WO2009089964A1

WO2009089964A1 - Mobile communication device and method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2009089964A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/067005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Mohrbacher
Original assignee: Schaeffler Kg
Priority date: 2008-01-19
Filing date: 2008-12-08
Publication date: 2009-07-23
Also published as: DE102008005174A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile communication device (1) having two housing parts (2, 3), which are supported via a linear bearing means (5) in a longitudinally displaceable manner relative to each other, wherein the linear bearing means (5) has two linear rolling bearings (7) disposed in a guide carriage (12), said bearings having a rolling body return (14) and at least one guide rail (6) comprising a center limb (8) and two side limbs (9) vertically protruding therefrom, having rolling body raceways (10) configured on the interior sides thereof, into which rolling bodies (11) of the linear rolling bearing (7) engage, and wherein the two linear rolling bearings (7) are disposed on one housing part (2) and the guide rail (6) is disposed on the other housing part (3). In order to simplify the linear rolling bearing means of the mobile communication device, the invention provides that the guide carriage (12) comprises a carrying body (13) that can be connected to a housing part (2; 3) and a ball return housing (14) that is connected to the carrier body (13), wherein the ball return housing (14) comprises two identical housing halves (15) that are complementary to each other, wherein the carrier body (13) has a profile that is configured in a U-shape and comprises side limbs (19), which have rolling body raceways (20) for the rolling bodies (11) on the exterior sides thereof and which abut the ball return housing (14) in the region of the narrow sides (21) thereof, and wherein the ball return housing (14) has two ball return raceways (30) that are disposed in the manner of a mirror image, each having a deflection (32) ending in a rolling body raceway (20) of the carrier body (13).

Description

description

Name of the invention

Mobile communication device and method for its manufacture

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a mobile communication device with two housing parts which are mounted longitudinally displaceable relative to one another via a linear bearing means, wherein the linear bearing means comprises two arranged in a carriage linear roller bearing with Wälzkörperrückführung and at least one guide rail with a middle leg and two vertically projecting side legs and with has its inner sides trained rolling element raceways, engage in the rolling elements of the linear roller bearing, and wherein the two linear roller bearings are arranged on a housing part and the guide rail on the other housing part.

Background of the invention

Mobile communication devices, particularly mobile phones, personal digital assistant (PDAs) and mobile radios, often provide the ability to move housing parts relative to each other, for example, to release or cover a keyboard. In various embodiments, a longitudinally displaceable housing part may be a pure cover, which covers the keyboard in a closed position, wherein a telephone microphone and optionally further electronic components are usually arranged on this housing part. It is also known to To arrange a housing portion of a display and extend this housing part so far that it covers the arranged below the display on the other housing part keyboard in the closed position. From the small-sized closed position, the upper housing part together with display can then be moved linearly, whereby the keyboard is exposed.

For the realization of the described longitudinal displacement corresponding bearing means are provided, for which purpose already proposed in the unpublished patent application of the Applicant DE 10 2007 004 780.2 to design the storage medium as a linear bearing means with two linear bearings with recirculating ball according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Another solution in which a simpler constructed linear roller bearing is proposed as the bearing means is known from DE 20 2006 011 673 U1.

The problem with such linear bearings of mobile communication devices are the small installation space available for all components. It is regularly available for the recirculating ball only a space of 4 x 8 mm, so that it is difficult to impossible to use linear bearings with cages or similar solutions, as they are known for example from DE 196 14 513 A1.

Object of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a generic mobile communication device, the linear bearing means is simple and reliable. Another object is to provide an inexpensive method of manufacturing such a mobile communication device. Summary of the invention

The invention is based on the finding that the stated object can be solved in a surprisingly simple manner in that a guide carriage of the linear bearing means is constructed as a three-part ball circulation with two recirculating ball bearings, a support element which can be connected to a housing part of the mobile communication device Partial encompasses two-part rolling bearing return and having Wälzkörperaußenlaufbahnen, in which deflections of the ball valve open.

