Linear motion guide unit
The described lubricant supply component configuration for linear motion guide units addresses the challenge of maintaining fastening force regardless of orientation by using a rotatable second component and a cylindrical member with an annular seat, ensuring easy and secure lubrication and reducing weight.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023114420
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing linear motion guide units face challenges in maintaining appropriate fastening force of lubricant supply components regardless of installation orientation and surrounding environment, leading to potential loosening or damage during lubrication.
A lubricant supply component configuration comprising a first component with a male thread, a second component rotatable around the first component's axis, and a third component with a female thread, allowing the second component to be oriented in any direction while maintaining a fixed fastening force, and optionally including a cylindrical member with an annular seat for secure fixation.
Ensures easy and maintainable lubrication regardless of installation orientation, preventing loosening of lubricant supply components, and allowing for flexible orientation without changing the fastening force, thus enhancing maintainability and reducing weight.
Smart Images

Figure 2025011951000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a linear motion guide unit. [Background technology]
[0002] In some linear motion guide units that include a rail and a slider that moves on the rail, a grease supply hole for supplying a lubricant is provided on the end face of the slider in the moving direction. A lubricant supply part such as a grease nipple or a pipe joint may be attached to this grease supply hole. There are two types of grease nipples: one in which the base end, which is the mounting part, and the tip end, which is the grease port, are aligned in a straight line, and one called an elbow type, in which the tip end protrudes obliquely or perpendicularly from the base end. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a linear motion guide unit that includes the latter type of grease nipple.
[0003] In linear motion guide units, there have been proposals for preventing loosening of grease nipples, etc. Patent Document 2 discloses a linear motion guide unit equipped with an adapter for preventing loosening of the grease nipple. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-145771 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2023-74311 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] Linear guide units are incorporated as parts of various devices, and are subject to a wide variety of installation orientations and environments, including other surrounding devices, etc. One object of the present disclosure is to provide a linear guide unit that is easy to lubricate and has excellent maintainability regardless of the installation orientation of the linear guide unit or the surrounding configuration, and that can fix a lubricant supplying part to a slider with an appropriate fastening force. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] A linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure includes a rail, a slider that can move along the longitudinal direction of the rail, and a lubricant supplying part fixed to an end cap of the slider. The lubricant supplying part includes a first part, a second part, and a third part. The first part has a first through hole formed along a central axis, a male thread that can be engaged with a grease supply hole of the slider formed on an outer periphery on a base end side, and a first flange part on a tip end side. The second part has a second through hole that penetrates from the base end side to the tip end side, and a second flange part on a base end side. The third part is cylindrical. A male thread is formed on the outer periphery of at least one of the first flange part and the second flange part. An internal thread is formed on at least a part of an inner peripheral wall surface of the third part. The first part and the second part are relatively rotatable around the axis of the first part with an end face of the first flange part and an end face of the second flange part in surface contact with each other. The female thread of the third part and the male thread of the first flange portion or the second flange portion are screwed together, whereby the first part and the second part are fixed in the axial direction of the first part. Effect of the Invention
[0007] According to the linear guide unit described above, a linear guide unit is provided which is easy to lubricate and has excellent maintainability regardless of the orientation of the linear guide unit or the surrounding structure, and which allows the lubricant supplying parts to be fixed to the slider with an appropriate fastening force. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying component provided in the linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying component provided in a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying component provided in a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying component provided in a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying component provided in a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying component provided in a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] [Outline of the embodiment] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure includes a rail, a slider that can move along the longitudinal direction of the rail, and a lubricant supplying part fixed to an end cap of the slider. The lubricant supplying part includes a first part, a second part, and a third part. The first part has a first through hole formed along a central axis, a male thread that can be engaged with a greasing hole of the slider formed on an outer periphery on a base end side, and a first flange part on a tip end side. The second part has a second through hole that penetrates from the base end side to the tip end side, and a second flange part on a base end side. The third part is cylindrical. A male thread is formed on the outer periphery of at least one of the first flange part and the second flange part. A female thread is formed on at least a part of an inner peripheral wall surface of the third part. The first part and the second part can rotate relatively around the axis of the first part with an end face of the first flange part and an end face of the second flange part in surface contact with each other. The female thread of the third part and the male thread of the first flange portion or the second flange portion are screwed together, whereby the first part and the second part are fixed in the axial direction of the first part.
