Plain bearing with multi-part carriage

Abstract

The invention relates to a sliding bearing 1 comprising a carriage with a carriage body having a bushing extending along a longitudinal axis X, in which a sliding element 4 is arranged in the bushing so as to abut against the carriage body and at least partially surrounds a sliding opening designed to receive a cylindrical guide portion of a rail located inside the bushing and extending elongately along the longitudinal axis X. The carriage body comprises two carriage elements 2, 3 arranged side by side relative to one another along the longitudinal axis X and removably fixed to one another, each of which carriage elements forms a longitudinal part of a bushing, each of which carriage elements 2, 3 forms a stop acting along the longitudinal axis on the sliding element 4, at least a part of which is fixed in its position along the longitudinal axis X between said stops.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a plain bearing, a plain bearing assembly comprising said plain bearing, and the use of said plain bearing. [Background technology]

[0002] Plain bearings in general are well known from the prior art and are used for the sliding guiding of actuating devices, in particular as linear guides. Depending on the field of application, such actuating devices can have the most diverse characteristics. For example, they can be element adaptation devices, machine tools such as saws, or holding means for display devices, for example. In each case, the result is that the plain bearing allows for a maximum friction-free and wear-free guiding of the actuating device mounted on it along a rail. Plain bearings of this type are described, for example, in patent document 1.

[0003] A sliding bearing of this type comprises a carriage having a carriage body, the carriage being provided with a passage extending along the longitudinal axis through the carriage element, in which a sliding element is arranged against the carriage element and which surrounds a sliding opening located in the passage. The sliding bearing is configured to receive a cylindrical guide part of the rail in such a way that, in the sliding opening, its cylindrical axis extends along the longitudinal axis, in particular coincides with it, and the guide part received in the sliding opening is at least partially surrounded by the sliding element, thereby ensuring a sliding guiding movement of the carriage on the rail. The carriage, and consequently the sliding bearing, is therefore displaced relative to the rail along the cylindrical axis of the guide part, while the carriage supports the guide part of the rail exclusively via the sliding element or elements. The opening and the sliding element preferably encompass the longitudinal axis and consequently also the cylindrical guide portion received in the sliding opening over an angular range of at least 200°, in particular at least 220°, in particular at least 240°, in particular at least 260°. This ensures that the carriage is also securely held in the guide portion of the rail even in the event of external forces acting perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between the rail and the carriage. A corresponding configuration of the sliding element further preferably ensures that the carriage always supports the guide portion of the rail exclusively via the sliding element, whatever external forces acting perpendicular to the longitudinal direction between the rail and the carriage.

[0004] In the case of a sliding bearing assembly of this type comprising a carriage and a rail, a guide portion of the rail is received in the sliding opening of the carriage. The guide portion is preferably configured as a cylinder extending with its cylinder axis along the longitudinal axis. The guide portion preferably has a length along the longitudinal axis that is substantially greater than the length of the carriage along the longitudinal axis, in particular at least 10 times, in particular at least 20 times, the length of the carriage. Thus, while the rail is mounted in a fixed position relative to the component, a sliding bearing assembly of this type is generally preferably configured as a linear guide and acts as a linear sliding guide for an actuating device mounted on the carriage.

[0005] In the case of such sliding bearings, sliding elements made of plastic materials, in particular tribopolymers, are conventionally used. This allows the sliding bearing to slide along the rail without lubricants. However, such sliding elements are subject to wear. Depending on the load of the actuating device attached to the carriage and the distance traveled by the carriage along the rail, the sliding elements may experience wear that requires their replacement. To replace such sliding elements, the actuating device is usually detached from the carriage, which is then pulled out of the rail along its longitudinal axis, after which the sliding elements become accessible and can be removed from the carriage element and replaced with new ones. However, this requires a great deal of effort. Due to the loads exerted on the carriage by the actuating device and the enclosed arrangement of the sliding elements in the carriage's path, such sliding bearings do not allow for simple replacement of the sliding elements and, as a result, simple maintenance of the sliding bearing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] German Utility Model No. 202004016094 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a plain bearing, a plain bearing assembly and a use of a plain bearing which are able to overcome at least to some extent at least one of the disadvantages of plain bearings of the type in question.

