling element return path, and the pair of curved paths at both ends thereof.

A large number of rolling elements (not shown) are loaded in the endless circulation path, and the slider 2 incorporated in the guide rail 1 slides along the guide rail 1 through the rolling of the large number of rolling elements. During the movement, the rolling element circulates infinitely through the rolling element circulation path in the slider.
Here, side seals 10 are attached to the end surfaces of the end caps 2 </ b> B at both ends in the rail direction of the slider 2 to seal the opening of the gap between the guide rails 1. Further, on both ends of the slider 2 in the rail direction, a lubricant-containing polymer member 11 serving as a lubricant supplier is sandwiched between the reinforcing plate 20 and the side seal 10 so as to overlap the side seal 10.

  As shown in an exploded perspective view in FIG. 2, the reinforcing plate 20 is a substantially U-shaped steel plate or synthetic resin plate that matches the outer shape of the end cap 2B, and both sleeves are provided for penetration of mounting screws 21a and 21b. Through-holes 2a and 2b are formed, and a through-hole 2c for the grease nipple 7 is formed at a connecting portion that connects both sleeve portions. The reinforcing plate 20 is not in contact with the guide rail 1.

  The side seal 10 is composed of a substantially U-shaped steel plate that matches the outer shape of the end cap 2B, and a nitrile rubber that has a shape similar to that of the steel plate and is integrally fixed to the outer surface thereof. Yes. Then, the seal lip portion L in contact with the guide rail 1 can seal the gap between the slider 2 and the guide rail 1 so that the upper surface 1a and the outer surface 1b (see FIG. 1) and a shape capable of sliding contact with the rolling element rolling grooves 3, 3 ′ (see FIG. 1). Further, through-holes 10a and 10b for attaching screws are formed in both sleeve portions of the side seal 10, and a through-hole 10c for the grease nipple 7 is formed in a connecting portion connecting the both sleeve portions. .

  In this embodiment, the three members of the side seal 10, the lubricant-containing polymer member 11, and the reinforcing plate 20 are attached to the mounting screws 21a and 21b through the through holes 10a and 10b of the side seal 10 and the sleeve of the lubricant-containing polymer member 11. The members 11A, 11B and the through holes 2a, 2b of the reinforcing plate 20 and the screw holes of the end cap 2B are screwed into the mounting screw holes of the slider body 2A, so that the end cap 2B is integrally overlapped with the main holiday 2A. Fixed.

Hereinafter, the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shape of the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 is a substantially U-shape matched to the outer shape of the end cap 2B, and has a predetermined thickness to ensure a necessary amount of lubricant. doing. The contact portion S (protrusions 12a, 12b and protrusions) of the inner surface (lubricated portion side) with the lubricated portion H (the rolling element rolling grooves 3, 3 ′, the upper surface 1a and the side surface 1b of the guide rail 1, and the same shall apply hereinafter). The shape of the surface along the inner periphery including the portions 13 a and 13 b (hereinafter the same) is substantially matched to the outer shape of the cross section of the guide rail 1. That is, it is formed in a shape along the upper surface 1a and the side surface 1b of the guide rail 1, and the protrusions 12a and 12b corresponding to the rolling element rolling groove 3 ′ on the guide rail 1 and the lower rolling element rolling. Protrusions 13a and 13b corresponding to the moving grooves 3 are respectively formed and aligned with the cross-sectional outer shape of the guide rail 1. The tips of the protrusions 13 a and 13 b are formed so as to be aligned with the relief grooves of the rolling element rolling grooves 3 of the guide rail 1.

  The lubricant-containing polymer member 11 is formed with through-holes 11a and 11b for penetrating mounting screws to the end cap 2B of the slider in the both sleeves, and the sleeves are formed by cutting them in the axial direction. A through-hole 11c for a grease nipple that is partially cut in the axial direction is formed in the connecting portion that connects the portions.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, ring-shaped sleeve members 11A, 11B, and 11C are fitted into the through holes 11a, 11b, and 11c, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the ring-shaped sleeve members 11A, 11B and 11C are short cylindrical members formed slightly longer than the thickness of the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 (L2 is longer than L1). The outer diameter is a dimension that can be easily fitted into the through holes 11a, 11b, and 11c. This prevents the member 11 from being compressed more than necessary and prevents the lubricant from being squeezed out from the member 11 when the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 is tightened with a screw when the polymer member 11 is attached to the end cap 2B. ing.