[0010] A linear motion guide unit having a lubricant supply part such as a grease nipple on the end surface of the slider in the moving direction is known. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, conventionally, a grease nipple is screwed and fixed into a grease supply hole of the slider. When supplying lubricant, the nozzle of a grease gun is pressed against the supply port at the tip of the grease nipple to inject the lubricant. On the other hand, linear motion guide units are provided as part of various devices, and may be installed in a position or orientation where grease supply is not easy. Also, there may be cases where there is not enough space around the linear motion guide unit. In such cases, in order to perform grease supply, the grease nipple may be rotated to align the tip of the grease nipple with the tip of the nozzle of the grease gun. However, there is a problem that the fastening force of the grease nipple with respect to the slider changes when the grease nipple is rotated. For example, when the grease nipple is turned clockwise to adjust the position, the grease nipple may be over-tightened with respect to the slider, which may cause damage to the end cap of the slider. In addition, if the grease nipple is turned counterclockwise to adjust the position, the fastening force of the lubricant supply component against the slider becomes insufficient, and if the linear guide unit is continued to operate in that state, the grease nipple may fall off. It is possible to temporarily rotate the grease nipple for greasing and return it to its original state when greasing is completed, but careful operation is required to return it to an appropriate fastening force, and there is a risk of forgetting to do the work. According to the adapter of Patent Document 2, the lubricant supply component such as the grease nipple is fixed, and unintended rotation of the lubricant supply component is prevented. However, it is not intended to point the tip of the lubricant supply component in any direction while maintaining the fastening force of the lubricant supply component against the slider, and such a purpose cannot be met.
[0011] Therefore, a configuration was considered that allows the tip of the lubricant supplying component to be fixed in any direction without changing the fastening force of the lubricant supplying component to the slider. As a result, it was conceived that the lubricant supplying component be composed of a first part fastened to the slider, a second part that is rotatable about an axis relative to the first part, and a third part that fixes the first part and the second part in the axial direction. With this structure, while the first part is fixed to the slider with an appropriate fastening force, the second part can be rotated to be oriented in any direction, and the first part and the second part can be fixed with the second part oriented in any direction.
[0012] The linear guide unit according to the present disclosure can fix the lubricant supply component to the slider with an appropriate fastening force while the supply port is fixed in any direction. Therefore, the linear guide unit is not restricted by the installation position or surrounding environment, and lubrication is easy and maintenance is easy. In addition, the fastening force of the lubricant supply component to the slider does not change even if the greasing port is rotated, so the appropriate fastening force is maintained.
[0013] In the linear guide unit, the third part may have an annular seat part protruding from the wall surface of the third part to the inner periphery side at one of the base end side or the tip end side of the third through hole. The seat part may abut against the end face of the first flange part or the end face of the second flange part. As a result of further consideration, it was conceived to configure the third part as a cylindrical member and to provide a seat part at one end of the third part that abuts against the end face of the first part or the second part. According to this configuration, the relative positions of the first part, the second part, and the third part can be determined by abutting and fixing the seat part of the third part to one of the first part and the second part, and screwing in the other of the first part and the second part. Therefore, the first part and the second part are fixed more reliably by the third part, and a linear guide unit having a lubricant supply part that does not loosen can be configured.
[0014] The linear motion guide unit has a recess formed around the first through hole in an end face of the first flange portion or around the second through hole in an end face of the second flange portion, The lubricant may further include an O-ring disposed in the recess. This configuration prevents leakage of the lubricant from the connection portion between the first component and the second component.