[0008] As one aspect of achieving the above-mentioned object inherent in the present invention, the present invention proposes a sliding bearing having the features of claim 1. The sliding bearing according to the present invention comprises a carriage having a carriage body with a passage extending along a longitudinal axis, as in the case of the above-mentioned sliding bearing of the corresponding type. A sliding element in contact with the carriage body is arranged in the passage, the sliding element at least partially surrounding a sliding opening located in the passage, the opening being suitable for receiving a cylindrical guide portion of a rail extending along the longitudinal axis. The sliding bearing according to the present invention may further have the features described in connection with the corresponding sliding bearing. According to the present invention, the carriage body has two carriage elements arranged alongside each other along the longitudinal axis and removably fixed to each other, each of which forms a longitudinal portion of the passage. The longitudinal portion of the passage is a portion of the passage along the longitudinal axis, which extends in the longitudinal direction, so that each orientation along the longitudinal axis is a longitudinal orientation. Each of the carriage elements forms a different longitudinal portion of the passage. Each carriage element forms a limit stop acting along the longitudinal axis for the sliding element. At least a portion of the sliding element is fixed in position along the longitudinal axis between the limit stops formed by the two carriage elements. The sliding element may, for example, be entirely positioned between the two limit stops. For example, the sliding element may have a protrusion forming said portion of the sliding element, which is therefore positioned along the longitudinal axis between the limit stops and is therefore fixed with respect to movement play in the area extending longitudinally between the limit stops. The sliding element is preferably positioned on each of the two longitudinal portions of the path formed by the two carriage elements. The sliding element may, for example, have two separate sliding subelements, each of which is positioned on a different one of the two longitudinal portions of the path formed by the two carriage elements, each of which forms a subpart of a portion of the sliding element, which is fixed in position along the longitudinal axis between the limit stops formed by the two carriage elements. The sliding elements are particularly preferably of one-piece construction, which in particular simplifies the production and maintenance of the sliding bearing, in particular the replacement of the sliding elements.By fixing the position of said part of the sliding element between the limit stops, the position of the sliding element as a whole is always fixed relative to the carriage in relation to the longitudinal axis.

[0009] The sliding bearing according to the present invention is associated with significant advantages over conventional sliding bearings. By forming a carriage body of two carriage elements arranged adjacent to each other along a longitudinal axis and removably fixed to each other so that they can move away from each other along the longitudinal axis, access to the sliding element arranged in the passage is ensured when the carriage elements are moved away from each other. Furthermore, by providing two carriage elements, only carriage limit stops need be provided, which prevent displacement of the sliding element along the longitudinal axis relative to the carriage when the sliding bearing is in its intended state, in which case the carriage elements are fixed to each other but do not limit the movement of the sliding element when they are moved away, allowing the sliding element to be subsequently replaced. Furthermore, the inventive configuration of the carriage allows the actuation device fastened to one of the carriage elements to be fastened to the carriage, while the other carriage element is detached from the actuation device and displaced along the longitudinal axis relative to the carriage element and the actuation device, in particular guided on the guide portion of the rail. The ongoing guiding movement of the other carriage element makes the assembly of the carriage, i.e., the reconnection of the carriage elements to one another, particularly simple. Generally, the sliding element preferably has a slot extending along the entire longitudinal axis so that the sliding element can be radially removed from the cylindrical guide portion when positioned between the carriage elements along the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the carriage elements form longitudinal portions of a passage of the same length. In another embodiment, one of the carriage elements forms, with its longitudinal portion, more than 80% of the length of the passage along the longitudinal axis. The sliding element is preferably arranged only on the longitudinal section formed by this carriage element, the other of the carriage elements simply being fastened to one carriage element in the manner of a cover forming a limit stop for the sliding element.

