Sliding bearing arrangement with a multi-part rail

Abstract

The invention comprises a sliding bearing arrangement comprising a carriage and a rail (1000) that is elongate in a longitudinal direction, wherein the rail comprises a guide portion which has a total length of extent in the longitudinal direction (X), wherein the carriage has a guide receptacle for receiving the guide portion and, in an operating state of the sliding bearing arrangement, the guide portion is located in the guide receptacle and, from the operating state, the carriage is slidingly displaceable along the guide portion continuously over the total length of extent thereof in the longitudinal direction relative to the rail, whereas its position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is continuously fixed on account of the guide portion located in the guide receptacle, wherein the rail comprises a plurality of rail portions (1, 100) which are located one behind the other in the longitudinal direction and together form the guide portion of the rail, wherein every two rail portions that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction are spaced apart from one another by a longitudinal spacing (S).

Description

[0001] Ma / bs September 17, 2024 Applicant: igus GmbH 51147 Cologne Plain bearing arrangement with multi-part rail The invention relates to a plain bearing arrangement comprising a carriage and a rail according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as the use of components for realizing a rail of such a plain bearing arrangement. Generic plain bearing arrangements comprise a carriage and a rail as mutually correspondingly designed elements. While the rail is usually fixed in a fixed position to a structural element, for example to a wall or floor of a room, or to a device arranged on the wall and / or floor of the room, the carriage is movable along the rail in a guided manner. In a normal operating state of generic plain bearing arrangements, the carriage is arranged on the rail in such a way that it is fixed in its position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by the intermeshing of the rail and carriage.is fixed relative to the rail, whereas it can slide along the rail in the longitudinal direction, while its position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction remains unchanged. The rail usually has a length in the longitudinal direction that is at least 4 times, in particular at least 5 times, in particular at least 10 times, in particular at least 15 times, in particular at least 20 times the length of the carriage in the longitudinal direction. For many applications, the displaceability of the carriage by a multiple of its length in the longitudinal direction, as mentioned above by way of example, is important so that the carriage can carry out a movement guided reliably along the rail over the corresponding displacement length, for example for transporting equipment or parts of equipment mounted on the carriage, for example for transporting tool parts or carrying and / orGripping devices of transport systems. In order to achieve the desired properties, the rail usually has a guide section and the carriage a guide receptacle. In the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, the rail is arranged in the guide receptacle, so that a boundary wall formed by the guide receptacle determines the position of the guide section in the guide receptacle perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, while allowing the carriage to be displaced relative to the rail and thus to move from guide section to guide receptacle in the longitudinal direction. The guide receptacle is usually designed as a continuous passage through the carriage in the longitudinal direction. One challenge in the realization of generic plain bearing arrangements is the realization of the elongated rail or the elongated guide section of the rail in such a way that the lowest possible friction,guided movement of the carriage relative to the rail is made possible. In the prior art, it is known to manufacture rails from components that are pinned together and thus fixed in position so as to lie close to one another, or to manufacture them as one-piece components with the length required depending on the application, for example as an extruded part or as a die-cast part, wherein generally preferably at least the guide section of the rail, in particular the rail as a whole, is made of metal, in particular a metal alloy. However, the manufacture of such long, one-piece rails is complex and cost-intensive due to the storage, transport and handling of the rails during their manufacture. In particular, such rails are often manufactured by attaching fastening elements to prefabricated shafts that form the guide sections of the rails, by means of which the rails are later fixed to a substrateSuch fastening is particularly problematic in the implementation of rails for plain bearing assemblies used in the production of foodstuffs. Such plain bearing assemblies suitable for use in food production processes, to which the present invention relates in particular, are usually manufactured in compliance with the hygiene guidelines according to DIN EN1672-2, so that they are particularly easy to clean. In particular, such plain bearing assemblies must not have any gaps in which contaminants can accumulate and from which they can be removed only with difficulty or not at all during conventional cleaning processes. In the implementation of rails as described above, the fastening elements are usually welded to the shafts by welding in order to prevent gaps. The welding of components and in particular the subsequent reworking of the weld seam enablesIt is to ensure that the surfaces of the plain bearing assembly comply with the standards so that the plain bearing assemblies can be easily cleaned in the operating state, for example by means of a cleaning fluid, for example water or a water-based cleaning fluid that contains water and chemicals dissolved in the water, for example with a rinsing pressure of 25 bar. However, welding long rails is complex, since welding devices must be provided that can accommodate the long shafts or rails, and the welding of the many fastening elements leads to a considerable heat input and thus a risk of thermal distortion. As a solution to the problem