GUIDE CARRIER OF A LINEAR GUIDE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide carriage of a linear guide, in particular a profile rail roller guide.

[0002] DE10126439 A1 discloses a guide carriage according to the features of the preamble of claim 1. The head pieces of the guide carriage each have several lubricant connections connected to a common lubricant channel for the supply of lubricant. Several orders of lubricant channels are provided, connected in series in the direction of flow of the lubricant, with each lubricant channel of a higher-order order being assigned a plurality of lubricant channels of a lower-order order connected in parallel.

[0003] The object of the invention was to propose such a guide carriage with a further improved lubrication device. According to the invention, this object was achieved by the guide carriage according to claim 1.

[0004] The guide carriage has endless rolling element channels in which rolling elements rotate endlessly.

[0005] Each rolling element channel can have a load section, a return section, and deflection sections that endlessly connect the load section to the return section. The load sections can have raceways for the rolling elements. The guide carriage can have a support body and end pieces arranged on both end faces of the support body. The end pieces preferably house the aforementioned deflection sections for the rolling elements. The end pieces can be designed in multiple sections.

[0006] The guide carriage preferably has a back with parallel legs arranged on both longitudinal sides. The raceways of the load section are preferably formed on the mutually facing sides of the legs of the U-shaped guide carriage on its support body. This guide carriage has an approximately U-shaped cross-sectional profile and can engage around a profile rail of a profile rail roller guide.

[0007] At least one of the headpieces preferably has an external lubricant connection for supplying lubricant. This can be a grease nipple or a screw valve.

[0008] This head piece can advantageously have lubricant channels for the lubricant, which are connected to the rolling element channels to supply them with lubricant.

[0009] Several orders of lubricant channels are provided, connected in series in the direction of lubricant flow. Each lubricant channel of a higher order is assigned a plurality of parallel-connected lubricant channels of a lower order of lubricant channels. Several lower-order lubricant channels are connected in parallel to the higher-order lubricant channel, so that the lubricant flow of the higher-order lubricant channel is distributed among the number of connected lower-order lubricant channels. The first lubricant channel is the highest-order lubricant channel connected to the lubricant connection.

[0010] The sum of the flow cross-sections of these lower-order lubricant channels connected to the higher-order lubricant channel is equal to the flow cross-section of the higher-order lubricant channel. The flow cross-section is determined by the clear cross-sectional area of ​​the lubricant channel, limited by its channel wall. The flow cross-sections of the lower-order lubricant channels are preferably of equal size within their order. In this way, the lubricant flow velocities can be kept largely constant in all lubricant channels. The flow cross-sections and the number of lower-order lubricant channels are matched to the flow cross-section of the connected higher-order lubricant channel.

[0011] Preferably, a first-order lubricant channel is provided, which extends from the lubricant connection to a first distribution point, to which second-order lubricant channels are connected, each extending to a second distribution point, to which third-order lubricant channels are connected, each extending to a transfer section connecting the third-order lubricant channel to one of the rolling element channels.

[0012] Ideally, the sum of the volumes of the lower-level channels is equal to the volume of the connected higher-level channel. This measure can be useful to ensure that, during a lubrication pulse, the volume completely displaced from the higher-level lubricant channel is also completely displaced from the connected lower-level lubricant channels.

[0013] The head piece can have several lubricant connections that connect to the common first-order lubricant channel.

[0014] The lubricant channel of the first order can extend transversely to the longitudinal axis from one longitudinal side of the guide carriage to the opposite longitudinal side and can be connected at both ends to one of the lubricant connections, in which case the first distribution point is arranged centrally between the two lubricant connections.

[0015] Two second-order lubricant channels can extend from the first distribution point into one of the two legs of the guide carriage to a second distribution point, to which two third-order lubricant channels are connected.

[0016] Both third-order lubricant channels can be arranged transversely to the first-order lubricant channel, starting from the second distribution point, along a common axis and each terminating at a transfer section of a rolling element channel. The transfer section hydraulically connects the lubricant channels to the rolling element channel. The transfer section can be designed as a one-way valve that allows lubricant to flow in only one direction, toward the rolling element channel.

[0017] The lubricant channels are interconnected so that lubricant can flow from one lubricant channel to another at the transfer points. A lubricant connection is connected to the lubricant channel so that lubricant can be pumped from the outside into the adjacent lubricant channel via the lubricant connection.

[0018] The flow cross-sections within a set of lubricant channels are preferably constant. This can support a uniform supply of lubricant to the lubricant channels.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment illustrated in a total of four figures. They show: Figure 1a profile rail roller guide with guide rail and guide carriage in perspective view, Figure 2the guide carriage from Figure 1 and Figure 3 a detail of the guide carriage from Figure 2 in perspective view and Figure 4 a detail from Figure 1 in a longitudinal section.

[0020] The Figures 1 to 4 show a profile rail roller guide with guide rail and guide carriage in perspective. This profile rail roller guide is a linear guide.

[0021] The guide carriage has a back 1, on whose two longitudinal sides parallel legs 2 are arranged. This guide carriage has an approximately U-shaped cross-sectional profile and engages around a profile rail 3 of the profile rail roller guide.

[0022] The guide carriage has endless rolling element channels 4. Figure 4 shows a schematic section of the rolling element channel 4, in which rolling elements 5 continuously rotate. A total of four continuous rolling element channels 4 are provided in this exemplary embodiment, two on either side of the profile rail. Each rolling element channel 4 has a load section 6, a return section 7, and deflection sections 8 that continuously connect the load section 6 to the return section 7. The load sections 6 have raceways 9 for the rolling elements 5, which are formed on the mutually facing sides of the legs 2.