[0010] In one embodiment, the sliding element and the carriage are configured relative to each other in such a way that the only way to remove the sliding element from the passage without radial compression is to perform the removal after the carriage elements have been detached from each other and moved away from each other along the longitudinal axis and, consequently, in the longitudinal direction. Thus, in the intended operating state of the plain bearing, the sliding element can be removed from the passage after at most—if at all—subjected to prior radial compression, whereby the portion of the sliding element is moved radially outside the limit stop formed by the carriage. In one embodiment, when the cylindrical guide portion is arranged in the sliding release section, the guide portions are each spaced apart from the sliding element by less than 0.3 mm in four orbits, each offset by an angle of 60° around the longitudinal axis, such that the sliding element can be removed from the passage once the carriage elements have been detached from each other and moved away from each other along the longitudinal axis. The preferred embodiment described above allows, on the one hand, a secure fixation of the sliding element to the carriage, and, on the other hand, allows for easy removal of the sliding element when the carriage elements are detached and moved apart from each other. In one embodiment, the carriage element and the sliding element are configured relative to each other in the following manner: when the cylindrical guide portion of such a rail is placed in the sliding opening, the guide portion has a diameter such that it contacts the sliding element at each of its two diametrically opposite ends, and when the carriage elements are detached from each other, the carriage elements are guided by the respective longitudinal portions of the passages that are formed on the guide portions of the rail, and are moved away from each other along the longitudinal axis while the sliding element remains positioned on one of the two carriage elements until the other carriage element is separated from the sliding element along the longitudinal axis, after which the sliding element can be removed from one of the carriage elements along the longitudinal axis.The carriage elements are therefore preferably moved away from one another while being guided by the longitudinal portions of the passages that the carriage elements respectively form in the cylindrical guide portions along the longitudinal axis, while the sliding element remains arranged on one of the carriage elements. As soon as the carriage elements are sufficiently separated from one another so that the sliding element currently only arranged on one of the carriage elements becomes radially accessible, the sliding element can be removed from this carriage element by pulling it out along the longitudinal axis from the longitudinal portion of the passage formed by this carriage element. It is generally preferred that the carriage elements, in any longitudinal portion of the passage formed by the carriage elements, surround the longitudinal axis over an angular range of at least 200°, in particular at least 220°, in particular at least 240°, in particular at least 260°. It is generally preferred that the sliding element surrounds the longitudinal axis over an angular range of at least 200°, in particular at least 220°, in particular at least 240°, in particular at least 260°, in particular in each longitudinal section of the passage formed by the two carriage elements. This surrounding is preferably uninterrupted over said angular range. Preferably, said surrounding extends over at least 50%, in particular at least 80%, in particular at least 90% of the entire length of the passage along the longitudinal axis and / or the length of the sliding element along the longitudinal axis. This surrounding ensures a particularly secure sliding fixation and mounting of the plain bearing relative to the cylindrical guide part.

[0011] In one embodiment, the sliding element has a shell part configured in the form of a hollow cylinder, in particular interrupted by a slot extending along the longitudinal axis. This slot provides radial accessibility for the sliding opening. By providing the slot, the sliding element may preferably be fastened radially on the cylindrical guide part. The shell part forms the sliding opening by its radial inner surface. The internal cross section of the hollow cylinder therefore corresponds to the cross section of the sliding opening. Particularly preferably, a protrusion assembly extending around the longitudinal axis is formed on the radial outer surface of the shell part and is arranged along the longitudinal axis between the limit stops formed by the two carriage elements. The protrusion assembly may, for example, as described above, be configured to extend continuously around the longitudinal axis over a fixed angular range, in particular over a preferably large angular range, or to have protrusions spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, the protrusions preferably being distributed over a correspondingly large angular range (preferably at least 200°, preferably at least 240°, preferably at least 260°, as described above). The protrusion assembly is disposed at least partially along the longitudinal axis between the limit stops formed by the two carriage elements. The protrusion assembly may, for example, have some protrusions disposed between the limit stops and at least one additional protrusion disposed outside the limit stops. This additional protrusion may, for example, perform a different function from the other protrusions, for example, provide a rotation lock, thereby being configured as an anti-twist portion. In general, the protrusion assembly preferably has multiple protrusions distributed around the longitudinal axis, at least one of which is configured as an anti-twist portion, acting perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and disposed between two additional limit stops of the carriage spaced apart from each other in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis. By disposing the anti-twist portion between the additional limit stops of the carriage, the rotational position of the sliding element relative to the carriage is consequently fixed in relation to rotation about the longitudinal axis. The carriage elements particularly preferably form each of the additional limit stops together, such that each carriage element forms part of each of the additional limit stops.Particularly preferably, all the protruding portions of the protruding assembly are arranged along the longitudinal axis between said limit stops of the carriage.

