JPH11247854A - Rolling guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rolling guide device capable of smoothly lubricating a rolling element in a load rolling passage by efficiently taking up a lubricant from a direction changing passage. SOLUTION: This guide device is furnished with a track rail, a large number of balls 3, a connecting body 11 provided with spacer parts 11a to hold the balls 3 with specified intervals between belt parts 11b, 11b and a moving body installed free to move on the track rail through the balls installed on the connecting body 11. In this case, a belt guide groove in a direction changing passage 9 is formed so that the belt part 11b passes at a position slipped to the inner peripheral side of a moving locus L1 of a rolling center C1 of the balls 3. A clearance S is provided between each of the balls 3 passing the direction changing passage 9 and an end part of the outer peripheral side of the spacer part 11a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rolling guide device in which a number of rolling elements (for example, balls) for rolling guidance are inserted into an infinite circulation path while being linked to each other by a connecting body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a rolling guide device used as a guide means for various machine elements has a track member and a moving body attached to the track member via a number of rolling elements. In order to form an infinite circulation path for the rolling elements, a load rolling path is formed between the raceway member and the moving body in which the rolling elements move while receiving a load on the rolling guide device, and the moving body is parallel to the load rolling path. A return path extending through the load rolling path and a direction change path connecting the load rolling path and the return path are formed. In such a guide device, in order to prevent friction between the rolling elements and to realize a smooth guiding action, the rolling elements may be mounted on a connecting body to form a chain and mounted on an infinite circulation path. This connecting member is generally provided with a spacer between the belt portions for holding the rolling element.

[0003]

The turning path is a part of a no-load rolling path on which no load is applied to the rolling elements, and its cross-sectional dimension is somewhat larger than that of the rolling elements.
For this reason, the lubricant such as grease filled in the infinite circulation path easily accumulates in the direction change path, particularly on the outer peripheral side thereof. The lubricant accumulated here adheres to the rolling elements and connecting bodies passing through the direction change path and is carried to the load rolling path. However, conventionally, the effect of the connection body taking in the lubricant is small, and the lubricant cannot be efficiently distributed to the load rolling path side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a rolling guide device capable of efficiently taking in a lubricant from a turning path to smoothly lubricate rolling elements rolling on a load rolling path.

[0005]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a track member (2), a number of rolling elements (3), and a spacer (11a) for holding the rolling elements (3) between belt sections (11b, 11b). Are provided at predetermined intervals, and a moving body (4) movably attached to the track member (2) via a rolling element (3) mounted on the connecting body (11). In order to form an infinite circulation path (10) of the rolling element (3), a load rolling element (3) moves while receiving a load between the track member (2) and the moving body (4). A runway (7) is provided, and a return path (8) extending parallel to the load rolling path (7), a load rolling path (7) and a return path (8) are provided on the moving body (4).
Turning directions (9, 9) connecting the
The endless circulation path (10) is provided with a belt guide groove (12) for guiding the belt portion (11b) of the connecting body (11), and the belt guide groove (12) in the direction change path (9).
In the rolling guide device formed such that the belt portion (11b) is shifted inward from the movement locus (L1) of the rolling center of the rolling element (3), the direction change path (9) Each of the rolling elements (3) passing therethrough and the spacer (1)
Gap (S, S) between the outer peripheral end of 1a and 11a)
The above-mentioned problem is solved by the rolling guide device provided with the above.

According to the present invention, when the connecting body (11) passes through the turning path (9), the lubricant such as grease existing in the turning path (9) is brought into contact with the rolling element (3). It is efficiently taken into the gap (S) with the spacer (11a). Therefore, smooth lubrication of the rolling elements (3) on the load rolling path (7) can be realized. The spacer (11a) of each connector (11) passing through the direction change path (9) is provided with a belt guide groove (1).
In the region on the outer peripheral side of the belt portion (11b) curved along 2), the belt portions (11b) are displaced away from each other.
By guiding b) at a position shifted inward from the movement locus (L1) of the rolling center of the rolling element (3), a sufficient space is provided between the spacer (11a) and the rolling element (3). A gap (S) can be generated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the rolling guide device according to the first aspect, the surface of the spacer (11a) facing the rolling element (3) is concave.

According to the present invention, since the sharp edge is formed on the outer peripheral side of the spacer (11a), the spacer (11a) is formed.
The effect of scraping the lubricant according to a) is increased, and the scraped lubricant is reliably taken into the concave portion of the spacer (11a) facing the rolling element (3).

[0010]

FIG. 4 is a perspective view including a partial cross section showing an assembled state of a rolling guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section along a guide direction of a main part of the device. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along a direction orthogonal to the guiding direction. As shown in these figures, the rolling guide device 1
A track rail 2 as a track member and a moving body 4 movably attached to the track rail 2 via balls 3 as rolling elements are provided. The track rail 2 is a long member whose cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and a load rolling groove 5 capable of receiving the ball 3 is provided on the upper surface and both side surfaces thereof with the entire length of the track rail 2. Are formed. Although the illustrated track rail 2 is straight, a curved rail may be used.
The number of the load rolling grooves 5 is four in total, two on each of the left and right sides, but the number can be variously changed depending on the use of the rolling guide device and the like.

