Linear slide and its self-lubricating structure
By setting a self-lubricating structure on the slider and utilizing the lubricant supply from the propulsion element and porous material, the problem of uneven lubrication is solved, improving the smoothness of the slide rail and the life of the lubrication element.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PRECISION MOTION INDS INC
- Filing Date
- 2022-05-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
AI Technical Summary
The lubrication elements of existing linear guides are prone to wear and deformation during long-term use, resulting in uneven lubrication, affecting the lubrication effect and shortening the service life.
A self-lubricating structure is set on the slider, including an oil tank, a self-lubricating element, a baffle, and a propulsion element. The external force of the propulsion element pushes the convex lip of the lubricating body to abut against the slide rail to provide continuous lubrication. Combined with the lubricant supply of porous material, uniform lubrication is ensured.
It improves the smoothness of linear guide rail use and the service life of lubrication components, ensuring the uniformity and continuity of lubrication effect.
Smart Images
Figure CN117145862B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to linear guideways, and more particularly to a self-lubricating structure for a linear guideway. Background Technology
[0002] Linear guide rail devices primarily involve mounting a slider structure on a track for repetitive linear movement. A typical slider structure includes a U-shaped slider, end caps positioned opposite each other on the slider's sides, a plurality of ball bearings within the slider, and retaining elements that hold the ball bearings on the slider. This allows the slider to reduce friction between itself and the track during relative movement via the ball bearings, resulting in smoother slider movement.
[0003] Furthermore, to improve the precision and smoothness of linear guideways, the balls in the linear guideways must be adequately lubricated to maintain normal operation. The lubrication mechanism of linear guideways involves installing lubrication elements at the outer end of the slider to lubricate the guideway and balls. However, under prolonged contact and wear between the lubrication elements and the guideway, wear and deformation can easily occur, causing the lubrication elements to lose uniform contact with the guideway. This results in uneven lubrication, poor lubrication effect, and a reduced service life of the lubrication elements. Summary of the Invention
[0004] One objective of this invention is to provide a linear slide rail and its self-lubricating structure, so as to maintain uniform contact between the lubrication body and the slide rail, avoid uneven lubrication and poor lubrication effect, and increase the service life of the lubrication element.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a linear slide rail, comprising a slider, a slide rail, and a self-lubricating structure. The slide rail is inserted into the slider and has a lubrication portion. The self-lubricating structure includes an oil tank, a self-lubricating element, a baffle, and a propulsion element. The oil tank is attached to one side of the slider and includes an oil storage space and a locking pin disposed in the oil storage space. An adjustment hole communicating with the oil storage space is provided on one side of the oil tank. The self-lubricating element includes a lubrication body and a guide hole disposed on the lubrication body. The lubrication body has a convex lip that abuts against the lubrication portion of the slide rail, and the lubrication body is movably accommodated in the oil storage space through the locking pin inserted in the guide hole. The baffle is abutted on the side of the lubrication body facing the adjustment hole. The propulsion element is disposed in the adjustment hole of the oil tank. The adjustment hole and the convex lip of the lubrication body are positioned corresponding to the lubrication portion of the slide rail. Under external force, the propulsion element moves towards the baffle, thereby causing the convex lip to abut against the lubrication portion.
[0006] Optionally, the size of the guide hole is larger than the size of the locking pin, and there is an adjustment gap between the outer edge of the locking pin and the inner wall of the guide hole.
[0007] Optionally, the lubrication body includes a first lubricating sheet and a second lubricating sheet of different materials, the first lubricating sheet including the guide hole and the second lubricating sheet including the convex lip.
[0008] Optionally, the wall of the fuel tank has an average thickness, and the wall of the fuel tank has a supporting thickness at the location of the adjustment hole, the supporting thickness being greater than the average thickness.
[0009] Optionally, the baffle includes an abutting section that abuts the adjustment hole and an extension section that connects to the abutting section, the thickness of the baffle gradually decreasing from the abutting section to the extension section.
[0010] Compared to existing technologies, the linear guide rail of the present invention features a self-lubricating structure on one side of the slider. This structure includes a self-lubricating element, a baffle, and a propulsion element. The baffle is positioned between the self-lubricating element and the propulsion element to prevent damage to the self-lubricating element from the propulsion element. Furthermore, the propulsion element moves towards the baffle under external force, causing the convex lip of the lubrication body to abut against the lubrication point. This provides continuous and gradual lubrication of the guide rail during use, thereby improving the smoothness and service life of the linear guide rail and increasing the practicality of the invention. Attached Figure Description
[0011] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the linear slide rail of the present invention.
[0012] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the self-lubricating structure of the present invention.
[0013] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the slider combined with the self-lubricating structure of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 4 This is a combined cross-sectional view of the linear guide rail of the present invention.
[0015] Figure 5 This is another embodiment of the self-lubricating element of the present invention.