underlying the present invention, the invention proposes a plain bearing assembly with the features according to claim 1. Such a plain bearing assembly comprises a carriage and a longitudinally elongated rail, wherein the rail has a guide sectionwhich has a total extension length in the longitudinal direction. The carriage has a guide receptacle for receiving the guide section. In an operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, the guide section is arranged in the guide receptacle. Starting from the operating state, the carriage is continuously slidably displaceable along the guide section over its total extension length in the longitudinal direction relative to the rail, while its position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is continuously fixed due to the guide section arranged in the guide receptacle. The plain bearing arrangement according to the invention can have further features that are disclosed here in connection with generic plain bearing arrangements. Preferably, the plain bearing arrangement according to the invention meets the requirements of DIN EN 1672-2. According to the invention, the rail has several rail sections that are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction andtogether form the guide section of the rail, wherein two longitudinally adjacent rail sections are spaced apart from each other by a longitudinal distance. In contrast to the approaches known in the prior art to realize a rail from rail components which are arranged as directly as possible, in particular bonded to each other, to realize the guide section of the rail, the present invention is based on the finding that by arranging longitudinally adjacent rail sections of the rail at a distance from each other, the rail can be realized particularly easily and cost-effectively and that, despite the provision of such a distance, it can still be ensured that the carriage can be moved along the rail with low friction and reliably over the entire length of the guide section of the rail. Due to the deliberately provided longitudinal distance, aRail sections, such a free space must be ensured that this free space can be easily flushed. In addition, the deliberately provided longitudinal spacing allows the aligned arrangement of the rail sections to be ensured in a particularly simple manner in some embodiments. In one embodiment, the rail sections are designed as sections of an integrally manufactured rail component that are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. In an alternative embodiment, the rail has several rail components that are manufactured independently of one another and are thus designed as separate rail components, wherein each of the rail components comprises one of the rail sections and in particular a further rail section of the rail explained in more detail below, and these rail components are fastened to a support in a manner aligned with one another to create the rail.It has been found that the longitudinal distance between each two adjacent rail sections, i.e. the distance between their mutually facing longitudinal ends, based on the longitudinal direction, is more than 3 mm, in particular at least 5 mm, in particular at least 6 mm, in particular at least 7 mm. This can ensure, in particular, a particularly advantageous flushability of the rail. Furthermore, it has proven particularly advantageous to set the longitudinal distance to less than 15 mm, in particular less than 10 mm. This can ensure the carriage can be displaced as continuously and with as little friction as possible over the entire extension length of the guide section of the rail. It must be taken into account that the guide section is formed by the plurality of rail sections, each of the rail sections forming a part of the total extension length in the longitudinal direction of the guide section, so that upon displacementof the carriage relative to the rail, starting from the operating state over the entire length of the guide section, the carriage is displaced over all rail sections of the rail. The operating state refers to a specific arrangement of rail and carriage relative to one another. In the operating state, the carriage is in a specific longitudinal position relative to the rail, wherein the guide section of the rail is arranged in the guide receptacle of the carriage. In one embodiment, the rail sections each have a guide region which extends over at least 80% of their longitudinal extent and over which they each have a cross-section corresponding to the guide receptacle. When the carriage with its guide receptacle is displaced over the guide region, the guide receptacle is preferably always identically located over the entire longitudinal extent of the guide region.correspondingly formed cross-section of the rail section. The guide region is spaced from at least one longitudinal end of the respective rail section, wherein the rail section preferably has a chamfer between this longitudinal end and the guide region, so that the cross-section is smaller at the longitudinal end than within the guide region. Particularly preferably, the chamfer, i.e. the outer side of the rail section within the region of the rail section formed as a chamfer, has an angle between 30° and 80°, in particular between 45° and 70°, to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the rail section always has the same cross-section over its entire guide region. Preferably, the rail section has a cross-section averaged over its guide region, wherein the cross-section at said longitudinal end is smaller than the average cross-section of the guide region. Generally, the rail sections each have aGuide region which, as explained, extends over at least 80% of their longitudinal extent and over which they each have, as explained, a cross-section corresponding to the guide receptacle, wherein the guide region is spaced from at least one longitudinal end of the respective rail section, wherein the cross-section at the longitudinal end is smaller than within the guide region, in particular smaller than the cross-section of the rail section averaged over the guide region. Preferably, the cross-section at the longitudinal end is less than 90%, in particular less than 80%, in particular less than 70% of the said cross-section within the guide region. Preferably, the guide region is spaced from