Ball screw and circulator assembly thereof

Abstract

A circulator assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first component is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape and comprises a first guide groove face in a bent arc shape. The second component is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape and comprises a second guide groove face in a bent arc shape. The first component and the second component can be combined into a whole to form a circulator assembly, and the first guide groove face and the second guide groove face can be combined to form a ball circulation guide groove. Therefore, the circulator assembly is formed by combining the two components, and the circulator assembly has the advantages of being convenient to assemble, light and thin in size, capable of reducing part interference and wide in application range.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ball screw; more particularly, to a ball screw and a circulator assembly thereof. Background Art

[0002] Ball screws are often found in mechanical transmission devices, and are mainly used to convert rotational motion into linear motion. Ball screws are basically composed of components such as screws, balls, ball guides and nuts. The working principle of ball screws is to achieve rolling motion through the contact of the ball radial guide between the screw and the nut, thereby converting rotational motion into linear motion. The structure of the ball screw allows the balls to be evenly distributed on the ball radial guide of the nut, reducing the contact pressure between the balls and the ball radial guide, and reducing the rolling resistance of the balls, thereby improving transmission efficiency.

[0003] In addition, ball screws have the advantage of high rigidity. The structural design of ball screws allows the balls to be evenly distributed on the ball radial guide of the screw nut, thereby increasing the contact area between the balls and the ball radial guide, improving the rigidity of the transmission system, and allowing the ball screw to withstand greater loads during operation. Therefore, ball screws are particularly suitable for applications that require high loads and high rigidity, such as cutting loads in machine tool processing, heavy-load motion in robots, etc. Furthermore, ball screws have high precision, which enables them to achieve high-speed and high-precision motion control in many applications, so they are widely used in machine tools, automation equipment, precision measuring instruments, and semiconductor equipment.

[0004] The circulator is an important component in the ball screw to form the ball recirculation cycle. The conventional single-piece integrated circulator has limited application areas, especially in the case of a non-threaded ball screw structure, which often cannot be used due to component interference. Therefore, a multi-piece component combination circulator has appeared on the market.

[0005] However, the circulator of the multi-piece component combination still has defects. For example, its combination is unstable, resulting in a lack of stability when the ball screw moves, which is prone to vibration or loosening, thereby affecting the normal guiding performance of the ball and reducing the service life. Furthermore, since the circulator is assembled inside the end face of the nut, an inappropriate assembly structure will cause difficulties in disassembly or assembly in the future. Therefore, the circulator of the ball screw still needs to be further improved. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention provides a ball screw and a circulator assembly thereof. The circulator assembly is composed of two components combined with each other, has the advantages of convenience during assembly, stable assembly, light volume, reduced parts interference and wide applicability.

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a circulator assembly, which includes a first component and a second component. The first component is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape, and includes a top, a first side connected to the top, and a second side. The first side includes a first guide groove surface in a curved shape. The first guide groove surface extends from the first side and protrudes from the second side to form a finger-like structure. The second component is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape. The second component includes a top, a third side connected to the top, and a fourth side. A second guide groove surface in a curved shape is formed between the third side and the fourth side, and a receiving space is formed between the top and the third side of the second component. Among them, after the first component and the second component are combined into one, the top area of ​​the second component is larger than the top area of ​​the first component, so that the first component can be embedded in the receiving space of the second component, so that the top of the first component contacts the top of the second component, the first side of the first component contacts the third side of the second component, and the first guide groove surface and the second guide groove surface are combined to form a ball circulation guide groove.

[0008] In one example, the bottom of the first component may include a protrusion, and the protrusion may be in a cylindrical shape, a square cylinder shape, or other three-dimensional shapes.

[0009] In one example, a groove is formed on the top of the first component, and a block is formed on the bottom of the top of the second component. The block can be embedded in the groove to allow the first component and the second component to be embedded into one piece.

