Modular sliding bearing assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a sliding bearing assembly comprising a rail having a rail body extending in the longitudinal direction and a sliding block which is movably guided on the rail and has a sliding block body, at least two guide sections extending in the longitudinal direction and parallel to one another at a distance from one another are arranged on the guide plate, and the guide plate has a cross-section complementary to the guide section associated with each of the perforations, and is configured as a sliding channel extending in the longitudinal direction, the sliding channel having a sliding surface formed of a preferably tribologically optimized plastic, the sliding channels each have a first sliding section and a second sliding section arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, the first sliding section having a first sliding surface and the second sliding section having a second sliding surface, and the slider body having at least one passage, at least one sliding channel, which runs through the first sliding surface of the first sliding section and / or the second sliding surface of the second sliding section of at least one of the sliding channels, and which is designed as a receptacle for an additional sliding element.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a sliding bearing assembly (Gleitlageranordnung) comprising a rail and a slider which is linearly movably guided on the rail, wherein the rail has a rail body which extends in a longitudinal direction, on which rail body at least two guide sections are arranged which extend parallel to one another at a distance in the longitudinal direction, and the slider has at least two through-penetrations for accommodating a respective guide section, wherein the through-penetrations have a cross-section which is complementary to the guide sections, and the through-penetrations are configured as sliding channels which extend in the longitudinal direction.

[0002] Here, such a sliding bearing assembly is in particular used where linearly moving components and assemblies need to be repeatedly moved between different positions. Such movement can be carried out mechanically but also manually. BACKGROUND

[0003] A sliding bearing assembly of the type mentioned above is known, for example, from WO 2022 / 218877 A1. The sliding bearing assembly comprises sliding elements formed from sliding plastic which are arranged in the through-penetrations of the slider. The slider is configured as a multipartite overall. Support elements are fastened to the corners of the slider body by means of screws, which support elements surround (umgreifen) the guide sections of the rail in a cylindrical through-penetration. The sliding elements formed from sliding plastic are inserted into the cylindrical through-penetrations of the support elements. The known sliding bearing device is optimized in such a way that the slider can be fixed on the rail (or again released from the rail) by a simple hand movement without the support surface having to be loaded by additional force or additional components being required.

[0004] For sliding bearing devices of the type mentioned above, it is basically necessary to configure the sliding guides (or sliding channels) in such a way that the slider is guided on the rail with a specific play. The play must be designed in such a way that the slider is guided relatively friction-free but still without tilting. Furthermore, the sliding channels must be designed in such a way that they can compensate for the net dimensional tolerances of the rail, which is usually configured as an aluminum extruded profile.

[0005] It is basically desirable to provide the sliding bearing assembly from as few individual components as possible, in particular to provide the slider with as few individual components as possible, which is very advantageous from a cost perspective, but usually requires greater tolerances in manufacture.

[0006] On the other hand, the requirement for guide playlessness is also application-specific, i.e. certain applications can require a high-precision guide, while other applications require a smaller bearing play (Lagerspiel). Finally, it is desirable and meaningful in certain applications to be able to temporarily lock the slider on the rail. For other applications, such a locking is not required. SUMMARY

[0007] It is the task of the present application to provide a sliding bearing arrangement guide (or linear guide) of the type mentioned at the outset which is suitable for as large a range of applications as possible and can be produced as economically as possible.

[0008] It is a partial task of the present application to provide a sliding bearing assembly which can be designed for different requirements of the bearing gap. Another aspect of the present application is to provide a sliding bearing assembly which can be built as modular as possible.