The invention is based on the features of the main claim of a mobile communication device with two housing parts, which are mounted longitudinally displaceable relative to each other via a linear bearing means, wherein the linear bearing means arranged in a guide carriage linear roller bearing with Wälzkörperrückführung and at least one guide rail with a middle leg and two of them vertically protruding side legs with trained on their inner sides Wälzkörperlaufbahnen, engage in the rolling elements of the linear roller bearing, and wherein the two linear bearings are arranged on a housing part and the guide rail on the other housing part. In addition, it is provided that the carriage consists of a connectable to a housing part support body and a connected to the support body ball return housing, wherein the ball return housing consists of two identical, mutually complementary housing halves, wherein the support body is formed in profile U-shaped and side taps ! which have on their outer sides Wälzkörperlaufbahnen for the rolling elements and which bear against the ball return housing in the region of narrow sides of the ball return housing, and wherein the ball return housing has two mirror image arranged ball return paths, each having a deflection, which opens into a rolling element of the support body.

This structure advantageously achieves that a simple but very stable biler structure of the rolling bearing means is created, which manages with a small space available. The components are designed as simple plug-in or latching parts, so that the production and installation is very simple. The formation of the ball return housing as a two-part housing with communicating, identical housing parts facilitates manufacturing, in particular with regard to the filling of the rolling elements designed as bearing balls. The fact that the ball return is in two parts and middle divided, there are a number of other advantages, in particular with regard to the assembly, but also in relation to a parts exchange in case of wear.

According to one embodiment of the invention can be provided that the complementary housing halves of the ball return housing seen in their longitudinal extension are each formed double-T-shaped.

In other practical developments can be provided that the support body is attached to the ball return housing, wherein the side legs of the support body abut the narrow sides of the ball return housing, and wherein broad sides forming T-angle of the ball return housing encompass end faces of the support body.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the housing halves of the ball return housing each have two mirror images arranged ball return paths, each having an inner portion with a straight course and two outer, curved deflections, the deflections each open into a rolling body of the support body.

Likewise, it is within the scope of the invention to provide that each

Housing half of the ball return housing in each case in the region of the central ball track section has a Füllnut whose width is less than or equal to the diameter of the rolling elements. This configuration is still possible supplement that the filling grooves are widened conically in the upper side of a housing half.

In a particularly practical embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the housing halves of the ball return housing at their ends each have a bore and a respective pin, through which the housing halves are connected to one another.

Alternatively or cumulatively, it may be provided that the housing halves of the ball return housing each have along the central axis a groove and a vertically upstanding bar, each corresponding to a corresponding groove and bar of the other housing half.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide that at least the ball return housing consists of a polymeric or metallic material.

Also particularly advantageous is an embodiment of the invention, which is characterized in that the support body is provided with overhanging strips which put in overloading in the direction of pressure on end faces of the guide rail, and that the side legs of the support body have at their ends feet, which at overload in Place printing direction on the middle leg of the guide rail.

Other practical embodiments of the invention are characterized in that the support body has a length of 10 mm and a width of 6.26 mm, and that the ball screw housing has a width of 3.45 mm and a height of 1, 7 mm, and that the rolling elements each have a diameter of 0.79 mm.

The object of providing a method for producing a mobile communication device having the features of the main claim is characterized solved that the two housing halves of the ball return housing are connected to each other, and then that the rolling elements are filled by machine through the filling grooves in the ball return housing.

The filling of a recirculating ball with trained as bearing balls rolling elements has so far caused difficulties, which is particularly due to the small size of the ball return and the bearing balls with diameters of less than 1 mm. The filling via a filling groove now allows a machine filling in the simplest way, while previously filling only had to be done manually.

Finally, the method can be supplemented or modified by providing that the two housing halves of the ball return housing are connected to one another, that subsequently the support body is connected to the ball return housing and finally that the rolling elements are machined by the filling grooves of the lower housing half the ball return housing are filled.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view through an embodiment of a mobile

Communication device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a linear bearing means of the mobile communication device according to the

Invention in cross-section,

3 shows the linear bearing means according to FIG. 2 in perspective exploded view, FIG.