both longitudinal ends of the respective rail section, wherein at each of the two longitudinal ends the cross-section is smaller than within the guide section, wherein preferably a chamfer is provided between the respective longitudinal end and the guide region.is provided, as explained above. Preferably, the aforementioned properties apply to all rail sections of the rails. Preferably, the chamfer extends over a longitudinal extent of less than 10 mm, in particular at most 5 mm, in particular more than 2 mm, in particular more than 3 mm. Inventors have recognized that by providing a longitudinal distance between longitudinally adjacent rail sections and by the explained variation of the cross section of the respective rail sections, a low-friction sliding of the carriage can be ensured in a particularly simple manner, even across the interruptions provided between the rail sections. Generally, the rail section or sections are designed in the manner of a hollow cylinder, wherein a conical deviation from the hollow cylindrical shape is formed over the chamfer. Generally, the chamfer is designed to completely circumferentially extend around the longitudinal direction. InIn one embodiment, at least part of the guide receptacle is formed by a sliding section of the carriage, over which the carriage rests against a specific one of the rail sections in the operating state. In the operating state, the carriage preferably extends with its longitudinal extent exclusively within the region of the longitudinal extent of only one of the rail sections. In the preferred embodiment, the carriage rests with its sliding section against only one specific one of the rail sections in the operating state. The contact can be a direct contact or a contact with slight play. In any case, the position of the specific rail section relative to the carriage is determined in every direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by the contact with the sliding section. Preferably, in the operating state, the carriage rests only with its sliding section against the specific one of the rail sections. The sliding section has aA longitudinal extension length in the longitudinal direction which is at least 1.5 times, in particular at least 2 times, in particular at least 3 times the longitudinal distance by which the specific rail section is spaced from one of the remaining rail sections of the rail which is adjacent to it in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the sliding section has a longitudinal extension length which is a corresponding multiple of each of the longitudinal distances by which the specific rail section is spaced at each of its longitudinal ends from the rail section arranged adjacent to it at the respective longitudinal end. By providing a sliding section with a correspondingly large longitudinal extension, a particularly low-friction displacement of the carriage along the rail, even across the interruption provided between two adjacent rail sections of the rail, can be ensured. In one embodiment, the sliding section has a plurality ofIn one embodiment, the sliding section is continuous over its entire longitudinal extent. The sliding section of the carriage is generally preferably made of a sliding material, in particular a tribopolymer. A sliding plastic is generally preferably used as the sliding material. In the present case, this is understood to mean a polymeric material that has a low coefficient of friction compared to stainless steel as a sliding partner. The sliding plastic preferably has a coefficient of friction of < 0.3, in particular < 0.25, in particular < 0.2 compared to stainless steel, without lubrication being provided. Suitable sliding plastics include, for example, thermoplastic polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and thermosetting phenolic resins. To further reduce friction, these plastics can be coated withbe filled with lubricants, in particular fine-particle solid lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide or graphite. Such lubricant-containing polymers are also referred to as tribopolymers. In one embodiment, the carriage has, as separate components, a carriage body and at least one sliding element, wherein the sliding element is made of a sliding material, wherein the sliding section is preferably formed by the at least one sliding element. The sliding element is preferably produced by injection molding. The sliding element is preferably designed in the manner of a hollow cylinder, wherein the hollow cylinder particularly preferably has a longitudinally continuous slot in its cylinder wall, through which a web section of the rail extends in the operating state, connecting the guide section of the rail to the rail body of the rail. In one embodiment, the carriage is made entirely ofa sliding material, in particular directly as a one-piece component, manufactured, in particular by means of an injection molding process or by machining, for example milling, a semi-finished product previously produced from sliding material by extrusion. Generally preferably, the sliding section has stop sections with which it rests against the guide section of the rail in the operating state, wherein two adjacent stop sections are spaced from each other with respect to a direction of rotation about a longitudinal axis running in the longitudinal direction. This can ensure that, on the one hand, thanks to the stop sections, a reliable guidance of the carriage perpendicular to the longitudinal direction relative to the rail is ensured, and, on the other hand, the distance between the stop sections ensures that the slide bearing arrangement can be flushed. Preferably, the stop sections are spaced apart in that the guide section, with respect to the direction of rotation, is in each case between thestop sections has a flushing recess and / or in that the sliding section has a flushing recess between the stop sections with respect to the direction of rotation, so that in the operating state, between two stop sections, a flushing channel is formed, which runs between the guide section of the rail and the sliding section and thus also the guide receptacle, wherein the flushing channel preferably runs continuously in the longitudinal direction and is open at both of its longitudinal ends, so that cleaning fluid can penetrate into the flushing channel