[0009] At least one partial task of the basic task of the present application is solved by a sliding bearing assembly having the features according to claim 1. Advantageous variants of the present application are covered by the features of the dependent claims and are explained herein by way of example. Advantageous embodiments or solutions of at least one partial task of the present application can be particularly advantageously combined with one another. The sliding bearing assembly according to the present application can also have features disclosed herein in connection with known sliding bearing assemblies.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the application, a plain bearing assembly is provided, comprising a rail and a slider having a slider body movably guided on the rail, wherein the rail has a rail body extending in a longitudinal direction, on which at least two guide sections extending parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction are arranged. The slider has at least two through-penetrations for accommodating each one of the guide sections assigned to the respective through-penetration. The respective through-penetration has a cross section complementary to the guide section assigned thereto. Preferably, the guide sections are configured identically and each through-penetration is configured complementary to each guide section. The through-penetrations are configured as sliding channels extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the sliding channels have sliding surfaces formed of plastic. The sliding surfaces are thus formed by components of the slider formed of plastic, in particular in embodiments in which the slider is formed entirely of plastic. Preferably, the plastic is tribologically optimized, i.e. configured as a friction polymer explained in more detail below. The sliding surfaces are precisely those surfaces of the slider which, in an operating state of the plain bearing assembly in which each guide section of the rail is arranged in the through-penetration respectively assigned thereto, abut against the guide sections in order to prevent a relative movement of the slider with respect to the rail perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. It is to be considered here that in the operating state the slider is slidably movable with respect to the rail in the longitudinal direction, but by means of the guide sections accommodated in its through-penetrations, the slider is fixed in its position with respect to the rail perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The plain bearing assembly is characterized in particular in that the sliding channels have a first and a second sliding section arranged one behind the other and aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first sliding section has a first sliding surface and the second sliding section has a second sliding surface, and the slider body has at least one through-penetration which penetrates the first sliding surface formed by the first sliding section and / or the second sliding surface formed by the second sliding section of at least one of the sliding channels, wherein the through-penetration is configured as an accommodation for at least one additional sliding element which can be introduced into the slider body in a releasable manner. The through-penetration is provided as a recess in the respective sliding surface. The sliding surface penetrated by the through-penetration thus extends with one of its sliding surface sections in the reference longitudinal direction over the same extension section as the through-penetration, so that the through-penetration is considered a recess in the sliding surface and the respective sliding surface provided with the through-penetration thus precisely in the height of the through-penetration in the reference longitudinal direction constitutes a limiting portion for the guide section in the operating state, for limiting the movability of the guide section with respect to the slider perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The through-penetration can be configured as a recess or as a complete penetration in the slider which is then in the form of a bore.

[0011] Such a plain bearing assembly can have a slider which is integrally formed from a thermoplastic and which has an integral plain channel and an integral plain surface, wherein the plain channel and its plain surface can be designed so as to be suitable for relatively large bearing clearances first of all. According to the application, the plain bearing assembly is modularly constructed, since the plain channel can be completed (komplettieren) by additional plain elements if necessary. These plain elements can be inserted into through-penetrations of the slider body which are configured as receptacles if necessary. These through-penetrations are suitably configured and arranged in such a way that the plain elements or pressure pieces or the like which are inserted into these through-penetrations supplement the guide surfaces of the plain channel. Thus, each through-penetration is configured for a respective plain element, so that the plain element can be inserted into the through-penetration and fixed to the remaining slider in the manner in which it is arranged in the through-penetration. For the fixing, for example, a conventional fixing by means of a snap-in connection or a catch (Hinterschnitt) can be provided. Preferably, the plain elements are configured to reduce the net diameter of the respective plain channel by the insertion of the plain element. It is to be considered here that the plain channel has a net diameter which is configured in correspondence with the guide section which corresponds to the plain channel. By the insertion of the plain element, this net diameter is reduced. Thus, by means of the plain bearing assembly, a first operating state and a second operating state can be achieved, in which, in the first operating state, the guide section is accommodated in the plain channel and thus surrounded by the plain channel, while no plain element is arranged in the through-penetration, and in which, in the second operating state, the guide section is accommodated in the plain channel and thus surrounded by the plain channel, while a plain element is arranged in the through-penetration, wherein, in the second operating state, the guide section is surrounded by the plain channel with a smaller clearance than in the first operating state. In the second operating state, the plain element forms a further plain surface which, in the second operating state, rests on the guide section in order to limit the movement of the guide section relative to the slider perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0012] In the simplest case, a single through-penetration configured as a receptacle for an additional plain element can be provided, but preferably at least one through-penetration is provided in the region of the plain channel.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the plain bearing assembly according to the application, it can be provided that the guide section is connected to the rail body by means of a connecting region and is preferably configured as a cylinder over a partial circumference, and that the plain channel has a complementary cylindrical cross section to the guide section. In such a plain bearing assembly, the first and second plain sections can each have a first and a second plain surface which surround the guide sections with different surrounding angles (Umschließungswinkel).