[0012] Particularly preferably, the carriage elements, at their ends facing each other along the longitudinal axis, together form a groove extending around the longitudinal axis and forming a limit stop for the two carriage elements. The groove preferably extends uninterrupted with respect to the longitudinal axis, preferably over an advantageously large angular range as described above. The portion of the sliding element is therefore arranged inside the groove, which portion is preferably formed by a protrusion assembly. The protrusion assembly is therefore preferably arranged at least to some extent within the groove, i.e., at least to the extent that it forms the portion of the sliding element. Particularly preferably, the anti-twist portion is arranged in the groove along the longitudinal axis. The carriage preferably has a recess opening into the passage, and the anti-twist portion of the sliding element is arranged in said recess. The recess opens radially into the passage so that the anti-twist portion extends radially from the passage into the recess. The recess is preferably arranged inside the groove along the longitudinal axis so that the recess opens into the groove. Alternatively or additionally, the recess preferably forms a continuous connection from the outer surface of the carriage to the passageway.

[0013] It is generally preferred that the carriage element be integrally constructed, particularly preferably made of metal or metal alloy. The carriage element is preferably produced by die casting. It is generally preferred that the sliding element be integrally produced from a tribological polymer, particularly by injection molding. Such tribological polymers are polymers optimized for wear reduction and friction reduction. Such tribological polymers traditionally have a base polymer, such as thermoplastic polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethene, and, in the case of thermosetting resins, phenolic resins. Finely divided solid lubricants, such as molybdenum disulfide or graphite, and / or fillers, such as fibers or particles of plastic materials or textiles, are added to this base polymer. It is generally preferred that the sliding element have longitudinal grooves extending along the longitudinal axis on the inner surface of its shell part. These longitudinal grooves, on the one hand, prevent increased friction due to dirt between the sliding element and the guide part of the rail, and on the other hand, due to the longitudinal grooves of the sliding element, have favorable radial elastic properties and the contact surface of the sliding element relative to the guide part can preferably be reduced.

[0014] In one embodiment, the plain bearing has at least one peg extending along the longitudinal axis. The peg is fixed to one face of the carriage element, with the face facing the other carriage element and thus oriented along the longitudinal axis. The peg is arranged in a hole-type, particularly a blind-hole-type, recess provided on the face of the other carriage element facing the other element. The peg thus engages in this recess and fixes the positions of the carriage elements relative to each other perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. With regard to rotation about the longitudinal axis, the rotational positions of the carriage elements relative to each other can be fixed definitively, for example, when the cylindrical guide portion is located in the carriage passage. The plain bearing preferably has two pegs spaced apart from each other perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The provision of two pegs makes it possible to fix the rotational position definitively, and these pegs are arranged on one face of the carriage element, as described for the single peg, and both engage in recesses arranged on the other carriage element. The peg is preferably fixed to one of the carriage elements by providing a hole-type, in particular a blind-hole-type, recess in the face of the carriage element into which the peg is inserted. The fixing of the peg relates to a fixing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The peg preferably has substantially the same cross section as the hole-type recess so that the peg is held in the recess with as little play as possible. By providing one peg or several pegs, the intended joining of the carriage elements to form the carriage is particularly simplified and the robustness of the carriage is particularly increased.

[0015] In one embodiment, the plain bearing has a screw extending along the longitudinal axis, which presses with its screw head against the outer surface of one of the carriage elements along the longitudinal axis and extends with its threaded pin through said one carriage element and is screwed into a threaded hole provided in the other carriage element, thus ensuring a secure and removable fixation of the carriage elements relative to one another.