The moving body 4 is provided with four load rolling grooves 6 facing the load rolling grooves 5, respectively. By the combination of these load rolling grooves 5 and 6, four load rolling paths 7 are formed between the track rail 2 and the moving body 4 (see FIG. 6). Further, the mobile unit 4 has four return paths 8 extending in parallel with the load rolling paths 7, and each return path 8 and the load rolling paths 7.
And a direction change path 9 connecting the two. One infinite circulation path 10 is configured by a combination of one load rolling path 7 and return path 8 and a pair of direction change paths 9 connecting them.

A number of balls 3 are loaded in each endless circulation path 10 in a state of being linked to each other by a connecting body 11. As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting body 11 includes a plurality of spacers 11a provided at predetermined intervals, and the spacers 11a.
and a pair of belt portions 11b, 11b tying the ball 3 on both sides, and the ball 3 is housed and held between the spacer portions 11a. Surface 11c of spacer 11a facing ball 3
Is spherically recessed in accordance with the ball 3. Belt part 1
1b protrudes to the side of the ball 3, and the endless circulation path 10 is provided with belt guide grooves 12, 12 in which the belt portions 11b, 11b are slidably engaged, respectively (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3).
See FIG. 6).

As the moving body 4 moves along the track rail 2, the ball 3 rolls on the load rolling path 7 from one end to the other end while receiving a load from the moving body 4, and thereafter,
It is scooped up on one turning path 9 and guided to the return path 8, and further through the other turning path 9, the load rolling path 7.
Is returned to one end. At this time, the belt portion 1 of the connecting body 11
1b moves in the endless circulation path 10 along a fixed trajectory defined by the belt guide groove 12, so that the connecting body 11
Ball 3 is circulated orderly without meandering in the endless circulation path 10.

As is clear from FIGS. 4 and 5, the moving body 4 comprises a moving body main body 20 and a pair of side covers 21 and 21 disposed at both ends thereof combined with each other by bolts (not shown). It is schematically configured. The moving body 20 includes a main body block 30 and a molded body 40. The main body block 30 is a highly rigid structure made of steel or the like so as to withstand the load on the moving body 4, and a screw hole 31 for fixing an object to be guided by the present device 1 is formed on an upper surface 30 a of the main body block 30. (See FIG. 4).

The molded body 40 is formed integrally with the main body block 30 by a so-called insert molding method in which a molten resin is injected into a mold in which the main body block 30 is installed. The molded body 40 may be die-cast using a light metal such as aluminum instead of resin. The present invention is not limited to the insert molding, and the main body block 30 and the molded body 40 may be formed separately and assembled later.

The above-mentioned load rolling groove 6 is provided in the main body block 30.
Is formed. On the other hand, the return path 8 is
0 is formed. That is, four through-holes 32 extending in parallel with the load rolling grooves 6 are formed in the main body block 30, and the through-holes 32 are formed in the tubular portions 41 of the molded body 40.
Are integrally formed. The return path 8 and the belt guide groove 12 in the return path 8 are formed inside the tubular portion 41.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the molded body 4
0, the main body block 3 for forming the turning path 9
An inner peripheral guide portion 43 protruding in an arch shape from both ends of the “0” is formed. In addition, in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Will be described in detail, but the same applies to other turnaround roads.

A concave arc-shaped guide groove 44 for receiving the ball 3 is formed in the inner peripheral guide portion 43, and belt guide surfaces 45, 45 are formed on both sides of the guide groove 44. on the other hand,
The inner lid guide 4 formed on the molded body 40 is provided on the side lid 21.
An outer circumferential guide 53 that forms the direction change path 9 together with the outer guide 3 is provided. The outer circumferential guide portion 53 is formed with a concave arc-shaped guide groove 54 for receiving the ball 3, and belt guide surfaces 55, 55 are formed on both sides of the guide groove 54.

When the side cover 21 is attached to the movable body 20, the inner peripheral guide 43 and the outer peripheral guide 53 are combined to form the direction change path 9 therebetween. At this time, the belt guide surfaces 45 and 55 of the guide portions 43 and 53 are opposed to each other, and the belt guide groove 12 is formed therebetween. Accordingly, the belt guide surface 45 functions as an inner peripheral guide of the belt portion 11b, and the belt guide surface 55 functions as an outer peripheral guide of the belt portion 11b. The diameter of the turning path 9 is set to be somewhat larger than that of the ball 3 (FIG. 3).
reference).