[0014] The slider body can essentially be formed completely or partially from a thermoplastic. In both cases, the plain surfaces can each be an integral component of the slider body.

[0015] When the slider body is formed of metal, for example, these sliding surfaces can be formed on the slider body by injection molding or overmolding, or formed by separate embedded sliding elements fixed to the slider body. For this purpose, the slider body can be overmolded in an injection mold as an insert, for example, using thermoplastic material.

[0016] At least the sliding surface of the sliding channel (or through section) is formed of a tribologically optimized plastic. In this context, this should be understood as a polymeric material with a low coefficient of friction on the guide section surface. Suitable plastics are, in particular, thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and thermosetting phenolic resins. To further reduce friction, these plastics may contain lubricants, especially fine-grained solid lubricants, such as polymeric solid lubricants, waxes, molybdenum disulfide, or graphite. Such lubricant-containing polymers are also called tribologically optimized plastics.

[0017] In a particularly advantageous configuration of the sliding support assembly according to the invention, the slider body has at least one through-hole in the region of the sliding surface of the first and / or second sliding section of at least one sliding channel (preferably two sliding channels), in which a releasably preloaded pressure element, as an additional sliding element, can be inserted in a releasable manner. Therefore, a profile corresponding to the pressure element is provided on the through-hole, on which the pressure element can be supported to establish the elastic preload. The pressure element may have a partially cylindrical sliding surface (or contact surface) that rests as a concave sliding surface against the cylindrical guide section of the track under spring preload.

[0018] This ensures that, for example, one of the first and second sliding sections can surround the associated guide section of the track with a relatively large support clearance, while the support clearance in the other region of the first and second sliding sections corresponding to the sliding channel is reduced by one or more pressure elements resting preloaded against the associated guide section. The advantages of this configuration of the sliding guide (or sliding support assembly) according to the invention are significant. The elastically preloaded pressure elements enable the slider to be fixed to the guide section of the track with largely no or minimal clearance.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the sliding support assembly according to the invention, the slider body is formed entirely of plastic (preferably thermoplastic), and at least the sliding surface is formed of tribologically optimized thermoplastic (preferably a friction polymer).

[0020] The slider can be manufactured, for example, by two-component plastic injection molding, wherein, for example, only the sliding surface is made of a friction polymer, while the other parts of the slider body are formed, for example, by fiber-reinforced plastic, which ensures the corresponding strength of the slider body.

[0021] At least one pressure element suitably has a concave contact surface with a cylindrical bend that defines a portion of the contour of the sliding channel. At least one pressure element is preferably also at least partially composed of a friction polymer. This configuration is advantageous for a pressure element compared to a sliding element.

[0022] In a suitable configuration of the sliding support assembly according to the invention, at least one pressure element is radially movable relative to the cylindrical cross-section of the sliding channel and elastically preloaded within the channel. Although the pressure element can also be supported substantially in a unilaterally pivotable manner, the advantage of radial mobility is that the support clearance can be adjusted with particular fineness.

[0023] At least one pressure element may have an integrally formed spring element, wherein, in an advantageous variant of the sliding support assembly, the pressure element is preloaded by means of a pressure spring constructed as a separate component, thereby allowing for different spring preloads in an advantageous manner. The pressure spring is preferably constructed as a cylindrical helical spring.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the sliding support assembly according to the invention, the track and slider include a device for releasably locking the slider in a discrete number of holding positions. This fixation of the slider relative to the track may be advantageous for certain applications.