[0016] In one embodiment, the carriage includes a fastening device for fastening the actuation device to the carriage. The fastening device has a support surface for the actuation device that is in one plane and has two subregions, with each carriage element forming one of the subregions. Alternatively or additionally, the carriage may have at least one channel extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, in particular at least two channels extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, for receiving a fastening means for fastening the actuation device to the carriage. The fastening means may be, for example, a screw that is threaded through the channel into a corresponding threaded portion of the actuation device and presses the carriage with its screw head, so that the actuation device is fixed to the carriage via the fastening means. By each carriage element having a subregion of the support surface and / or each carriage element having one of the two channels, the actuation device can be fastened to both carriage elements. Therefore, to replace the sliding element, one of the carriage elements is removed from the actuation device and moved along the longitudinal axis away from the actuation device and the carriage element still fastened thereto. The channels particularly preferably extend parallel to one another. At least one of the channels particularly preferably is formed from each of the carriage elements. At least one of the channels particularly preferably leads to one of the subregions, such that at least one of the channels leads to each of the subregions. If a channel leads to a subregion, it opens into the subregion. Thus, the actuation device can be fastened within the subregion by the channel.

[0017] The invention further relates to a plain bearing assembly comprising a plain bearing according to the invention and a rail, the rail being arranged with its guide portion in the sliding opening and abutting the sliding element. The guide portion abuts the sliding element preferably radially, i.e. at two of its ends arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, in particular at four radial ends which are all offset from one another by an angle of rotation of 60° around the longitudinal axis. The guide portion is preferably several times longer along the longitudinal axis than the carriage.

[0018] The invention further relates to the use of the plain bearing assembly according to the invention. In the case of use according to the invention, to replace the sliding elements, the carriage elements are detached from one another and moved away from one another along their longitudinal axes, while they are both guided in an uninterrupted manner on the guide section of the rail, and the longitudinal section of the path formed by the respective carriage elements engages around this guide section, in particular over the above-mentioned advantageous angular range. In the case of use according to the invention, the sliding element is completely removed from the carriage path along its longitudinal axis between the carriage elements that have been moved away from one another and remain guided on the guide section of the rail, and replaced with a new sliding element. Removal from the path can proceed, for example, by maintaining the sliding element in the longitudinal section of the path formed by one of the carriage elements, while the other carriage element is moved away from the other carriage element, and then the sliding element is also removed from the longitudinal section of the path formed by one of the carriage elements. The sliding element is replaced with a new sliding element by removing the sliding element between the carriage elements and then introducing the new sliding element into the carriage passageway along the longitudinal axis, after which the carriage elements are connected to each other and fixed relative to each other, thereby fixing the position of the new sliding element relative to the carriage. Thus, the new sliding element is guided between the carriage elements in the direction along the longitudinal axis until it is aligned with the longitudinal portion of the passageway formed by the carriage elements, after which the carriage elements are moved towards each other along the longitudinal axis, and the sliding element is received in said longitudinal portion of the passageway, whereby the sliding element is introduced into the carriage passageway along the longitudinal axis.

[0019] Features described with reference to the plain bearing according to the invention or the use according to the invention may also be defined mutatis mutandis for the use according to the invention or the plain bearing according to the invention. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that the expressions "one carriage element" and "the other carriage element" are always used only in a direct context that distinguishes two carriage elements from each other. Features described in the respective context referring to "one" or "the other" carriage element may alternatively be defined for either one of the two carriage elements, such that the expressions "one" and "the other" are interchangeable.