[0015] The linear motion guide unit may be configured such that the outer periphery of both the first flange portion and the second flange portion is formed with male threads of the same diameter, and the male threads of the first flange portion and the second flange portion can be screwed into the female thread of the third component. With this configuration, the outer diameter of the third component can be made smaller. This allows the linear motion guide unit to be applied to smaller linear motion guide units, and the weight increase compared to conventional lubricant supply components can be suppressed.
[0016] In the linear motion guide unit, the second part may be composed of a fourth part extending in the same axial direction as the first part, and a fifth part extending in a diagonal direction relative to the fourth part. In a lubricant supply part in which the fifth part, which is the tip end, is configured diagonally relative to the fourth part, which is the base end, the convenience of lubrication is significantly improved by arbitrarily rotating the oil supply port. This makes it possible to configure a linear motion guide unit that is easy to maintain, with fewer restrictions from the installation position of the linear motion guide unit and the surrounding environment.
[0017] The linear motion guide unit may be such that the fifth component is provided with a check valve biased by a spring at its tip. The configuration according to the present disclosure is suitably applied to a grease nipple generally called a B-type grease nipple, which is configured so that a lubricant supply port protrudes obliquely from a base end.
[0018] [Specific Example of the Embodiment] Next, an example of a specific embodiment of the linear guide unit of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.
[0019] (Embodiment 1) 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a linear guide unit 1 according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, the X-axis is the width direction of the linear guide unit 1, the Y-axis is the length direction of the linear guide unit 1 (rail 2), and the Z-axis is the thickness (height) direction of the linear guide unit 1.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the linear motion guide unit 1 includes a rail 2 and a slider 3 that can move along the longitudinal direction of the rail. A raceway is formed between the rail 2 and the slider 3, and a plurality of rolling elements are inserted into the raceway. The rolling elements may be balls or rollers. The raceway may be a single row or a double row. The slider 3 includes a casing 31, an end cap 32, and an end seal 33. The end cap 32 and the end seal 33 are collectively referred to as a slider end cap 34. A lubricant supplying part 4 is fixed to the slider end cap 34 that constitutes the end face of the slider 3 in the moving direction (Y-axis direction). In the following description, the side of the lubricant supplying part 4 or its components that is closer to the slider 3 is referred to as the "base end side", and the side that is farther from the slider 3 is referred to as the "tip side".
[0021] Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the linear guide unit 1. Fig. 2 shows a fixing structure of the lubricant supplying part 4 to the slider 3. Referring to Fig. 2, a grease supply hole 35 and an oil groove (not shown) communicating with the grease supply hole are formed in the end cap 32. An internal thread is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the grease supply hole 35. A grease supply hole 36 is formed in the end seal 33 at a position corresponding to the grease supply hole 35 in the end cap 32. A male thread portion 41 having a male thread is formed on the outer periphery on the base end side of the lubricant supplying part 4. The male thread portion 41 is screwed into the grease supply holes 35, 36.
[0022] The lubricant supplying part 4 is composed of a first part 40, which is a part on the base end side, a second part 50 arranged on the tip side of the first part, and a third part 60, which is a cylindrical part that connects the first part 40 and the second part 50. In the example of FIG. 2, the tip 4t of the lubricant supplying part 4 faces upward. When changing the direction of the tip 4t of the lubricant supplying part 4, the third part 60 is rotated in a loosening direction (L) to loosen the fixing of the second part 50, and the second part 50 is rotated around the axis α. After that, the third part 60 is rotated in a tightening direction (T) to fix the second part 50. In other words, in the linear motion guide unit 1, the tip 4t of the lubricant supplying part 4 can be rotated and fixed to any position around the axis α without moving the first part 40 screwed into the grease supply holes 35 and 36.