at one longitudinal end of the flushing channel and can leave it at its other longitudinal end. The flushing channel is thus accessible from the outside at both of its longitudinal ends in the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement. Preferably, two adjacent flushing recesses or flushing cutouts and the stop section arranged between them each run parallel to one another and parallel to the longitudinal direction. Particularly preferredthe flushing recesses or flushing cutouts extend in a direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis each over an angular range which is at least 0.7 times, in particular at least 0.9 times, in particular at least 1.0 times, in particular at least 1.2 times, in particular at least 1.5 times, in particular at least 2.0 times the angular range over which the stop section arranged between them extends in the direction of rotation. It should be taken into account that the extension of the stop section along the direction of rotation, i.e. the angular range over which it extends, is defined in that the stop section provides a stop for the guide section over this angular range when the guide section moves away from the axis of the guide receptacle in the operating state. By the flushing recesses or flushing cutouts having a sufficient width, relative to the direction of rotation,have, sufficient flushability or sufficient cleaning possibility of the arrangement in the operating state is provided. Thus, the sufficient width of the flushing recesses or flushing cutouts or flushing channels ensures that, in any possible position of the guide section in the guide receptacle, there is always a sufficient gap between the boundary wall and the guide section thanks to the flushing cutout, through which cleaning possibility is guaranteed. Particularly preferably, the flushing channels each have a clear diameter of at least 2 mm, in particular at least 3 mm, in particular at least 4 mm, in particular at least 5 mm in a direction running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Particularly preferably, the flushing channels each have a clear cross-section of at least 4 mm², in particular at least 6 mm², in particularat least 10 mm², in particular at least 15 mm². Thus, when cleaning the plain bearing arrangement, the cleaning fluid can flow through the clear cross-section. In one embodiment, the rail sections each have a fastening recess running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In an embodiment, which can be particularly advantageously combined with the aforementioned, the rail sections are each connected to a fastening block, which has a recess for inserting a fastening means for fastening the block to a substrate by means of the fastening means. In general, the substrate can be provided by a carrier as explained here. The fastening recess can be designed, for example, as a fastening bore, and the recess can be designed, for example, as a bore. The fastening recess can preferably be designed so that a fastening means for fastening the respectiveRail section to a substrate by means of the fastening means. Alternatively, the fastening recess can be designed so that a fastening means for fastening the rail section to a fastening block can be inserted into the fastening recess by means of the fastening means. Generally preferably, the fastening recess is designed in the manner of a blind hole, so that it is not a hole passing through the rail section. This can be particularly advantageous for cleaning purposes and / or for low-friction sliding guidance. Particularly preferably, in the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, the upper side of the respective rail section is closed at the level of the fastening recess, whereas an opening is provided on the underside through the fastening recess. This can prevent the accumulation of dirt in the fastening recess as far as possible. Generally preferably,the sliding bearing arrangement comprises at least one fastening means, wherein the respective rail section and / or the respective fastening block is fastened to the substrate, in particular to the substrate formed by the support, by means of the fastening means. For example, the fastening recess or recess can have an internal thread, so that the rail section or the fastening block can be easily fixed to the substrate or support by means of a screw. Generally, both the rail sections and the respectively associated fastening blocks and / or the respectively associated fastening means are preferably made of metal, wherein preferably each rail section is associated with at least one fastening block and / or at least one fastening means. In one embodiment, the rail sections are each connected to a fastening element in a materially bonded manner, in particular by means of gluing or welding.The fastening element can be designed as the fastening block explained here. Due to the material connection of the fastening element to the rail section, the accumulation of contaminants at the transition between the fastening element and the rail section can be particularly advantageously prevented, if possible. The plain bearing arrangement particularly preferably comprises a plurality of rail components, each comprising at least one rail section and a fastening element, wherein the plain bearing arrangement is realized in that the various rail components are arranged with their rail sections spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction, in particular by being fixed to a support. Generally, the rail sections can preferably be fastened to a support independently of one another. The rail sections are preferably each manufactured as a separate component independently of one another. In the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, the rail sectionsall attached to the support and, as explained, spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. In one embodiment, at least two longitudinally adjacent rail sections are connected to one another in the operating state by a joint, by means of which they are arranged so as to be angled relative to one another. The joint, which is arranged between two longitudinally adjacent rail sections, preferably spans at least part of the longitudinal distance between the two rail sections. Preferably, the joint defines a joint axis which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the