[0020] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to two drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of a sliding bearing according to the present invention. [Figure 2a] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a view of the components of an embodiment of a sliding bearing according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 2b] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a view of the components of an embodiment of a sliding bearing according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 2c] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a view of the components of an embodiment of a sliding bearing according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 2d] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a view of the components of an embodiment of a sliding bearing according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of an embodiment of a sliding bearing 1 according to the present invention. The plain bearing 1 comprises a carriage formed by a first carriage element 2 and a second carriage element 3 . The plain bearing 1 further comprises a sliding element 4 . The sliding element 4 has a shell part 40 formed in the manner of a hollow cylinder interrupted by a slot extending along the longitudinal axis X. A protrusion assembly 41 is provided on the radially outer surface of the shell component 40 . The projection assembly 41 is provided in the longitudinal center of the shell part 40, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. 1 shows an exploded view and therefore does not show the sliding bearing 1 in its intended state, but it can be seen from Figure 1 that the carriage elements 2, 3 each form a longitudinal section of the carriage passageway into which a longitudinal section of one sliding element 4 is inserted along the longitudinal axis X, and that the sliding element 4 forms a sliding opening on its radially inner surface for receiving a cylindrical guide section of the rail. Both carriage elements 2, 3 and sliding element 4 encompass the longitudinal axis X over an angular range of more than 240° with respect to the angle of rotation about the longitudinal axis X. It can further be seen that both carriage elements 2, 3 form part of a groove in which the projection assembly 41 is received in the intended assembled state of the carriage, thereby definitively fixing the longitudinal position of the shell part 40 relative to the carriage elements 2, 3. Each carriage element 2, 3 further comprises a channel 24, 34 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and leads into the small area formed by the respective carriage element 2, 3. Both small areas formed by the carriage elements 2, 3 are flat and together, in the assembled state of the carriage, form a flat support surface for the actuation device, as can be seen in Figure 2a. It can also be seen that, in order to fix the relative position of the carriage elements 2, 3 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, pegs 22 are provided which are inserted into blind-hole-type recesses provided in the mutually facing longitudinal ends of the two carriage elements 2, 3. FIG. 1 simply shows one of the blind-hole type recesses of the first carriage element 2 . The plain bearing 1 further comprises a screw 5, which extends through a hole 23 provided in the first carriage element 2 and is threaded into the second carriage element 3 in a desired manner, so that its screw head presses against the first carriage element 2 and fixes the two carriage elements 2, 3 to one another with respect to their relative positions on the longitudinal axis X.

[0023] FIG. 2, which consists of FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, shows different views of the plain bearing 1. The plain bearing 1 is shown in its intended state, with the carriage elements 2, 3 forming the carriage 100 fixed in position relative to one another. Figure 2a shows a view from above of a support surface arranged to support an actuation device, the support surface being joined and formed by carriage elements 2, 3 having channels 24, 34 formed therethrough in the carriage elements 2, 3. Figure 2a also shows the recess formed by the two carriage elements 2, 3, each having a recess 210, 310, which opens into the passage formed by the carriage 100, and will be described in more detail in relation to Figure 2c. Figure 2b is a view along the longitudinal axis X of the first carriage element 2 of the plain bearing 1 according to Figure 2a. It becomes clear from Figure 2b that the screw 5 presses with its head against the first carriage element 2, fixing its longitudinal position relative to the second carriage element 3, and that the sliding element 4 is arranged in the passage formed by the carriage 100, surrounding with its radially inner surface a sliding opening 10 located in the passage, here over an angular range of more than 260° around the longitudinal axis X. It also becomes clear from Figure 2b that each sliding element 4 has a longitudinal groove 42 arranged between two parts of the sliding element 4 that are arranged to abut on the cylindrical guide part of the rail.