[0016] Figure 6 This is another embodiment of the baffle with a self-lubricating structure of the present invention.
[0017] In the picture:
[0018] 1: Linear slide rail; 10: Slider; 20: Slide rail; 21: Lubrication part; 30: Self-lubricating structure; 31: Oil tank; 310: Oil storage space; 311: Locking pin; 312: Adjustment hole; 32: Self-lubricating element; 320: Guide hole; 321, 321': Lubrication body; 321a: First lubricating plate; 321b: Second lubricating plate; 322: Protruding lip; 33, 33': Baffle; 33a: Abutting section; 33b: Extension section; 34: Pushing element; 40: Side cover; 41: Locking element; S: Adjustment gap; H: Average thickness; T: Support thickness. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The detailed description and technical content of the present invention are illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings are provided for reference and illustration only and are not intended to limit the present invention.
[0020] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 The figures shown are a three-dimensional perspective view of the linear slide rail of the present invention, an exploded three-dimensional perspective view of the self-lubricating structure, a three-dimensional perspective view of the slider combined with the self-lubricating structure, and a combined sectional view of the linear slide rail. The present invention is a linear slide rail 1, comprising a slider 10, a slide rail 20, and a self-lubricating structure 30. The slide rail 20 is inserted into the slider 10. The self-lubricating structure 30 is coupled to the slider 10 for lubricating the slide rail 20. The self-lubricating structure 30 is described in more detail below.
[0021] The self-lubricating structure 30 includes an oil tank 31, a self-lubricating element 32, a baffle 33, and a propulsion element 34. The oil tank 31 is attached to one side of the slider 10. The oil tank 31 includes an oil storage space 310 and a locking pin 311 disposed in the oil storage space 310. Furthermore, an adjustment hole 312 communicating with the oil storage space 310 is provided on one side of the oil tank 31.
[0022] The self-lubricating element 32 includes a lubricating body 321 and a guide hole 320 disposed in the lubricating body 321. The lubricating body 321 is a porous material, such as an oil-containing resin composed of synthetic resin, lubricant, and fiber network, and can adsorb and release lubricant to the part requiring lubrication through capillary action. Furthermore, the synthetic resin can be a polyolefin resin or a polyester resin. The lubricant can be mineral oil, synthetic oil, or grease. The fiber network can be a material that can absorb lubricant, such as wool felt or polyester fiber. In addition, the oil content of the lubricating body 321 is 65-85%. More specifically, the lower limit of the lubrication supply of the lubricating body 321 should not be lower than 65%; furthermore, the upper limit of the lubrication supply of the lubricating body 321 should not be higher than 85% to avoid insufficient strength of the lubricating body 321.
[0023] It should be noted that the point where the slide rail 20 contacts the lubrication body 321 is a lubrication part 21 (see Figure 21). Figure 4 Furthermore, the lubrication body 321 has a protruding lip 322 that abuts against the lubrication part 21, and the lubrication body 321 is movably accommodated in the oil storage space 310 through the locking pin 311 passing through the guide hole 320.
[0024] It should be noted that oil such as lubricating oil or grease can be injected into the oil storage space 310 and absorbed by the self-lubricating element 32, thereby increasing the lubrication service time of the self-lubricating element 32.
[0025] It is worth noting that the size of the guide hole 320 is larger than the size of the locking pin 311, so there is an adjustment gap S between the outer edge of the locking pin 311 and the inner wall of the guide hole 320.
[0026] The baffle 33 is a single piece made of material such as plastic or nylon, and its hardness is greater than that of the self-lubricating element 32. The baffle 33 is attached to the side of the lubrication body 321 facing the adjustment hole 312. The propulsion element 34 passes through the adjustment hole 312 of the oil tank 31. Furthermore, the baffle 33 is positioned between the self-lubricating element 32 and the propulsion element 34 to prevent the propulsion element 34 from damaging the self-lubricating element 32.
[0027] It should be noted that the adjustment hole 312 and the convex lip 322 of the lubrication body 321 are provided corresponding to the lubrication part 21 of the slide rail 20. Accordingly, the push element 34 will move towards the baffle 33 under the push of an external force, so that the convex lip 322 of the lubrication body 321 abuts against the lubrication part 21.
[0028] It should also be noted that the distance the propulsion element 34 moves is the distance of the adjustment gap S. The adjustment gap S provides a buffer distance between the self-lubricating element 32 and the slide rail 20, allowing for continuous and gradual lubrication of the slide rail 20 during use, thereby improving the smoothness and service life of the linear slide rail 1.
[0029] In this embodiment, the linear guide rail 1 further includes a side cover 40 and a locking element 41. The side cover 40 is locked in the locking pin 311 by the locking element 41 to cover the oil tank 31.