[0010] In one example, the first component and the second component may include a plastic composite material.

[0011] On the other hand, the present invention provides a circulator assembly, which includes a first component and a second component. The first component is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape, which includes a top, a first side connected to the top, and a second side. The first side includes a first guide groove surface in the shape of a curved arc. The first guide groove surface extends from the first side and protrudes from the second side to form a finger-like structure. The second component is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape, and the front includes a top, a third side connected to the top, and a fourth side. A second guide groove surface in the shape of a curved arc is formed between the third side and the fourth side. Among them, after the first component and the second component are combined into one, the top of the first component is parallel to the top of the second component, the first side of the first component is in contact with the third side of the second component, and the first guide groove surface and the second guide groove surface are combined to form a ball circulation guide groove.

[0012] In one example, the bottom of the first component may include a protrusion, and the protrusion may be in a cylindrical shape, a square cylinder shape, or other three-dimensional shapes.

[0013] In one example, a first side portion of the first component is provided with an embedding groove, and a third side portion of the second component is provided with an embedding block. The embedding block can be embedded in the embedding groove so that the first component and the second component are embedded in parallel and integrated.

[0014] In one example, the embedding groove may be inclined at an angle, and the embedding block may be inclined at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the embedding groove.

[0015] In one example, the first component and the second component may include a plastic composite material.

[0016] On the other hand, the present invention provides a ball screw equipped with a circulator assembly as described above, which comprises two circulator assemblies, a nut, a screw and a plurality of balls. The nut is in the shape of a hollow body, and a plurality of threads are provided on the inner side of the nut, and an embedding groove is provided at each end of the nut. A hollow channel runs through the two embedding grooves, and each end of the hollow channel comprises an opening. Each circulator assembly is respectively embedded in each embedding groove, so that each opening of the hollow channel is connected to each ball circulation guide groove of each circulator assembly. The screw is inserted into the nut. The outer side of the screw comprises a plurality of threads corresponding to the positions of the threads of the nut. A plurality of balls are rollably arranged between the threads on the inner side of the nut and the threads on the outer side of the screw, and the balls form a reflux circulation path through the ball circulation guide groove of the circulator assembly at one end of the nut, the threads of the screw, the hollow channel and the ball circulation guide groove of another circulator assembly at the other end of the nut.

[0017] In one example, the bottom of each first component of each circulator assembly may include a protrusion, and the protrusion may be in a cylindrical shape, a square cylinder shape, or other three-dimensional shapes.

[0018] In one example, the two ends of the nut each further include a positioning recess adjacent to each embedding groove. The shape of the positioning recess corresponds to the shape of the protrusion of the first component. When the ball screw is assembled, the first component is positioned in the positioning recess of the nut through the protrusion, the ball is installed in the ball circulation guide groove, and then the second component and the first component are embedded with each other to form a circulator assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is an exploded view of a circulator assembly according to one embodiment;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Another view of the circulator components;

[0021] Figure 3A for Figure 1 Combination diagram of circulator components;

[0022] Figure 3B for Figure 3A Another view of the circulator components;

[0023] Figure 4 is an exploded view of a circulator assembly according to another embodiment;

[0024] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Another angle of the circulator assembly;

[0025] Fig. 6A for Figure 1 Combination diagram of circulator components;

[0026] Figure 6B for Figure 3A Another view of the circulator components;

[0027] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a ball screw according to an embodiment;

[0028] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a ball screw;

[0029] Fig.9A for Figure 7 The structural diagram of the nut of the ball screw;

[0030] Fig. 9B for Fig.9A Another view of the nut;

[0031] Fig.10 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of assembling the nut end of the ball screw with the circulator assembly;

[0032] Fig.11 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the assembly of the other end of the ball screw nut and the circulator assembly.