adjacent rail sections can be pivoted relative to one another about the joint axis by means of the joint, wherein in the operating state they have a defined angle to one another about the joint axis, preferably an angle of 180°. The angle relates to the rail section axes of the respective rail sections, wherein in the operating state the rail section axes of the adjacentRail sections extend in the longitudinal direction, so that the carriage in the operating state is displaceable relative to the rail over both adjacent rail sections and over the longitudinal distance provided between them along the longitudinal direction, which runs parallel to the rail section axes. The rail section axis is thus the axis of the respective rail sections, along which the carriage is guided on the rail section and can be moved relative to the rail section. Preferably, the plain bearing arrangement is designed to assume an angled state, starting from the operating state, in which the adjacent rail sections are pivoted relative to one another about the joint axis by means of the joint, preferably by at least 30°, in particular at least 45°, in particular at least 60°, in particular at least 90°, wherein preferably during the pivoting, by means of which the plain bearing arrangement is moved from the operating state into the angled statechanges, the carriage remains arranged on one of the two adjacent rail sections. Generally preferably, in one embodiment, the joint is spaced from an upper side of the two adjacent rail sections in a vertical direction running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the upper side forms a vertical end of the rail sections. In one embodiment, the joint is arranged vertically below the adjacent rail sections. Generally preferably, the carrier has two carrier elements, wherein one of the adjacent rail sections is fastened to each of the carrier elements, and wherein the carrier elements are connected to one another by the joint, in particular pivotably connected to one another about the joint axis of the joint. Thus, the rail sections are preferably pivotable relative to one another by means of the carrier elements and the joint arranged between them. Generally preferably, the rail sections are made of metalmanufactured. Generally preferably, the guide receptacle of the carriage, in particular the carriage as a whole, is made of a sliding material. Generally preferably, the entire rail is made of metal. In one embodiment, the rail has a further guide section, wherein the guide section is formed by a first group of rail sections of the rail and the further guide section is formed by a second group of rail sections of the rail. The rail sections of the first group are arranged parallel to the rail sections of the second group. The rail section axes of the rail sections of the first group thus run parallel to the rail section axes of the rail sections of the second group in the operating state. The parallel arrangement of the rail sections of the first and second group refers to the operating state. In a transverse direction that is perpendicular toLongitudinal direction, the first group of rail sections is spaced from the second group of rail sections. In one embodiment of the described advantageous plain bearing arrangement, the carriage has a further guide receptacle which is assigned to the further guide section, so that in the operating state the guide section is arranged in the guide receptacle and the further guide section is arranged in the further guide receptacle. The carriage can thus be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the rail, guided by its two guide receptacles on the two guide sections of the rail, wherein the further guide section and the further guide receptacle can be designed to correspond to one another and can have features which are explained here with reference to the guide receptacle and the guide section. By providing the guide receptacle and the further guide receptacle as well as the guide section and furtherGuide section, a particularly reliable and particularly resilient guidance of the carriage relative to the rail can be ensured. In one embodiment of the described advantageous plain bearing arrangement, the plain bearing arrangement has a further carriage, which has a further guide receptacle that is assigned to the further guide section, wherein the further guide receptacle of the further carriage can be designed to correspond to the further guide section of the rail, as explained here with reference to the guide receptacle and guide section. Such a plain bearing arrangement has the particular advantage that two carriages can be mounted on the same rail so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction. Generally speaking, the rail sections of the first group are arranged offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the rail sections of the second group. The longitudinal ends of the rail sections of the first group are thus inLongitudinally offset from the longitudinal ends of the rail sections of the second group, preferably by at least 2 times, in particular at least 5 times, in particular at least 10 times the maximum longitudinal distance provided between two longitudinally adjacent rail sections of one of the groups and / or preferably by at least 10%, in particular at least 20%, in particular at least 30% of the longitudinal extension length of the shorter of the two rail sections of the two groups whose longitudinal ends are arranged offset from one another. In the offset arrangement of the longitudinal ends of two rail sections of the two groups, the focus is of course on the offset arrangement of longitudinal ends of those rail sections of the two groups that run parallel to one another within the same longitudinal extension section. Due to the offset arrangement of the rail sections, the longitudinal distances that are provided between two longitudinally adjacent rail sections of one of the groupsadjacent rail sections of the respective group are provided, each offset from the longitudinal distances which are provided between two rail sections of the other group of rail sections, wherein the offset is naturally an offset in the longitudinal direction. Due to the offset arrangement, a particularly reliable guidance of the carriage over the entire guide section and in