[0025] These holding positions can be formed by a plurality of locking recesses spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction at predetermined holding positions on the track. These locking recesses, in their respective holding positions, interact with at least one locking ball of a locking lever, the locking ball being spring-loaded and movably arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction on the slider. Preferably, the locking ball is elastically and movably supported on the slider by the locking lever. In one variation, the locking lever can be arranged in a fixed position on the slider, and only the locking ball can move within the lever tip. Essentially, the locking lever and / or the locking ball can be spring-loaded and movable.

[0026] On the track, corresponding locking recesses (or position retention recesses) can be set at regular predetermined intervals.

[0027] Particularly preferably, these locking recesses are located in the connection area of ​​the track body, wherein, advantageously, the locking rod does not engage with the track when it is located between or outside the locking recesses, thereby ensuring particularly low frictional guidance of the slider on the track.

[0028] Preferably, these holding positions are formed by locking elements made of tribologically optimized thermoplastic and inserted into the track body, wherein each locking element has a locking recess on its exposed, slider-facing end face, which is preferably configured as a kugelfalle for a locking ball of a locking lever. Thus, the locking recess of the locking element forms the aforementioned locking recess.

[0029] The locking lever may, for example, have a lever tip with a locking ball inserted on the end side, which interacts with a locking cavity configured as a ball groove.

[0030] These locking elements can be constructed as plastic plugs made of a friction polymer that can be inserted into holes in the track body. These holes can be, for example, placed in blind holes spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the track in the connection area of ​​the track body.

[0031] These locking elements can be constructed as plugs with widened heads and press-fitted into holes in the track body.

[0032] For example, these locking elements may each have a (preferably mushroom-shaped) head protruding from the connection area of ​​the track body, the head having at least one guide surface for a locking ball for a locking lever. The guide surface may, for example, be spherical. The protruding head of these locking elements may, for example, be hemispherical, wherein the locking cavity may be generally formed in a crown shape at the center of the protruding head. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The present invention will now be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0034] The attached diagram shows: Figure 1 A first perspective view of a slider in an embodiment of the sliding support assembly according to the present invention is shown in schematic diagram; Figure 2 A perspective view of an embodiment of the sliding support assembly according to the present invention is shown in schematic diagram; Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrates a second perspective view of the slider in an embodiment of the sliding support assembly according to the invention, viewed from below. Figure 4 A schematic diagram shows a second perspective view of the bottom of a slider in an embodiment of the sliding support assembly according to the invention, wherein a pressure element is placed in the slider; Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrates the process of... Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the slider and track shown; Figure 6A schematic diagram shows a perspective longitudinal section of an embodiment of the sliding support assembly according to the invention; Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing a perspective view through the locking element; Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrates the cross-section in the region of the locking lever via the sliding support assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0035] First refer to Figures 1 to 3 This illustrates a first, relatively simple implementation (or build level) of the sliding support assembly according to the invention.

[0036] The sliding support assembly includes a slider 100 that is linearly guided on the track 200. Figure 2 The slider 100 includes a slider body 110, which is substantially constructed as a single body formed of thermoplastic. The slider body 110 includes two through portions 101 that are generally cylindrical in cross-section, surrounding cylindrical guide sections 202 of the track 200. These guide sections 202 are only partially cylindrical because they are laterally formed in the longitudinal direction X onto the connection region 203 of the track body 201. The track 200 is constructed of extruded aluminum profile. The through portions 101 have cylindrical cross-sections corresponding to the construction of the guide sections 202.

[0037] The slider 100, as a so-called all-plastic slider (Vollkunststoff-Schlitten), may optionally be provided with a threaded insert or (as in the embodiment shown) an embedded nut 113 for fastening a threaded bolt of an accessory not shown.