  Further, the outer diameters of the ring-shaped sleeve members 11A, 11B, and 11C are formed larger than the outer diameters of the through holes 11a, 11b, and 11c. By increasing the sleeve diameter in this way, the inner surface of the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 can be constantly pressed against and closely adhered to the outer surface of the guide rail 1, and the lubricant that exudes can be stably supplied to the guide rail 1. can do.

Here, in the example of the present embodiment, the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 includes 20% by weight of high-density polyethylene (molecular weight 1 × 10 ^{4 to} 5 × 10 ⁵ ) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (molecular weight 1 × 10 ^{6 to} 5). X10 ⁶ ) Polyethylene composed of 10% by weight was used as a base material, and the base material containing 70% by weight of liquid paraffin as a lubricant was used as a raw material. Then, after plasticizing (dissolving) this once using an injection molding machine, it is injected into a predetermined mold, and pressurized and solidified by using a predetermined centrifugal force, whereby the base material is shown in FIG. As shown in an enlarged view of the image, the porous portion is formed in a porous sponge shape, and the ratio of the gap portion K in the base material increases as the distance from the contact portion S with the portion to be lubricated H increases from the vicinity of the contact portion. It is molded into. As a result, as indicated by the arrows shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ratio of the gap K in the base material increases from the vicinity of the contact portion S as the distance from the contact portion S with the lubricated portion H increases. The lubricant filled in the porous sponge-like void K of the base material has a higher lubricant density as the distance from the vicinity of the contact surface with the portion to be lubricated H increases, and in the vicinity of the contact portion S, the density of the lubricant. Becomes lower.

Next, the operation and effect of the lubricant supply body incorporated in the linear guide will be described.
According to the linear guide having the above-described configuration, the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 which is a lubricant supply body for supplying the lubricant necessary between the side seal 10 and the guide rail 1 and the linear guide itself is provided in the portion to be lubricated. H has a contact portion S with H, and has a base material made of a resin formed in a porous sponge shape, and a lubricant filled in the porous sponge-like gap portion K of the base material, Since the ratio of the gap portion K in the base material is increased from the vicinity of the contact portion S as the distance from the contact portion S with the lubricated portion H increases, an excess of lubricant from the contact portion S with the lubricated portion H It is possible to maintain an efficient and stable lubrication state for the portion to be lubricated H, while suppressing excessive supply.

The lubricant supply body according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 has been described as an example in which the side seal 10 and the reinforcing plate 20 are stacked and sandwiched and assembled between the both, but the present invention is not limited to this. Since the containing polymer member 11 can be in close contact with the outer surface of the guide rail 1 and perform the same sealing function as the side seal 10, the reinforcing plate 20 may be used instead of the side seal 10, or the reinforcing plate 20. May be mounted only on the surface of the lubricant-containing polymer member 11, and the back surface may be directly applied to the end surface of the end cap 2B.

  Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the lubricant-containing polymer member 11 increases the ratio of the gap K in the base material from the vicinity of the contact portion S as the distance from the contact portion S with the lubricated portion H increases. In the above example, the above-described raw material is plasticized (dissolved) using an injection molding machine, then injected into a predetermined mold, and pressurized and solidified by using centrifugal force. Without being limited thereto, for example, as shown in a modification in FIG. 6, a region in which the gap K is made dense may be configured in stages.

  In the example of the figure, there are three stages (α, β, γ in order from the lubricated part side) divided at the position of the broken line. And about each area | region of (alpha), (beta), and (gamma), the ratio of the space | gap part in a base material is made larger from the to-be-lubricated part side more than a contact part vicinity as it leaves | separates from a contact part with a to-be-lubricated part. In order to achieve such a configuration, if a dedicated machine is used, for example, a multicolor molding machine can be used to mold at once, and if a general-purpose machine is used, the number of processes increases. However, by forming the regions α, β, and γ in order with three molds, the region where the gap K is made dense can be configured in stages.