4 shows a housing half of a ball return housing of the linear bearing means of FIG. 2 in a plan view, 4, the housing half in section along the line BB of Fig. 4, and Fig. 7, the two housing halves in section along the line CC of FIG. 4th

Detailed description of the drawing

Fig. 1 shows in cross section a schematic diagram of a mobile communication device 1 according to the invention in the form of a mobile phone. The mobile communication device 1 comprises two housing parts 2 and 3, namely a lower housing part 2 and an upper housing part 3, wherein these two telephone parts 2, 3 in FIG. 1 are shown only schematically and in regions. The mobile communication device 1 may also be configured as another communication device, such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile radio or the like. On the lower housing part 2 a keyboard, not shown, is arranged, which is covered by the upper housing part 3 in the closed state. The upper housing part 3 has a display 4 and is displaceable relative to the lower housing part 2. For this purpose, a linear bearing means 5 is present, via which the two housing parts 2, 3 are mounted relative to each other linearly displaceable. In the example shown, the linear bearing means 5 comprises a guide rail 6 and two linear rolling bearings 7.

The arranged on the upper housing part 3 guide rail 6 has a wide central leg 8 and two thereof vertically projecting side legs 9. The side legs 9 have on their inner sides Wälzkörper- raceways 10, for example in the form of suitable grooves, in the rolling elements 11, namely bearing balls, the linear roller bearing 7 engage.

The two linear bearings 7 are arranged on a common guide unit, which is referred to as a carriage 12. The rolling elements 11 protrude on the two opposite sides and roll in a linear movement in the Wälzkörperlaufbahnen 10 of the guide rail 6 from. The carriage 12 is formed in three parts and consists of a Supporting body 13 and a ball return housing 14, which consists of two identical, mutually complementary housing halves 15. While the housing halves 2, 3 of the mobile communication device 1 are shown in section, the linear bearing means 5 is shown from the front.

In Fig. 2, the linear bearing means 5 is shown in cross section. The mounting rail 6 has a plurality of holes 16, which serve the attachment to the upper housing part 3. The support body 13 also has a plurality of holes 17 for attachment to the lower housing part 2. The profile U-shaped support body 13 has a wide central leg 18 and two thereof vertically projecting side legs 19. The side legs 19 have on their outer sides Wälzkörperlaufbahnen 20, in which roll the rolling elements 11 of the linear roller bearing 7. The support body 13 surrounds the ball return housing 14 in the region of narrow sides 21 thereof. In order to relieve the linear roller bearing 7 in the event of overloading in the pressure direction 7 and to protect it from damage, the support body 13 is provided with strips 22 which extend transversely to its longitudinal extent and which, when overloaded, seat on both sides end sides 23 of the guide rail 6. At the same time put feet 24 of the support body 13 on the middle leg 8 of the guide rail 6, so that in particular the relatively sensitive ball return housing 14 is relieved.

In FIG. 3, the linear bearing means 5 with the guide rail 6 and the guide carriage 12 is shown in perspective in an exploded view. For mounting the guide carriage 12, the existing of a polymeric material housing halves 15 of the ball return housing 14 are first mounted. For this purpose, the geometrically complementary double-T-shaped housing halves 15 at their ends in each case a bore 25 and a respective pin 26, so that two identical housing halves can be placed on each other and connected to each other, for example by a locking connection or by welding. After connecting the housing halves 15, the rolling elements 11 of the two linear roller bearings 7 are filled in the ball return housing 14 in a manner to be described. Finally, the support body 13 is connected to the ball return housing 14, for which purpose also consisting of a polymeric material supporting body 13 is attached to the ball return housing 14. A clamping seat results from the fact that the side legs 19 of the support body 13 abut against the narrow side 21 of the ball return housing 14 and thereby encompass that wide sides 27 forming T-angle 28 of the Kugelrücklaufge- housing 14, the end faces 29 of the support body 13. After assembly of the support body 13 with the ball return housing 14, the chain of rolling elements 11 of the linear roller bearing is divided into two parts, one of which is arranged in the ball return housing 14 and the other on the Wälzkörperlaufbahn 20 of the support body 13.