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the trajectory of the center C1 of the ball 3 is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line L1, and the trajectory of the center of the belt portion 11b of the connector 11 is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line L2. As is apparent from these chain lines L1 and L2, in the direction changing path 9, the belt portion 11b
The belt guide groove 12 is formed so as to pass through a position shifted from the movement locus L1 to the inner peripheral side of the direction change path 9. Accordingly, the distance between the belt portion 11b and the load rolling groove 5 is large at the connection portion between the direction changing path 9 and the load rolling path 7. Therefore, even if the load rolling grooves 5 and 6 are formed in deep grooves having a large contact angle with the ball 3 in order to increase the rigidity of the guide device 1 (see FIG. 6), the belt portion 11b and the track rail 2 may interfere. It is not.

Further, on the turning course 9, the ball 3
And a pair of spacers 11a, 11a sandwiching the
Gaps S, S are provided between the outer peripheral end of the lens and the outer peripheral end. These gaps S are formed by, for example, projecting a belt guide surface 45 provided on the inner peripheral guide portion 43 to the outer peripheral side as compared with the conventional one.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the belt guide surface 45 is made to protrude to the outer peripheral side, the belt portion 11b passing through the direction change path 9 is pushed from the inner peripheral side by the belt guide surface 45. To the outer peripheral side. With this, a bending force acts on the belt portion 11b.
A portion connected to the spacer 11a (shown by a hatched area X in FIGS. 1 and 2) is maintained in a state in which bending deformation is limited by the spacer 11a and linearly extends in a tangential direction of the belt guide surface 45. Then, the spacers 11a are aligned in the direction of the normals L3, L3 of the connecting portions. As a result, the spacer 11a
And the ball 3 comes into contact with the inner peripheral ends P2 and P2, and the ball 3 is pushed out to the outer peripheral side, so that gaps S and S are generated.

Assuming that the turning radius of the center C1 of each ball 3 in the direction change path 9 is R and the diameter of the ball 3 is Da (see FIG. 2), the turning radius is practically required in order to generate the gap S. It has been confirmed that it is effective to set R to approximately 2 Da (twice the diameter Da). However, it is considered that the numerical relationship between the turning radius R and the diameter Da and the generation of the gap S itself involve the dimensions of the spacers 11a.

According to the above configuration, when the connecting body 11 passes through the direction changing path 9, the grease as the lubricant sealed in the endless circulation path 10 is scraped by the spacer 11a to fill the gap S. Thus, the gap S can function as a grease holding portion. The ball 3 pushed out from between the spacers 11a, 11a is received by the outer peripheral guide 53 at the vertex P1 on the outer peripheral side.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, the rolling elements are not limited to balls and may be cylindrical rollers. The present invention is also applicable to a ball spline in which a cylindrical moving body is fitted to a shaft-shaped track member via a rolling element.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the belt portion of the connecting member for linking the rolling elements is located on the inner peripheral side with respect to the movement locus of the rolling center of the rolling elements on the direction change path. At the same time, a gap is positively provided between each rolling element passing through the turning path and the outer peripheral end of the spacer, so that the lubricant accumulated on the turning path, particularly on the outer peripheral side, is efficiently connected. The rolling elements that take in the body and roll on the load rolling path can be smoothly lubricated. Thereby, the lubrication performance of the rolling guide device can be improved and its durability can be improved. In particular, when the facing surface of the spacer between the rolling elements is formed as a concave surface, the effect of scraping the lubricant by the outer peripheral end of the spacer can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a direction changing path of a rolling guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention, partially cut away;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rolling guide device of FIG. 4 along a guiding direction.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the guide direction of the rolling guide device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connecting body used in the rolling guide device of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rolling guide device 2 Track rail (track member) 3 Ball (rolling member) 4 Moving body 5 Load rolling groove of track rail 6 Load rolling groove of moving body 7 Load rolling path 8 Return path 9 Turning path 10 Infinite circulation Road 11 Connecting body 11a Spacing part 11b Belt part 12 Belt guide groove 43 Inner circumference guide part of direction change path 44 Guide groove 45 Belt guide surface (inner circumference guide part of belt guide groove) 53 Outer circumference guide part of direction change path 55 Belt guide surface

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A linked body having a track member, a large number of rolling elements, and spacers holding the rolling elements between belts at predetermined intervals, and the rolling elements mounted on the linked body. And a moving body movably attached to the track member through the to form an infinite circulation path of the rolling elements,
A load rolling path in which the rolling element moves while receiving a load is provided between the track member and the moving body,
The moving body is provided with a return path extending in parallel with the load rolling path, and a direction change path connecting the load rolling path and the return path, respectively. A belt guide groove for guiding a belt portion is provided, and the belt guide groove and the belt portion in the direction change path are formed so as to pass through a position deviated to the inner peripheral side from the movement locus of the rolling center of the rolling element. In the rolling guide device, a gap is provided between each of the rolling elements passing through the direction change path and an outer peripheral end of the spacer. 2. The rolling guide device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the spacer portion facing the rolling element is a concave surface.