  Even in such a configuration, the density of the lubricant (for example, oil in the figure) is lowered in the α region on the lubricated part side, and the lubricant (oil) is formed in the γ region on the side opposite to the lubricated part side. In the β region between them, the density of the lubricant (oil) is medium (higher than the α region on the lubricated part side and less than the γ region on the opposite side of the lubricated part side). can do. Accordingly, the same effect can be obtained, and the step of managing the density state using the centrifugal force as described above can be omitted, so that the lubricant supply body can be easily manufactured. In this case, the level of the region to be roughened can be two or more.

Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the lubricant supply body according to the present invention is incorporated into the linear guide has been described. It can be configured.
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this example, an oil seal device 33 is attached to the end of a rotating shaft 31 supported by a bearing 30 via a housing 32.

  The oil seal device 33 is provided with a rubber seal lip 33a on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and this seal lip 33a is brought into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 31 to exert a sealing function. Then, adjacent to the oil seal device 33, a thick annular lubricant-containing polymer member 41 is attached to the distal end portion of the housing 32 as a lubricant supply body of the present invention, and is fixed by a screw 34. The inner peripheral surface is a sliding contact surface with the rotating shaft 31. And also about this lubricant content polymer member 41, like the said 1st embodiment, as the ratio of the space | gap part in a base material leaves | separates from the sliding contact surface (contact part) with the rotating shaft 31 used as a to-be-lubricated part. More than near the contact area.

  With such a configuration, when the rotating shaft 31 rotates, the lubricant-containing polymer member 41 at the end slides while being in contact with the rotating shaft 31, and the influence of the frictional heat of the sliding is also added. The lubricant contained in the porous structure of the member 41 gradually oozes out. The lubricant that has oozed out is gradually supplied to the oil seal device 33 through the rotating shaft 31, and evenly spreads over the seal lip 33a to realize a stable sealing performance for a long time.

  FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment. In this example, as shown in the figure, a lubricant-containing polymer member 50 as a lubricant supply body according to the present invention is mounted on a nut end face as a seal and lubricant supply body of a seal type ball screw device. Also in the lubricant-containing polymer member 50, as in the first embodiment, the ratio of the void portion in the base material is increased as the distance from the contact portion with the screw groove 51a of the screw shaft 51 that becomes the lubrication target portion increases. More than nearby.

  The lubricant-containing polymer member 50 has a cylindrical shape, and has a convex portion 50a fitted in the thread groove 51a of the screw shaft 51 on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and the cylindrical shape on the side surface along the axial direction. One not-shown cut to be cut is provided. An annular groove 54 into which the garter spring 53 is fitted is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lubricant-containing polymer member 50. Further, an annular reinforcing member 55 is fitted at a position where it does not interfere with the annular groove 54.

  The lubricant-containing polymer member 50 has the above-mentioned slit opened to expand the ring and engage with the screw shaft 51. Then, the lubricant-containing polymer member 50 is fitted into the recess 57 on the end face of the ball screw nut 56 and screwed from the side face of the nut. It is fixed by engaging the front end of this with the reinforcing member 55. The lubricant-containing polymer member 50 that is expanded and attached by cutting is elastically tightened by a garter spring 53, whereby the screw groove 51a of the screw shaft 51 and the convex portion 50a on the inner periphery of the lubricant-containing polymer member 50 are formed. The fitting gap is kept below zero.

  With such a configuration, the helical screw groove 21a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft 51, the helical screw groove 56a provided on the inner peripheral surface of the ball screw nut 56, and the two grooves are loaded. The lubricant that gradually oozes from the lubricant-containing polymer member 50 is automatically supplied to the contact surfaces with the plurality of balls 58 to suppress an increase in frictional resistance, and the lubricant serves to lubricate the ball screw itself. Also contribute.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide rail 2 Slider 10 Side seal 11 Lubricant containing polymer member (lubricant supply body)
20 Reinforcing plate 41 Lubricant-containing polymer member (lubricant supply body)
50 Lubricant-containing polymer member (lubricant supplier)
H Lubrication part S Contact part K Gap part

Claims (2)

Lubricant supply body having a contact portion with a portion to be lubricated, a base material made of a resin formed in a porous sponge shape, and a lubricant filled in the porous sponge-like gap portion of the base material Because
The lubricant supply body according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the void portion in the base material is increased from the vicinity of the contact portion as the distance from the contact portion with the lubricated portion increases.   The lubricant supply body according to claim 1, wherein a region in which the gap portion is made dense is configured in stages.

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