[0033] Explanation of symbols:

[0034] Circulator assembly 100, 200

[0035] First member 110, 210

[0036] Top 111, 211

[0037] Embossed grooves 111a, 212a

[0038] First side portion 112 , 212

[0039] First guide groove surface 115, 215

[0040] Second side portions 113, 213

[0041] Finger structures 113a, 213a

[0042] Bottom 114, 214

[0043] Bumps 114a, 214a

[0044] Second components 120 , 220

[0045] Top 121, 221

[0046] Inserts 121a, 222a

[0047] The third side portions 122 and 222

[0048] Fourth side portion 123, 223

[0049] Second guide groove surfaces 124, 224

[0050] Ball circulation guide groove 135, 235

[0051] Accommodation space S

[0052] Ball Screw 300

[0053] Screw 310

[0054] Thread 311

[0055] Nut 320

[0056] Thread 321

[0057] Bezel 322

[0058] Hollow channel 323

[0059] Opening 323a

[0060] Ball B

[0061] Positioning concave 324 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] The following will describe multiple embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. For the purpose of clarity, many practical details will be described together in the following description. However, it should be understood that these practical details should not be used to limit the present invention. That is, in some embodiments of the present invention, these practical details are not necessary. In addition, in order to simplify the drawings and focus on the main technical features of the present case, some conventional, non-essential structures and components will be depicted or omitted in the drawings in a simple schematic manner.

[0063] In the present invention, the terms "first", "second", "upper", "lower", and "between" are used to describe a relative position. In fact, the order of arrangement may be changed according to actual conditions. When the viewing angle is different, the relative position relationship of "first", "second", "upper", and "lower" may also change accordingly.

[0064] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3A and Figure 3B . Figure 1 is an exploded view of a circulator assembly 100 according to one embodiment; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Another perspective view of the circulator assembly 100; Figure 3A for Figure 1 A combined diagram of a circulator assembly 100; Figure 3B for Figure 3A Another view of the circulator assembly 100.

[0065] The circulator assembly 100 includes a first component 110 and a second component 120. To be more specific, the circulator assembly 100 is formed by combining the first component 110 and the second component 120.

[0066] A first component 110 is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape. The first component 110 includes a top portion 111, a first side portion 112 connected to the top portion 111, and a second side portion 113. The first side portion 112 includes a first guide groove surface 115 in an arc shape. The first guide groove surface 115 extends from the first side portion 112 and protrudes from the second side portion 113, and forms a finger-shaped structure 113a.

[0067] The second member 120 is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape. The second member 120 includes a top portion 121, a third side portion 122 connected to the top portion 121, and a fourth side portion 123. A second guide groove surface 124 in a curved shape is formed between the third side portion 122 and the fourth side portion 123. An accommodating space S is formed between the top portion 121 and the third side portion 122 of the second member 120.

[0068] After the first component 110 and the second component 120 are combined into one, based on the fact that the area of ​​the top 121 of the second component 120 is larger than the area of ​​the top 111 of the first component 110, the first component 110 can be embedded in the accommodating space S of the second component 120, so that the top 111 of the first component 110 contacts the top 121 of the second component 120, the first side 112 of the first component 110 contacts the third side 122 of the second component 120, and the first guide groove surface 115 and the second guide groove surface 124 are combined to form a ball circulation guide groove 125, thereby forming the overall structure of the circulator assembly 110.

[0069] The bottom 114 of the first component 110 includes a protrusion 114a. The protrusion 114a can be in the shape of a cylinder, a square cylinder or other three-dimensional shapes, and its function will be described later.

[0070] At Figure 1 and Figure 2In the embodiment, in order to combine the first component 110 and the second component 120, an embedding groove 111a is provided at the top 111 of the first component 110. An embedding block 121a is provided below the top 121 of the second component 120. The embedding block 121a can be embedded in the embedding groove 111a, so that the first component 110 and the second component 120 are embedded in each other from top to bottom. The first component 110 and the second component 120 can be made of plastic composite material, which has the advantages of low cost, light weight, high tightness, and reduced interference.