[0038] For example, especially from Figure 3 As can be seen from the bottom diagram, the through portion 101 extending parallel through the slider 100 includes first and second sliding sections 104 and 105, each having first and second sliding surfaces 102 and 103. These sliding surfaces 102 and 103 respectively surround the net cross-section of the corresponding sliding channel, wherein the first sliding surface 102 of the first sliding section 104 forms a cylindrical circumferential surface, which surrounds the associated guide section 202 with a larger angle range than the second sliding surface 103 of the second sliding section 105.

[0039] The first and second sliding sections 104 and 105 are arranged directly adjacent to each other along the longitudinal axis. The second sliding section 105 is penetrated by a bottom-accessible window-shaped through-hole 106 of the slider body 110. An additional sliding element and / or pressure element 107 can be inserted into this through-hole 106. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown.

[0040] In the simplest case, according to Figure 3 The slider 100 can be used together with the track 200 as a sliding support assembly (or linear guide) without further supplementation.

[0041] To finely adjust and minimize support clearance, slider 100 can be compensated by pressure element 107, as in the embodiment. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown. In this variant of the sliding support assembly, two pressure elements 107 are respectively placed in the through portion 101 (or sliding channel), as... Figure 5 As shown, these pressure elements 107 are preloaded by pressure springs 109 against the guide section 202 of the track 200 with partially cylindrical contact surfaces 108. The pressure elements 107, suitably made of friction polymer, are radially movable relative to the longitudinal central axis of the sliding channel.

[0042] like Figure 5 As shown, each of the pressure elements 107 includes a fortsätze forming a groove 114 with a U-shaped (or rectangular) cross-sectional profile. These grooves 114 extend in the longitudinal direction X within the through-section 106, and a strip 115, a complementary structure to the slider body 110, extends within these grooves 114. Furthermore, each of the pressure elements 107 includes a retaining pin 116, on which a pressure spring 109 in the form of a metal helical spring is fitted. In the installed position of the pressure element 107, the pressure spring 109 supports the pressure element 107 on one side and on the opposite side against an inclined surface within the through-section 106 of the slider body 110. When the slider 100 surrounds the guide section 202 of the track 200, these pressure elements 107 are arranged in the slider 100 in an unremovable manner. In the disassembled state, these pressure elements 107 can be easily removed by corresponding movement.

[0043] Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 Another supplementary stage of the sliding support assembly according to the invention is shown. As particularly from [the invention]... Figure 6A longitudinal section extending along the longitudinal axis X of the sliding support assembly reveals that multiple longitudinally spaced holes 204 are provided in the connection region 203 of the track 200. Plug-shaped locking elements 300, formed of thermoplastic, are pressed into these holes 204. Each locking element 300 comprises a generally cylindrical base with multiple convex retaining ribs 302, which give the base a generally barrel-shaped shape, allowing the locking elements 300 to be pressed into the holes 204 in a pre-tightened manner without loss. Furthermore, each locking element 300 has a generally mushroom-shaped head 303 forming a spherical guide surface. Spherical cap-shaped locking recesses 301 are formed on the axis of symmetry of each locking element 300. Figure 6 The installation position points upwards, that is, it is open towards the slider 100.

[0044] In this component stage of the sliding support assembly, the slider also includes a locking lever 111, which is height-adjustably screwed into a threaded hole 117 in the slider body 110 and secured by a locking nut 118. A locking ball 112 is spring-loaded and supported within the locking lever 111 (or within the tip of the locking lever 111). The pressure spring provided for this purpose is not shown in the drawings for simplicity. The locking lever 111 is screwed into the slider body 110 such that it does not engage (or contact) the connection area 203 of the track 200 between the holding positions defined by the locking element 300. As the track moves accordingly in the longitudinal direction X, the locking ball 112 slides over the spherical head 303 of the locking element 300 and deflects therein in the Y direction (i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X). The locking ball 112 then engages in the locking recess 301 when the pressure spring is released, thereby securing the slider 100 in the corresponding position. The slider 100 can be unlocked from that position by applying a moderate force in the X direction.