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the lubricant supply part 4. Referring to FIG. 3, the first part 40 has a male thread part 41 on the base end 40e side, a middle part 42 connected to the male thread part 41, and a flange part 43 on the tip side of the middle part 42. A part of the outer periphery of the middle part 42 is formed in a hexagonal shape. A male thread is formed on the outer periphery of the flange part 43. The second part 50 is composed of a base part 52A as a fourth part extending in the direction of the axis α, and a head part 52B as a fifth part protruding obliquely from the base part 52A. The angle of the head part 52B with respect to the base part 52A is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, an angle of 65° to 67.5°. The second part 50 may have a shape conforming to the head shape of an elbow-type grease nipple defined in JIS B 1575:2000. The second part 50 has a flange portion 51 on the base end side, and the flange portion 51 has an outer periphery on which a male thread is formed.
[0024] The third part 60 is a cylindrical part, and an internal thread is formed on a part of the inner peripheral surface. In the lubricant supply part 4, the first part 40, the base part 52A of the second part 50, and the third part 60 have a common axis α. Although the third part 60 is cylindrical, the contour of the outer periphery is not necessarily limited to a circle, and the outer periphery may be formed into a hexagon or the like. It is sufficient that the third part 60 has a cylindrical peripheral surface (with an internal thread) on the inner periphery.
[0025] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the lubricant supplying part 4. Referring to Fig. 4, the first part 40 is formed with a through hole 40c as a first through hole penetrating from a base end 40e to a tip end 40t along an axis α which is a central axis. The male threaded part 41 has a smaller diameter than the intermediate part 42. The flange part 43 has a larger diameter than the intermediate part 42. The tip end 40t of the first part 40 is formed with a recess 45 surrounding the through hole 40c.
[0026] The third part 60 is a cylindrical member having a side wall 64. The third part 60 has an annular seat portion 65 protruding from the side wall 64 to the inner periphery side on the base end 60e side. The base end side end face 43b of the flange portion 43 of the first part 40 abuts against the seat portion 65. The third part 60 has an internal thread formed on an inner periphery surface 60i, and has an internal thread portion 61. The internal thread is provided on about 1 / 2 of the third part 60 on the tip 60t side in the axial direction. About 1 / 2 of the inner periphery surface 60i of the third part 60 on the side closer to the base end 60e is a smooth wall surface, and the internal thread is formed on about 1 / 2 on the side closer to the tip 60t.
[0027] The second part 50 is composed of a base part 52A and a head part 52B. The base part 52A has a hole 50c extending from the base end 50e along the axis α, which is the central axis. The hole 50c communicates with the through hole 40c of the first part 40 and forms a passage for the lubricant. The hole 50c and the through hole 40c have the same diameter. The second part 50 has a flange part 51 on the base end 50e side. A male thread is formed on the outer periphery of the flange part 51. The male thread of the flange part 51 of the second part 50 and the female thread of the female thread part 61 of the third part 60 are screwed together. The end face of the tip 40t of the first part 40 and the end face of the base end 50e of the second part 50 are in surface contact with each other.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the first part 40, the second part 50, and the third part 60 of the lubricant supply part 4 are fixed to each other. When changing the orientation of the head part 52B of the second part 50 from this state, the second part 50 is first rotated in a direction in which the engagement between the male thread of the flange part 51 and the female thread of the female thread part 61 is reduced, that is, in a direction in which the second part 50 and the first part 40 are separated from each other. Then, the fastening force applied to the abutment part between the first part 40 and the second part 50 and the abutment part between the first part 40 and the third part 60 is reduced. In this state, the second part 50 is rotated to an arbitrary position around the axis α relative to the first part 40 without moving the first part 40. After determining the position of the second part 50 relative to the first part 40, the second part 50 and the first part 40 can be fixed again by rotating only the third part 60 in a direction in which the engagement between the second part 50 and the third part 60 progresses.
[0029] The head part 52B of the second part 50 is screwed and fixed to the base part 52A. A through hole 50d is formed in the head part 52B along the axis β of the head part 52B. The hole 50c in the base part 52A and the through hole 50d in the head part 52B communicate with each other, so that the second part 50 has a hole that communicates from the base end 50e to the tip end 50t. A ball 56 that is biased by a spring 55 and seals the grease supply port 58 is disposed in the through hole 50d. The spring 55 and the ball 56 form a check valve. The tip of the through hole 50d is the grease supply port 58.