[0071] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Fig. 6A and Figure 6B . Figure 4 is an exploded view of a circulator assembly 200 according to another embodiment; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Another angle of the circulator assembly 200; Fig. 6A for Figure 1 A combined diagram of a circulator assembly 200; Figure 6B for Fig. 6A Another view of the circulator assembly 200.

[0072] The structure of the circulator assembly 200 is slightly different from the aforementioned circulator assembly 100. The circulator assembly 200 includes a first component 210 and a second component 220. To further explain, the circulator assembly 200 is formed by combining the first component 210 and the second component 220.

[0073] The first component 210 is an asymmetric three-dimensional shape. The first component 210 includes a top portion 211, a first side portion 212 connected to the top portion 211, and a second side portion 213. The first side portion 212 includes a first guide groove surface 215. The first guide groove surface 215 extends from the first side portion 212 and protrudes from the second side portion 213 to form a finger-shaped structure 213a.

[0074] The second component 220 is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape and includes a top portion 221 and a third side portion 222 and a fourth side portion 223 connected to the top portion 221. A second guide groove surface 224 is formed between the third side portion 222 and the fourth side portion 223.

[0075] After the first component 210 and the second component 220 are combined into one, the first component 210 can be interlocked with the second component 220 so that the first side portion 212 of the first component 210 contacts the third side portion 222 of the second component 220, and the first guide groove surface 215 and the second guide groove surface 224 are combined to form a ball circulation guide groove 235, thereby forming the overall structure of the circulator assembly 200.

[0076] The bottom 214 of the first component 210 includes a protrusion 214a. The protrusion 214a can be in the shape of a cylinder, a square cylinder or other three-dimensional shapes, and its function will be described later.

[0077] At Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment, in order to combine the first component 210 and the second component 220, the first side portion 212 of the first component 210 is provided with an embedding groove 212a, and the third side portion 222 of the second component 220 is provided with an embedding block 222a. The embedding block 222a can be embedded in the embedding groove 212a so that the first component 210 and the second component 220 are embedded in parallel as a whole. The first component 210 and the second component 220 can include a plastic composite material, which has the advantages of low cost, light weight, high tightness, and reduced interference.

[0078] In one embodiment, the embedding groove 212a is inclined at an angle, and the embedding block 222a is also inclined at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the embedding groove 212a. There is no particular limitation on the inclination angle, which depends on the convenience and suitability of assembly.

[0079] Continued reference Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Fig.9A as well as Fig. 9B . Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a ball screw 300 according to an embodiment; Figure 8 for Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a ball screw 300; Fig.9A for Figure 7 A structural diagram of a nut 320 of a ball screw 300; Fig. 9B for Fig.9A Another perspective view of the nut 320.

[0080] The aforementioned circulator components 100, 200 are installed in the ball screw 300 to form a circulation system required for ball reflux circulation. Figure 7 and Figure 8 drawn.

[0081] The ball screw 300 includes two circulator components 100 and 200 , a nut 320 , a screw 310 , and a plurality of balls B. The structures of the circulator components 100 and 200 have been described in detail in the above embodiments.

[0082] The nut 320 is in the shape of a hollow body. A plurality of threads 321 are provided on the inner side of the nut 320. A groove 322 is provided at each end of the nut 320. A hollow passage 323 is passed through between the two grooves 322. The two ends of the hollow passage 323 each include an opening 323a. The two circulator components 100, 200 are respectively embedded in the grooves 322, so that the openings 323a of the hollow passage 323 are connected to the ball circulation guide grooves 135, 235 of the circulator components 100, 200.

[0083] The screw rod 310 is inserted into the nut 320 . The outer side of the screw rod 310 includes a plurality of threads 311 corresponding to the positions of the threads 321 inside the nut 320 .