[0045] List of reference numerals 100 sliders 101 Through Section 102 First sliding surface 103 Second sliding surface 104 First sliding section 105 Second sliding section 106 Pass-through part 107 Pressure Components 108 contact surfaces 109 Compression Spring 110 Slider Body 111 Locking lever 112 Card Lock Ball 113 Embedded Nut 114 Groove 115 (Stege) 116 Keep the pin 117 Threaded hole 118 Locking Nut 200 orbits 201 Track Body 202 Guide Section 203 Connection Area 204 holes 300 Locking Component 301 Locking Cavity 302 Keep Ribs 303 Head.

Claims

1. A sliding support assembly comprising a track (200) and a slider (100) having a slider body (110) movably guided on said track (200), wherein, The track (200) has a track body (201) extending in the longitudinal direction (X), on which at least two guide sections (202) are provided, extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction (X). The slider (100) has at least two through portions (101), each through portion being configured to accommodate the guide sections (202) respectively belonging to the through portion and having a cross-section complementary to the guide sections (202) respectively belonging to the through portion. The through portions are configured as sliding channels extending in the longitudinal direction (X), wherein the sliding channels have sliding surfaces (102, 103) formed of a preferably tribologically optimized plastic. Its features are, The sliding channel has a first sliding section and a second sliding section (104, 105) arranged longitudinally in a front-to-back direction. The first sliding section (104, 105) has a first sliding surface (102, 103), and the second sliding section (104, 105) has a second sliding surface (102, 103). The slider body has at least one through portion (106) that penetrates at least one of the sliding channels, the first sliding surface (102, 103) of the first sliding section (104, 105) and / or the second sliding surface (102, 103) of the second sliding section (104, 105). The through portion is configured as a receiving portion for an additional sliding element that can be removably inserted into the slider body (110).

2. The sliding support assembly according to claim 1, Its features are, The guide section (202) is connected to the track body (201) via a connecting area (203) and is preferably constructed as a column on a portion of the circumference, and the sliding channel has a columnar cross-section that is complementary to the guide section (202).

3. The sliding support assembly according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The sliding surfaces (102, 103) are integral components of the slider body (110).

4. The sliding support assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The slider body has at least one through-hole (106) in the region of the first and / or second sliding surfaces (102, 103) of at least one, preferably two, sliding channels, in which an elastically pre-tightened pressure element (107) as an additional sliding element can be releasably inserted.

5. The sliding support assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Its features are, The slider body (110) is made of plastic, preferably thermoplastic, and at least the sliding surfaces (102, 103) are made of tribologically optimized thermoplastic, preferably tribologically polymerized.

6. The sliding support assembly according to claim 4 or 5, Its features are, The pressure element (107) has a cylindrically curved contact surface (108) that defines a portion of the contour of a sliding channel.

7. The sliding support assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 6, Its features are, The pressure element (107) is made of a friction polymer.

8. The sliding support assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 7, Its features are, At least one pressure element (107) is radially movable relative to the cylindrical cross-section of a sliding channel and elastically preloaded into the channel.

9. The sliding support assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 8, Its features are, The pressure element (107) is preloaded by means of a pressure spring (109), which is preferably constructed as a cylindrical helical spring.

10. The sliding support assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Its features are, The track (200) and the slider (100) include devices for releasably locking the slider (100) in a discrete number of holding positions.

11. The sliding support assembly according to claim 10, Its features are, The holding position is formed by a plurality of locking recesses spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (X) in the holding position of the track (200), the locking recesses interacting with at least one locking ball (112) of the locking rod (111) in the holding position, the locking ball being arranged movably on the slider (100) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) in a spring-loaded manner.

12. The sliding support assembly according to claim 10 or 11, Its features are, The holding position is constituted by a locking element (300) made of tribologically optimized thermoplastic material placed into the track body (201), the locking element having a locking cavity (301) on its exposed end face, the locking cavity preferably forming one of the locking recesses and configured as a ball groove for the locking ball (112) of the locking lever (111).

13. The sliding support assembly according to claim 12, Its features are, The locking element (300) is configured as a plastic plug made of a friction polymer that can be inserted into a hole (204) in the track body (201).

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