[0023] The guide carriage further comprises a support body 10 and head pieces 11 arranged on both end faces of the support body 10, one of which is in the Figure 3 The deflection sections 8 for the rolling elements 5 are housed in the head pieces 11 ( Figure 4 ).

[0024] The end pieces 11 have external lubricant connections 12 for supplying lubricant to the guide carriage. The lubricant connections 12 indicated here can be equipped with a grease nipple or a screw valve.

[0025] This head piece 11 has lubricant channels 13 for the lubricant, which are connected to the rolling element channels 4 for supplying them with lubricant. Several orders of lubricant channels 13 are provided, connected in series one after the other in the direction of flow of the lubricant. Each lubricant channel 13 of a higher-order order is assigned a plurality of lubricant channels 13 of a lower-order order of lubricant channels 13, connected in parallel. Several lower-order lubricant channels 13 are connected in parallel to the higher-order lubricant channel 13, so that the lubricant flow of the higher-order lubricant channel 13 is divided among the number of connected lower-order lubricant channels 13. A first lubricant channel 14 is the legally highest-order lubricant channel 13, which is connected to the lubricant connection 12.

[0026] The sum of the flow cross-sections of these lower-order lubricant channels 13 connected to the higher-order lubricant channel 13 is equal to the flow cross-section of the higher-order lubricant channel 13. The flow cross-sections of the lower-order lubricant channels are preferably equal within their respective order. In this way, the lubricant flow velocities can be kept largely constant in all lubricant channels 13. The flow cross-sections and the number of lower-order lubricant channels 13 are matched to the flow cross-section of the connected higher-order lubricant channel 13.

[0027] The first lubricant channel 14 extends from the lubricant connection 12 to a first distribution point 15, to which second-order lubricant channels 13 are connected, each extending to a second distribution point 16, to which third-order lubricant channels 13 are connected, each extending to a transfer section 17, 20 that connects the third-order lubricant channel 13 to one of the rolling element channels 4. The transfer section 17 is assigned to the lower rolling element channel 4, and the transfer section 20 is assigned to the upper rolling element channel 4.

[0028] The head piece 11 has a plurality of lubricant connections 12 which are connected to the common first lubricant channel 13 and which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis from one longitudinal side of the guide carriage to the opposite longitudinal side and which is adjacent to one of the lubricant connections 12 at each end, wherein in this case the first distribution point 15 is arranged centrally between the two lubricant connections 12.

[0029] Two second lubricant channels 18 of the second order extend from the first distribution point 15 into one of the two legs 2 of the guide carriage up to the second distribution point 16, to which two third lubricant channels 19 of the third order are connected.

[0030] The two third lubricant channels 19 extend on both legs 2 starting from the second distribution point 16 along a common axis transverse to the first lubricant channel 14 and each end at the transfer section 17, 20 of a rolling element channel 4.

[0031] The flow cross sections within a common arrangement of lubricant channels 13 are constant. List of reference symbols

[0032] 1Back 2Leg 3Profile rail 4Rolling element channel 5Rolling element 6Load section 7Return section 8Deflection section 9Raceway 10Support body 11Head piece 12Lubricant connection 13Lubricant channel 14First lubricant channel 15First distribution point 16Second distribution point 17Transfer section 18Second lubricant channel 19Third lubricant channel 20Transfer section

Claims

1. A carriage of a linear bearing, with endless rolling element channels (4) in which rolling elements (5) circulate endlessly, having an external lubricant connection (12) for supplying lubricant, and having lubricant channels (13) for the lubricant, which are connected to the rolling element channels (4) for supplying them with lubricant, wherein multiple orders of lubricant channels (13) connected in series in the flow direction of the lubricant are provided, wherein each lubricant channel (13) of a higher order is assigned a plurality of lubricant channels (13) of a lower order of lubricant channels (13) connected in parallel among one another, characterized in that the sum of the flow cross-sections of these lubricant channels (13) of the lower order is equal to the flow cross-section of the lubricant channel (13) of the higher order.

2. The carriage according to claim 1, having a first lubricant channel (14) of the first order, which extends from the lubricant connection (12) to a first distribution point (15) to which second lubricant channels (18) of the second order are connected, which extend in each case to a second distribution point (16) to which third lubricant channels (19) of the third order are connected, which extend in each case to a transfer section (20) which connects the third lubricant channel (19) of the third order to one of the rolling element channels (4).

3. The carriage according to claim 1 or 2, having a rear (1) and having legs (2) arranged parallel to one another, which are arranged on both longitudinal sides of the rear (1), and having a supporting body (10) and having head pieces (11) arranged on both end faces of the supporting body (10), at least one of which has the lubricant connection (12) and the lubricant channels (13), wherein each rolling element channel (4) has a load section (6), a return section (7) and deflection sections (8) endlessly connecting the load section (6) to the return section (7), and wherein the load sections (6) have raceways (9) for the rolling elements (5).

4. The carriage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the head piece (11) of which has multiple lubricant connections (12) which connect to the common first lubricant channel (14) of the first order.

5. The carriage according to claims 3 and 4, the first lubricant channel (14) of the first order of which extends from one longitudinal side of the carriage to the opposite longitudinal side and is connected at both ends to one of the lubricant connections (12) in each case, wherein the first distribution point (15) is arranged centrally between the two lubricant connections (12).

6. The carriage according to claim 5, which has lubricant channels (18) of the second order which extend from the first distribution point (15) into one of the two legs (2) of the carriage in each case up to a second distribution point (16), to which two third lubricant channels (19) of the third order are connected in each case.

7. The carriage according to claim 6, wherein both third lubricant channels (19) of the third order are arranged along a common axis transverse to the first lubricant channel (14) of the first order and each end at a transfer section (17) of a rolling element channel (4).

8. The carriage according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the flow cross-sections of which are constant within an order of lubricant channels (13) in each case.