[0084] A plurality of balls B are rollably disposed between the threads 321 on the inner side of the nut 320 and the threads 311 on the outer side of the screw rod 310. The balls B form a reflux circulation path through the ball circulation guide grooves 135, 235 of the circulator components 100, 200 at one end of the nut 320, the threads 311 of the screw rod 310, the hollow channel 323, and the ball circulation guide grooves 135, 235 of another circulator component 100, 200 at the other end of the nut 320.

[0085] Fig.10 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of assembling one end of the nut 320 of the ball screw 300 with the circulator components 100 and 200; Fig.11 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the assembly of the other end of the nut 320 of the ball screw 300 with the circulator components 100 and 200.

[0086] As mentioned above, each first component 110, 210 of each circulator assembly 100, 200 includes a protrusion 114a, 214a at the bottom. Both ends of the nut 320 adjacent to each embedding groove 322 each further include a positioning recess 324. The shape of the positioning recess 324 corresponds to the shape of the protrusion 114a, 214a of the first component 110, 210. When the screw 310 is in an incomplete thread state, when the ball screw 300 is assembled, the first component 110, 210 is firstly engaged and positioned in the positioning recess 324 of the nut 320 through the protrusion 114a, 214a, and then the ball B is installed into the ball circulation guide groove 135, 235, and then the second component 120, 220 and the first component 110, 210 are engaged with each other to form the circulator assembly 100, 220. Thus, the circulator components 100 and 200 formed by the mutual engagement of the first components 110 and 210 and the second components 120 and 220 can be positioned in the positioning recess 324 by the engagement of the protrusions 114a and 214a, so that the circulator components 100 and 200 can be embedded in the embedding groove 322 of the nut 320. The protrusions 114a and 214a can be cylindrical, square, or in other three-dimensional shapes that can be embedded in the positioning recess 324. When the screw rod 310 is fully threaded, there is no such restriction, and the circulator components 100, 200 can be assembled in the above order. Alternatively, the first component 110, 210 and the second component 120, 220 can be first assembled to form the circulator components 100, 200, and then the circulator components 100, 200 are positioned and fixed by engaging the protrusions 114a, 214a of the bottom 114, 214 of the first component 110, 210 with the positioning recess 324 of the nut 320, and then the ball B is installed. The finger-like structures 113a, 213a of the second side portions 113, 213 of the first components 110, 210 of the circulator components 100, 200 are respectively structures for forming ball circulation guide grooves 135, 235.

[0087] It is also mentioned that the present case provides a circulator assembly 100 with two components in an upper and lower interlocking shape and a circulator assembly 200 with two components in a left and right interlocking shape, which can be replaced and adjusted according to different structural requirements. Circulator assemblies 100 and 200 with the same interlocking shape or different interlocking shapes can be used at both ends of the nut 320.

[0088] In summary, the benefits of the present invention are:

[0089] 1. The present invention adopts two-piece components to form a circulator assembly, and the assembly sequence thereof can be flexibly adjusted, and can be matched with a ball screw with a complete thread or an incomplete thread assembly type. Therefore, it can solve the problem that the conventional incomplete thread guide ball screw cannot be assembled due to the interference of components, or the circulator assembly needs to change its structure, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost.

[0090] 2. The two-piece components can be made of plastic composite materials, and their structure can be adjusted and assembled according to different forms, and the outer contour of each component corresponds to the outer contour of the nut's embedding groove. The circulator assembly formed in this way has the advantages of high assembly stability, wide application range, low manufacturing cost, light weight, high tightness, and reduced interference.

[0091] 3. Since the ball forms a reflux cycle at both ends of the nut, the length of the nut can be shortened under the same dynamic load, which makes it easier to meet the demand for lightweight and thin volume.