[0024] 2c and 2d show views BB and AA shown in FIG. 2a. 2c shows that, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the protrusion assembly 41 of the shell part 40 overlaps the second carriage element 3, whereby the second carriage element 3 forms a limit stop 31 which, together with the limit stop 21 of the first carriage element 2 shown in FIG. 1, fixes the longitudinal position of the protrusion assembly 41 and, consequently, the longitudinal position of the sliding element 4 as a whole relative to the carriage 100. Furthermore, FIG. 2c shows that the protrusion assembly 41 comprises a protruding portion formed as an anti-twist portion 410, which opens into the partial recess 310 formed by the second carriage element 3 and, although not shown in FIG. 2c, also opens into the partial recess 210 formed by the first carriage element 2. The recess formed by the partial recesses 210, 310 therefore forms a further limit stop for the carriage 100, between which the anti-twist portion 410 is located. These further limit stops act in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. By placing the anti-twist portion 410 in said recess, the rotational position of the sliding element with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis is fixed with respect to the carriage 100. Figure 2c further shows a blind-hole type recess 32 on the face of the second carriage element 3 facing the first carriage element 2, into which the peg 22 shown in Figure 1 engages to fix the relative rotational position of the carriage elements 2, 3 with respect to each other with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis X. Figure 2d shows the portion through the channel 24 of the first carriage element 2. Figure 2d shows the threaded pin portion of the screw 5 extending through the first carriage element 2. Additionally, Figures 2b-2d show the sliding element 4 and the sliding opening 10 formed by the longitudinal groove 42 on the radially inner surface of the sliding element 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1. Plain bearing 2 First carriage element 3 Second carriage element 4 Sliding elements 5 screws 10 Sliding release part 21 Limit Stop 22 Pegs 23 holes 24 channels 31 Limit Stop 32 Blind-hole depression 34 channels 40 Shell parts 41 Protrusion Assembly 42 Vertical grooves 100 carriages 210 Partial recess 310 Partial recess 410 Anti-twist part X Longitudinal Axis

Claims

1. A plain bearing (1) comprising a carriage (100) having a carriage body with a passage extending along a longitudinal axis (X), A sliding element (4) in contact with the carriage body is disposed in the passage, The sliding element surrounds, at least in part, a sliding opening (10) located within the passageway; the slide-open portion is configured to receive a cylindrical guide portion of a rail extending along the longitudinal axis (X); The carriage body has two carriage elements (2, 3) arranged side by side relative to each other along the longitudinal axis (X) and removably fixed to each other; each of the carriage elements defines a different longitudinal portion of the passage; each of said carriage elements (2, 3) forms a limit stop acting along said longitudinal axis on said sliding element (4); At least a portion of said sliding element (4) is fixed in position along said longitudinal axis (X) between said limit stops; the two carriage elements (2, 3) removably fixed to each other are configured to be movable apart from each other along the longitudinal axis (X), thereby ensuring access to the sliding element (4) arranged in the passage; The sliding element (4) has a slot extending along the entire longitudinal axis (X), the sliding element (4) is configured to be radially removable from the cylindrical guide portion when the sliding element (4) is positioned along the longitudinal axis (X) between the carriage elements (2, 3) while the carriage elements (2, 3) remain secured to the cylindrical guide portion; Plain bearing (1).

2. the only way to remove the sliding element (4) from the passage without radial compression is to perform the removal after the carriage elements (2, 3) have been detached from each other and moved away from each other along the longitudinal axis; 2. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1.

3. the carriage elements (2, 3) and the sliding element (4) are arranged relative to each other such that when the cylindrical guide portion of the rail is disposed in the sliding open portion (10), the cylindrical guide portion has a diameter such that the cylindrical guide portion contacts the sliding element (4) at each of two radially opposite ends thereof; When the carriage elements (2, 3) are detached from each other, they can be moved away from each other along the longitudinal axis (X) while being guided on the cylindrical guide portion of the rail by the longitudinal portions of the passages formed by the carriage elements, and while the sliding element (4) remains positioned on one of the two carriage elements (2, 3) until the other of the carriage elements (2, 3) is separated from the sliding element (4) along the longitudinal axis (X), the sliding element (4) is configured in such a way that it can be subsequently removed from the one carriage element (2, 3) along the longitudinal axis (X); 3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 2.

4. each of the carriage elements (2, 3) encompasses the longitudinal axis (X) over an angular range of at least 200° in the longitudinal portion of the passage formed by the carriage element; the sliding element (4) surrounds the longitudinal axis (X) over an angular range of at least 200° in each of the longitudinal portions of the passage formed by the two carriage elements (2, 3); 3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The sliding element (4) has a shell part (40), The shell part is configured in the form of a hollow cylinder, and the sliding open part (10) is formed by its radial inner surface.

3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The hollow cylinder of the shell part (40) is interrupted by the slot.

6. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 5.