[0030] An O-ring 81 is disposed at the connection between through-hole 40c and hole 50c. The O-ring is disposed in a recess 45 formed around through-hole 40c. O-ring 81 prevents leakage of lubricant from the connection between through-hole 40c and hole 50c.
[0031] In the lubricant supplying part 4, the flange portion 43 of the first part 40 and the flange portion 51 of the second part 50 have the same diameter, and the male threads formed on the outer periphery of each part have the same shape. With this configuration, when assembling the lubricant supplying part 4, the first part 40 can be threaded into the third part 60, thereby passing the first part 40 through the space in the third part 60.
[0032] (Modification) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying part 204, which is an example of a lubricant supplying part provided in the linear guide unit according to the present disclosure. The configuration of the linear guide unit other than the lubricant supplying part 204 can be the same as that of the linear guide unit 1, so a description thereof will be omitted. The lubricant supplying part 204 differs from the lubricant supplying part 4 mainly in the configuration of the third part 260. Referring to FIG. 5, the lubricant supplying part 204 includes a first part 240, a second part 250, and a third part 260. The first part 240 has a male threaded part 241 on the base end 240e side, a middle part 242 connected to the male threaded part 241, and a flange part 243 on the tip side of the middle part 242. A male thread is formed on the outer periphery of the flange part 243. The second part 250 has a flange part 251 on the base end 250e side, a male thread is formed on the outer periphery. The head part 52B of the second part 250 is similar to that described above. The second part 250 has a hole 250c extending from the base end 250e side along the axis α, which is the central axis. The hole 250c communicates with the through hole 240c of the first part 240, and forms a passage for the lubricant. The hole 250c and the through hole 240c have the same diameter. The hole 250c communicates with the through hole 50d of the head part 52B, so that the second part 250 has a hole communicating from the base end 250e to the tip 250t.
[0033] The third part 260 is a cylindrical member having a side wall 264. The third part 260 has an annular seat portion 265 protruding from the side wall 264 to the inner periphery side on the tip 260t side. The end face of the flange portion 251 of the second part 250 on the tip 251t side abuts against the seat portion 265. The third part 260 has an internal thread formed on its inner periphery surface and has an internal thread portion 261. The internal thread is provided on about 1 / 2 of the third part 260 on the base end 260e side in the axial direction. In other words, about 1 / 2 of the inner periphery surface of the third part 260 on the side closer to the tip 260t is a smooth wall surface, and the internal thread is formed on about 1 / 2 on the side closer to the base end 260e.
[0034] The male thread of the flange portion 243 of the first part 240 and the female thread of the female thread portion 261 of the third part 260 are screwed together. An end face of the first part 240 on the tip end 240t side and an end face of the second part 250 on the base end 250e side are in surface contact with each other. When the third part 260 is loosened from the first part 240, the second part 250 becomes rotatable around the central axis relative to the first part 240. Therefore, the head part 52B of the second part 250 can be rotated in a desired direction.
[0035] (Modification) 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying part 304, which is an example of a lubricant supplying part provided in the linear guide unit according to the present disclosure. The configuration of the linear guide unit other than the lubricant supplying part 304 can be the same as that of the linear guide unit 1, so a description thereof will be omitted. The lubricant supplying part 304 differs from the lubricant supplying part 4 mainly in that a male thread is not formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 343 of the first part 340, that the female thread portion 361 on the inner peripheral surface of the third part 360 extends over the entire area in the axial direction, and in the diameter of the third part 360. The differences will be mainly described.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, the first part 340 of the lubricant supply part 304 has a male thread part 341 on the base end 340e side, a middle part 342 connected to the male thread part 341, and a flange part 343 on the tip side of the middle part 342. The end face of the flange part 343 on the base end 343b side abuts against a seat part 365 provided on the base end side of the third part 360. The second part 350 has a flange part 351 on the base end 350e side, the flange part 351 having a male thread formed on its outer periphery. The end face on the tip end 340t side of the first part 340 and the end face on the base end 350e side of the second part 350 are in surface contact with each other. The male thread of the flange part 351 of the second part 350 and the female thread of the female thread part 361 of the third part 360 are screwed together. The head part 52B of the second part 350 is the same as that described above. The second part 350 has a hole 350c extending from the base end 350e side. The hole 350c communicates with the through hole 340c of the first part 340 and constitutes a passage for the lubricant. The hole 350c and the through hole 340c have the same diameter. The hole 350c communicates with the through hole 50d of the head part 52B, so that the second part 350 has a hole communicating from the base end 350e to the tip end 350t.