[0092] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A circulator assembly, characterized in that: Include: A first component in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape, the first component comprising a top portion, a first side portion connected to the top portion, and a second side portion, the first side portion comprising a first guide groove surface in an arc shape, the first guide groove surface extending from the first side portion and protruding from the second side portion to form a finger-shaped structure; and A second member, which is in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape, comprises a top portion, a third side portion connected to the top portion, and a fourth side portion, a second guide groove surface in a curved shape is formed between the third side portion and the fourth side portion, and an accommodating space is formed between the top portion and the third side portion of the second member; Among them, after the first component and the second component are combined into one, the top area of ​​the second component is larger than the top area of ​​the first component, so that the first component can be embedded in the accommodating space of the second component, so that the top of the first component contacts the top of the second component, the first side of the first component contacts the third side of the second component, and the first guide groove surface and the second guide groove surface are combined to form a ball circulation guide groove.

2. The circulator assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The bottom of the first component includes a protrusion, and the protrusion is in a cylindrical shape, a square column shape or other three-dimensional shapes.

3. The circulator assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The top of the first component is concavely provided with an embedding groove, and the bottom of the top of the second component is convexly provided with an embedding block, and the embedding block can be embedded in the embedding groove so that the first component and the second component are embedded into one body from top to bottom.

4. The circulator assembly of claim 1, wherein: The first component and the second component include plastic composite material.

5. A circulator assembly, characterized in that: Include: A first component in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape, the first component comprising a top portion, a first side portion connected to the top portion, and a second side portion, the first side portion comprising a first guide groove surface in an arc shape, the first guide groove surface extending from the first side portion and protruding from the second side portion to form a finger-shaped structure; and A second component in an asymmetric three-dimensional shape, the second component comprising a top portion, a third side portion connected to the top portion, and a fourth side portion, wherein a second guide groove surface in a curved arc shape is formed between the third side portion and the fourth side portion; Among them, after the first component and the second component are combined into one, the top of the first component is parallel to the top of the second component, the first side of the first component is in contact with the third side of the second component, and the first guide groove surface and the second guide groove surface are combined to form a ball circulation guide groove.

6. The circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein: The bottom of the first component includes a protrusion, and the protrusion is in a cylindrical shape, a square column shape or other three-dimensional shapes.

7. The circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein: The first side portion of the first component is provided with an embedding groove, and the third side portion of the second component is protrudingly provided with an embedding block, which can be embedded in the embedding groove so that the first component and the second component are embedded in parallel and integrated.

8. The circulator assembly of claim 7, wherein: The embedding groove is inclined at an angle, and the embedding block is inclined at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the embedding groove.

9. The circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein: The first component and the second component include plastic composite material.

10. A ball screw equipped with a circulator assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: Include:

2. the circulator assembly; A nut, which is in a hollow body shape, with a plurality of threads on the inner side of the nut, a groove is formed at each end of the nut, a hollow channel is passed through between the two grooves, and each end of the hollow channel includes an opening, each circulator component is respectively embedded in the groove, so that each opening of the hollow channel is connected to each ball circulation guide groove of each circulator component; a screw rod, which is inserted into the nut, and the outer side of the screw rod comprises a plurality of threads corresponding to the thread positions of the nut; and A plurality of balls are rollably disposed between the threads on the inner side of the nut and the threads on the outer side of the screw rod. The balls form a reflux circulation path through the ball circulation guide groove of the circulator component located at one end of the nut, the threads of the screw rod, the hollow channel and the ball circulation guide groove of another circulator component located at the other end of the nut.

11. The ball screw according to claim 10, characterized in that: The bottom of each first component of each circulator assembly includes a protrusion, which is in the shape of a cylinder, a square cylinder or other three-dimensional shapes.

12. The ball screw according to claim 11, characterized in that The two ends of the nut are adjacent to each of the embedding grooves and each includes a positioning recess, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the protrusion of the first component. When the ball screw is assembled, the first component is positioned in the positioning recess of the nut through the protrusion, the ball is installed in the ball circulation guide groove, and then the second component and the first component are embedded with each other to form the circulator assembly.

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