In Fig. 4 is a housing half 15 of the ball return housing 14 from above or from below, as well as in the Fig. 5 in section along the line AA of Fig. 4 and in Fig. 6 in longitudinal section along the line BB of Fig. 4 in shown enlarged scale. The housing half 15 of the ball return housing 14 has two mirror-image arranged ball return paths 30, each having an inner portion 31 with a straight course and two outer curved, serving as deflections 32 track sections, the deflections 32 open into the T-angle 28 and each in a Rolling body track 20 of the support body 13 open. From there, the rolling elements 11, not shown in Fig. 4 11 in the area of action of the rolling body not shown also in FIG. 4 of the support body 13, so that with linear movement of the guide carriage 12 along the guide rail 6, the rolling elements 11 of the linear roller bearing 7 in endless can circulate their respective orbits. In order to be able to fill the rolling elements 11 in the guide carriage 12 or in the ball return housing 14 in a very simple manner, each housing half 15 of the ball return housing 14 has a filling groove 33 in the region of the central ball track section 31, the width of which is small. ger or equal to the diameter of the rolling elements 11. By means of these filling grooves 33, the rolling elements are mechanically filled into the ball return housing 14, wherein the filling takes place before or after the connection of the ball bearing housing 14 with the supporting body 13.

In order to facilitate the connection of two housing halves 15 with each other and to ensure a secure connection of two housing halves 15, these have next to the bore 25 and the pin 26 each along the central axis of a groove 34 and a raised 35 bar, each with a corresponding Groove or strip of the other housing half 15 correspond. These connecting means are particularly visible in FIG. 6.

In Fig. 7 two mounted housing halves are shown in section along the line C-C of Fig. 4. The housing halves 15 are already mounted and connected to each other inseparably. The rolling elements 11 are shown in the state of filling in the ball screw housing 14. The filling of the rolling elements by means of a suitable machine tool. For this purpose, the Einfüllnuten 33 are slightly flared in the top of a housing half 15, whereby the filling is facilitated, especially if the inside width of the filling grooves 33, as shown in Fig. 7, is less than the diameter of the rolling elements 11th The plastic properties of the polymeric material of the housing halves, the rolling elements can still be easily filled into the ball screw housing 14, which can not fall out of the ball screw housing 14 after completion of the filling.

However, it is also within the scope of the invention, in particular when using metallic materials for the housing halves 15, to adapt the width of the filling grooves 33 to the diameter of the rolling bodies 11, ie to design them both equally wide. The support body 13 according to the embodiment has a length of 10 mm and is 6,26 mm wide in the middle. The ball screw housing 14 is 3.45 mm wide and has a height of 1.7 mm. The rolling elements 11 in the form of bearing balls each have a diameter of 0.79 mm.

The inventively designed mobile communication device 1 has a very accurate, backlash-free and extremely robust linear guide means 5, which results in a very precise and smooth movement. The displacement movement of the housing parts 2, 3 is stop limited, which is not shown in detail. As well as the open position, the closed position via suitable locking means, which can be suppressed to open or close, locked.

Obviously, a very stable and robust linear guide is realized, which allows a simple and playful on a long service life and haptic very valuable and comfortable displacement of the upper housing part 3.

Finally, it should be noted that it is of course also possible to arrange the linear roller bearings 7 on the upper housing part 3 and the guide rail 6 on the lower housing part 2.

A particular advantage of the inventively designed linear bearing means 5 is the fact that is made possible by the special design of its ball return housing 14 in machine filling with rolling bearing bodies 11. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 mobile communication device

2 Lower housing part

3 Upper housing part

4 display

5 linear bearing means

6 guide rail

7 linear bearings

8 middle leg of the guide rail 6

9 side legs of the guide rail 6

10 rolling element track

11 rolling elements

12 carriages

13 supporting body

14 ball return housing

15 housing half

16 hole

17 hole

18 Middle leg of the support body 13

19 side legs of the support body 13

20 Wälzkörperlaufbahn

21 narrow side of the ball return housing 14th

22 bar

23 front side

24 feet

25 hole

26 cones

27 broadside

28 T-angles

29 end face of the support body 13 30 ball return path

31 Straight track section

32 diversion

33 filling groove

34 groove

35 bar

A-A line

B-B line

C-C line

Claims

claims

1. Mobile communication device (1) with two housing parts (2, 3), which are mounted on a linear bearing means (5) relative to each other longitudinally displaceable, wherein the linear bearing means (5) two in a carriage