[0037] The outer diameter of the flange portion 343 of the first part 340 is smaller than the diameter of the threaded portion of the female thread portion 361 of the third part 360. Therefore, when assembling the lubricant supplying part 304, the first part 340 can be placed relative to the third part 360 simply by passing the male thread portion 341 and the intermediate portion 342 of the first part 340 through the through portion 365h formed by the seat portion 365 of the third part 360. This makes assembly easy.
[0038] (Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the linear guide unit 7 according to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 7, the linear guide unit 7 includes a rail 2 and a slider 3 that is movable along the rail 2, and a lubricant supplying part 404 is provided on the end surface of the slider 3 in the moving direction. The rail 2 and the slider 3 are similar to those of the linear guide unit 1, and a description thereof will be omitted. The linear guide unit 7 includes a second part 450 that is a piping joint as the lubricant supplying part 404. When supplying lubricant to the linear guide unit 7, the tip of a hose connected to a grease gun is screwed into a connection port 457 of the second part 450, and the lubricant can be injected from the grease gun through the hose. The lubricant supplying part 404 can adjust the piping joint to a desired orientation by rotating the second part 450. Therefore, regardless of the installation posture of the linear guide unit 7 or the surrounding environment, the lubricant can be smoothly supplied.
[0039] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supply part 404 provided in the linear guide unit 7. Referring to FIG. 8, the lubricant supply part 404 is mainly different from the lubricant supply parts described above in that the second part 450 is a pipe joint. The lubricant supply part 404 includes a first part 440, a second part 450, and a third part 60. The first part 440 includes a male thread part 441, an intermediate part 442, and a flange part 443. An end face of the first part 440 on the tip end 440t side and an end face of the second part 450 on the base end 450e side are in surface contact with each other. A through hole 440c of the first part 440 and a hole 450c of the second part are communicated with each other, and an oil supply passage is formed that penetrates to a connection port 457 of the tip end 450t of the second part 450. A recess 455 is formed around the hole 450c on the end face on the base end 450e side of the second part 450, and an O-ring 481 is disposed in the recess 455. The first part 440 and the second part 450 can rotate relatively around the axis α, which is the central axis. The end face on the base end 443b side of the flange part 443 of the first part 440 abuts against the seat part 65 of the third part 60. The second part 450 has a flange part 451 at the base end 450e, the flange part 451 having a male thread on the outer periphery. The male thread of the flange part 451 of the second part 450 and the female thread of the female thread part 61 of the third part 60 are screwed together.
[0040] (Modification) 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lubricant supplying part 504, which is an example of a lubricant supplying part provided in a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure. Lubricant supplying part 504 differs from lubricant supplying part 404 mainly in that a male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of flange portion 543 of first part 540. The difference will be mainly described.
[0041] 9, the lubricant supplying part 504 includes a first part 540, a second part 450 arranged side by side on the tip 540t side of the first part 540, and a third part 60 that fixes the first part 540 and the second part 450 to each other in the direction of the axis α. The first part 540 of the lubricant supplying part 504 has a male threaded part 541 on the base end 540e side, a middle part 542 connected to the male threaded part 541, and a flange part 543 on the tip side of the middle part 542. A base end side end surface 543b of the flange part 543 abuts against a seat part 65 provided on the base end side of the third part 60. The second part 450 has a flange part 451 on the base end 450e side, the flange part 451 having a male thread formed on its outer periphery. The base end 450e side end surface of the second part 450 is in surface contact with the tip 540t side end surface of the first part 540. The through hole 540c of the first component 540 and the hole 450c of the second component are in communication with each other. A recess 455 is formed around the hole 450c in the end face on the base end 450e side of the second component 450, and an O-ring 481 is disposed in the recess 455. The male thread of the flange portion 451 of the second component 450 and the female thread of the female thread portion 61 of the third component 60 are screwed together.