[0030] It is worth noting that, in this embodiment, the wall surface of the oil tank 31 has an average thickness H; in addition, the wall surface of the oil tank 31 has a supporting thickness T at the position of the adjustment hole 312. The supporting thickness T is greater than the average thickness H, providing a larger point of force application when the propulsion element 34 moves in the direction of the interior of the oil tank 31, so that the propulsion element 34 can stably push the baffle 33 and push the self-lubricating element 32 through the baffle 33.
[0031] Please refer to Figure 5 This is another embodiment of the self-lubricating element of the self-lubricating structure of the present invention. This embodiment is largely the same as the previous embodiment, except that the lubricating body 321' includes a first lubricating sheet 321a and a second lubricating sheet 321b made of different materials. Furthermore, the first lubricating sheet 321a includes the guide hole 320. The second lubricating sheet 321b includes the convex lip 322.
[0032] Please refer to another source. Figure 6This is another embodiment of the baffle plate of the self-lubricating structure of the present invention. This embodiment is largely the same as the previous embodiment, except for the structural arrangement of the baffle plate 33'. In this embodiment, the baffle plate 33' includes an abutting section 33a that abuts the adjustment hole 312 and an extension section 33b that connects to the abutting section 33a. The thickness of the baffle plate 33' gradually decreases from the abutting section 33a to the extension section 33b. That is, the thickness of the baffle plate 33' in the abutting section 33a is greater than the thickness of the extension section 33b. Accordingly, the baffle plate 33' can provide greater support force in the abutting section 33a (the abutting position of the pushing element 34), so that the pushing element 34 can push the baffle plate 33', causing the baffle plate 33' to push the self-lubricating element 32, thereby causing the lip 322 of the self-lubricating element 32 to abut against the lubrication portion 21 of the slide rail 20, so as to provide lubrication to the slide rail 20.
[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to define the patent scope of the present invention. Other equivalent variations that utilize the patent spirit of the present invention should all fall within the patent scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A linear slide rail, characterized in that, include: A slider; A slide rail, which passes through the slider, has a lubrication part; and A self-lubricating structure, including: An oil tank is attached to one side of the slider. The oil tank includes an oil storage space and a locking pin disposed in the oil storage space. An adjustment hole communicating with the oil storage space is provided on one side of the oil tank. A self-lubricating element includes a lubricating body and a guide hole disposed in the lubricating body. The lubricating body has a protruding lip that abuts against the lubrication portion of the slide rail, and the lubricating body is movably accommodated in the oil storage space through the locking pin passing through the guide hole. A baffle plate is attached to the side of the lubrication body facing the adjustment hole; and A propulsion element is installed in the adjustment hole of the oil tank; The adjustment hole and the convex lip of the lubrication body are provided to correspond to the lubrication part of the slide rail. The push element will move towards the baffle under the push of an external force, so that the convex lip will abut against the lubrication part.
2. The linear guide rail as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The guide hole is larger than the locking pin, and there is an adjustment gap between the outer edge of the locking pin and the inner wall of the guide hole.
3. The linear guide rail as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lubrication body includes a first lubricating sheet and a second lubricating sheet made of different materials. The first lubricating sheet includes the guide hole, and the second lubricating sheet includes the convex lip.
4. The linear guide rail as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The tank wall has an average thickness, and the tank wall has a supporting thickness at the location of the adjustment hole, which is greater than the average thickness.
5. The linear guide rail as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The baffle includes an abutting section that attaches to the adjustment hole and an extension section that connects to the abutting section, the thickness of which gradually decreases from the abutting section to the extension section.
6. A self-lubricating structure for a linear slide rail, used to lubricate a slide rail, said slide rail having a lubrication portion, characterized in that, The self-lubricating structure includes: An oil tank includes a tank shell, the tank shell having an oil storage space and a locking pin disposed in the oil storage space, and an adjustment hole communicating with the oil storage space is provided on one side of the tank shell. A self-lubricating element includes a lubricating body and a guide hole disposed in the lubricating body. The lubricating body has a protruding lip that abuts against the lubrication portion of the slide rail, and the lubricating body is movably accommodated in the oil storage space through the locking pin passing through the guide hole. A baffle plate is attached to the side of the lubrication body facing the adjustment hole; and A propulsion element is inserted into the adjustment hole.
7. The self-lubricating structure of the linear slide rail as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The guide hole is larger than the locking pin, and there is an adjustment gap between the outer edge of the locking pin and the inner wall of the guide hole.
8. The self-lubricating structure of the linear slide rail as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The lubrication body includes a first lubricating sheet and a second lubricating sheet made of different materials. The first lubricating sheet includes the guide hole, and the second lubricating sheet includes the convex lip.
9. The self-lubricating structure of the linear slide rail as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The tank wall has an average thickness, and the tank wall has a supporting thickness at the location of the adjustment hole, which is greater than the average thickness.
10. The self-lubricating structure of the linear slide rail as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The baffle includes an abutting section that attaches to the adjustment hole and an extension section that connects to the abutting section, the thickness of which gradually decreases from the abutting section to the extension section.