7. A protrusion assembly (41) extending around the longitudinal axis (X) is formed on the radially outer surface of the shell part (40) and is at least partially disposed along the longitudinal axis (X) between the limit stops (21, 31) formed by the two carriage elements (2, 3).

7. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 6.

8. The protrusion assembly (41) has a plurality of protrusions distributed around the longitudinal axis (X), at least one of the protruding portions is configured as an anti-twist portion (410) and is arranged between two further limit stops of the carriage (100) that operate perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and are spaced apart from each other in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis (X) in order to fix the rotational position of the sliding element (4) relative to the carriage (100) with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis (X); each of said further limit stops is formed by said carriage element (2, 3); 8. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 7.

9. The sliding element (4) has longitudinal grooves on the inner surface of its shell part (40) extending along the longitudinal axis (X), 6. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 5.

10. the carriage elements (2, 3) together form, at their ends facing each other along the longitudinal axis (X), grooves extending around the longitudinal axis (X) and forming the limit stops (21, 31) of the two carriage elements (2, 3); The protrusion assembly (41) is disposed at least partially within the groove.

8. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 7.

11. The carriage (100) has a recess that opens into the passage, The anti-twist portion (410) of the sliding element (4) is disposed within the recess; the recesses open into grooves extending around the longitudinal axis (X) and forming the limit stops (21, 31) of the two carriage elements (2, 3) and / or the recesses form continuous connections from the outer surface of the carriage (100) to the passages, 9. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 8.

12. The carriage elements (2, 3) are integrally constructed.

3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

13. said sliding element (4) being made from a tribopolymer, 3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

14. At least one peg (22) extending along the longitudinal axis (X) is fixed to one face of the carriage elements (2, 3) facing the other of the carriage elements (2, 3); the pegs (22) engage with recesses (32) in the face of the carriage element (2, 3) facing the other carriage element (2, 3) to fix the rotational positions of the carriage elements (2, 3) relative to each other with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis (X); 3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

15. The plain bearing (1) has a thread (5) extending along the longitudinal axis (X), The screw presses the outer surface of one of the carriage elements (2, 3) with its screw head along the longitudinal axis (X), extends through the carriage element (2, 3) with its screw pin portion, and is screwed into a threaded hole provided in the other carriage element (2, 3).

3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

16. the carriage (100) is provided with a fastening device for fastening an actuation device to the carriage (100); the fastening device has a support surface for the actuating device that is in one plane and has two sub-areas, each of the carriage elements (2, 3) forming a respective one of the sub-areas, and / or the carriage (100) has at least one channel (24, 34) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) for receiving a fastening means for fastening the actuating device to the carriage (100); 3. A sliding bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

17. The carriage (100) has at least two channels (24, 34) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; The channels (24, 34) extend parallel to one another; Each one of the channels (24, 34) is formed by a respective one of the carriage elements (2, 3); At least one of the channels (24, 34) leads to each of the subregions; 17. A plain bearing (1) according to claim 16.

18. A plain bearing assembly comprising a plain bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2 and a rail, The rail is arranged with the cylindrical guide portion in the sliding open portion (10) and in contact with the sliding element (4); the cylindrical guide portion is longer than the carriage (100) along the longitudinal axis (X); Plain bearing assembly.

19. 19. Use of a plain bearing assembly according to claim 18, To replace the sliding element (4), the carriage elements (2, 3) are removed from each other and moved away from each other along the longitudinal axis (X); On the other hand, the carriage elements are guided together in an uninterrupted manner on the cylindrical guide portion of the rail, and the longitudinal portion of the passage formed by each of the carriage elements (2, 3) engages around the cylindrical guide portion; the sliding elements (4) are moved away from each other and completely removed from the path of the carriage (100) along the longitudinal axis (X) between the carriage elements (2, 3) still guided on the cylindrical guide portion of the rail; after removal of the sliding element (4) between the carriage elements (2, 3) along the longitudinal axis (X), by introducing a new sliding element (4) into the passage of the carriage (100), The carriage elements (2, 3) are then interconnected and fixed relative to each other, thereby fixing the position of the new sliding element (4) relative to the carriage (100). Use of plain bearing assemblies.

Images