[0042] In the lubricant supplying part 504, a male thread is formed on the outer periphery of the flange portion 543 of the first part 540. Therefore, when the first part 540 is inserted into the third part 60 during assembly of the lubricant supplying part 504, the male thread of the flange portion 543 and the female thread of the female thread portion 61 of the third part 60 are screwed together, so that the first part 540 can pass through the flange portion 543 of the first part 540. With this configuration, the diameter of the crest portion of the female thread portion 61 can be made smaller than the outer diameter of the flange portion 543. Therefore, it is possible to make the diameter of the third part 60 smaller than that of the third part 60 in the lubricant supplying part 404.
[0043] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting in any respect. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]
[0044] 1, 7 Linear guide unit, 2 Rail, 3 Slider, 4, 204, 304, 404, 504 Lubricant supply part, 7 Linear guide unit, 31 Casing, 32 End cap, 33 End seal, 34 Slider end cap, 35, 36 Grease hole, 40, 240, 340, 440, 540 First part, 41, 241, 341, 441, 541 Male thread part, 42, 242, 342, 442, 542 Intermediate part, 43, 243, 343, 443, 51, 251, 351, 451, 543 Flange part, 45, 455 Recess, 50, 250, 350, 450 Second part, 52A Base part, 52B Head part, 55 Spring, 56 Ball, 58 Grease port, 60, 260, 360 Third part, 61, 261, 361 Female thread, 64, 264 Side wall, 65, 265, 365 Seat, 81, 481 O-ring.
Claims
1. Rails and a slider movable along a longitudinal direction of the rail; a lubricant supply component fixed to an end cap of the slider; Equipped with The lubricant supply component is a first part having a first through hole formed along a central axis, a male thread formed on an outer periphery on a base end side thereof so as to be engageable with a grease supply hole of the slider, and a first flange portion on a tip end side; a second component having a second through hole formed therein, the second through hole penetrating from a base end side to a tip end side, and a second flange portion formed on the base end side; A cylindrical third part; Including, A male thread is formed on an outer periphery of at least one of the first flange portion and the second flange portion, An internal thread is formed on at least a portion of an inner peripheral wall surface of the third component, The first part and the second part are relatively rotatable around an axis of the first part in a state in which an end surface of the first flange portion and an end surface of the second flange portion are in surface contact with each other, The female thread of the third part and the male thread of the first flange portion or the second flange portion are screwed together, thereby fixing the first part and the second part in the axial direction of the first part. Linear guide unit.
2. the third component has an annular seat portion protruding from a wall surface of the third component to an inner circumferential side on one of a base end side and a tip end side, The seat portion comes into contact with an end surface of the first flange portion or an end surface of the second flange.
2. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 1.
3. a recess is formed around the first through hole in an end face of the first flange portion or around the second through hole in an end face of the second flange portion; Further comprising an O-ring disposed in the recess.
3. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The first flange portion and the second flange portion have male threads having the same diameter formed on their outer peripheries, The male threads of the first flange portion and the second flange portion and the female thread of the third component are capable of being screwed together.
3. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 1 or 2.
5. The second part includes a fourth part extending in the same direction as the axial direction of the first part, and a fifth part extending in a diagonal direction relative to the fourth part.
3. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 1 or 2.
6. The fifth component includes a spring-loaded check valve at a distal end.
6. A linear motion guide unit according to claim 5.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Linearly guiding unit
JP2000145771A
Linear motion guide unit
JP2023074311A