(12) arranged linear roller bearing (7) with Wälzkörperrückführung (14) and at least one guide rail (6) having a central leg (8) and two thereof vertically projecting side legs (9) formed on their inner sides Wälzkörperlaufbahnen (10), in the rolling elements ( 11) of the linear roller bearing (7) engage, and wherein the two linear roller bearings (7) on a housing part (2) and the guide rail (6) on the other housing part (3) are arranged, characterized in that the guide carriage (12) a support body (13) which can be connected to a housing part (2; 3) and a ball return housing (14) connected to the support body (13), the ball return housing (14) consisting of two identical, mutually complementary housing halves (15) Supporting body (13) in profile U-shaped and has side legs (19) which on their outer sides Wälzkörperlaufbahnen (20) for the rolling elements (11) and which on the ball return housing

(14) in the region of narrow sides (21) of the ball return housing (14) abut, and wherein the ball return housing (14) has two mirror image arranged ball return paths (30) each having a deflection (32) which in each case in a rolling body track (20) of the Tragkör - opens personal (13).

2. Mobile communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary housing halves (15) of the ball return housing (14) are each formed double-T-shaped.

3. Mobile communication device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that the support body (13) on the Kugelrücklaufge- housing (14) is plugged, wherein the side legs (19) of the support body (13) on the narrow sides (21) of the ball return housing (14) rest, and wherein broad sides (27) forming T-angle (28) of the ball return housing (14) end faces (29) engage around the support body (13).

4. Mobile communication device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing halves (15) of the ball return housing (14) each have two mirror-inverted ball return paths (30), each having an inner portion (31) with radian course and two outer curved Have deflections (32), wherein the deflections (32) each lead into a rolling body track (20) of the support body (13).

5. Mobile communication device according to claim 4, characterized in that each housing half (15) of the ball return housing

(14) each in the region of the central ball track section (31) has a filling groove (33) whose width is less than or equal to the diameter of the rolling elements (11).

6. Mobile communication device according to claim 5, characterized in that the filling grooves (33) in the region of the top of a housing half (15) are flared.

7. Mobile communication device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing halves (15) of the ball return housing (14) at their ends in each case a bore (25) and in each case a pin (26) through which the housing halves are connected to each other.

8. Mobile communication device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing halves (15) of the ball return housing (14) each along the central axis of a groove (34) and a have high-level bar (35) corresponding respectively with a corresponding groove (34) and bar (35) of the other housing half (15).

9. Mobile communication device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the ball return housing (14) consists of a polymeric or metallic material.

10. Mobile communication device at least according to claim 12, characterized in that the supporting body (13) with overflowing strips

(22) is provided, which on overload in the pressure direction on end edges (23) of the guide rail (6) put on, and that the side legs (19) of the support body (13) at their ends feet (24), which in overloading in the printing direction Place the middle leg (8) of the guide rail (6).

11. Mobile communication device at least according to claim 10, characterized in that the supporting body (13) has a length of 10 mm and a width of 6.26 mm, and that the ball return housing (14) has a width of 3.45 mm and a height of 1.7 mm, and that the rolling elements (11) each have a diameter of 0.79 mm.

12. A method for assembling a mobile communication device with the features at least according to claim 1, characterized in that the two housing halves (15) of the ball return housing (14) are interconnected, and then that the rolling elements (11) by the filling grooves (33) be filled in the ball return housing (14).

13. A method for assembling a mobile communication device with the features at least according to claim 1, characterized that the two housing halves (15) of the ball return housing (14) are connected to each other, then that the support body (13) is connected to the ball return housing (14), and that finally the rolling elements (11) by machine through the Einfüllnuten (33), the lower housing half (15) are filled in the ball return housing (14).