particular the entire further guide section of the rail can be ensured, since a carriage which has two guide receptacles can always be guided in such a longitudinal region on one of the two guide sections of the rail in which the other guide section of the rail has an interruption due to a longitudinal distance provided between two of its rail sections. In one embodiment, one rail section of the first group and one rail section of the second group of rail sections are in a singleRail component integrated. This can simplify the manufacture of the plain bearing arrangement. Particularly preferably, the individual rail components can be fastened to a support independently of one another. Particularly preferably, the rail sections integrated in the respective rail component are permanently connected to one another. For example, the rail sections integrated in a rail component can both be welded to a fastening block, by means of which, in particular as explained above, the rail component can be fixed to a support or a base. The invention further relates to the use of individual rail components for realizing a longitudinally elongated rail. The rail is suitable for use in a plain bearing arrangement which, in addition to the rail, comprises a carriage. The rail has a guide section which has a total extension length in the longitudinal direction. The carriage hasa guide receptacle for receiving the guide section. In an operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, the guide section is arranged in the guide receptacle. Starting from the operating state, the carriage is continuously slidably displaceable along the guide section over its entire extension length in the longitudinal direction relative to the rail, while its position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is continuously fixed due to the guide section arranged in the guide receptacle. In the use according to the invention, the rail components are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, spaced apart from one another, thereby forming the rail, wherein each of the rail components forms a rail section of the rail and the rail sections together form the guide section of the rail. In one embodiment, the rail components have, in addition to the rail section, further components, such asfor example a fastening block and / or a further rail section. The rail components for implementing the rail are preferably spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction and arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction and fixed to a support, in particular releasably fixed, in particular each fixed to the support by means of at least one fastening means. In general, the various embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in any desired manner, particularly advantageously. The use according to the invention can have features that are described in connection with embodiments of the plain bearing arrangement according to the invention. The plain bearing arrangement according to the invention can have features that are explained in connection with embodiments of the use according to the invention. The plain bearing arrangement according to the invention and the use according to the invention can have features that are described here in connection with generic plain bearing assemblies orUses are explained. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to seven figures using exemplary embodiments. They show: Figure 1: in a schematic principle representation, a rail of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention; Figure 2: in a schematic principle representation, a plan view of a rail section of the embodiment according to Figure 1 along the longitudinal direction; Figure 3: in a schematic principle representation, a detailed view of a rail section of the embodiment according to Figure 1; Figure 4: in a schematic principle representation, a rail of a further embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention; Figure 5: in various schematic principle representations, the rail of a further embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention; Figure 6: in various schematic principle representations, the rail of a further embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention; Figure 7: invarious schematic principle representations of various components of a further embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention. In Figure 1, a rail 1000 is schematically shown in a schematic principle representation, an embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention. The rail 1000 of the described embodiment has exactly one guide section, which in the present case is formed by three rail sections 1 of the rail 1000. The three rail sections 1 are each designed in the manner of a cylinder running in the longitudinal direction X, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. The rail sections 1 are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction X to form the guide section of the rail 1000, wherein two adjacent rail sections 1 are spaced from each other by a longitudinal distance S. The longitudinal distance S denotes the distance between the two mutually facing longitudinal ends of the twoadjacent rail sections 1. The rail sections 1 of the rail 1000 of the embodiment according to Figure 1 are shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3 in further schematic diagrams. From the combined view of Figures 1 to 3, it can be seen that each of the rail sections 1 has a first longitudinal end 11 and a second longitudinal end 13, between which it extends with its longitudinal extension length. Starting from the respective longitudinal end 11, 13, each of the rail sections 1 has a chamfer 12, 14, so that the diameter that the rail section 1 has perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X increases from the respective longitudinal end 11, 13 towards the longitudinal center of the rail section 1, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. Thus, the rail section 1 has the diameter D2 at each of its two longitudinal ends 11, 13, whereas in a guide region, which forms a longitudinal region of theRail section 1, has a diameter D1 that is significantly larger than the diameter D2. The guide region and the respective longitudinal ends 11, 13 are connected to one another by the respective bevel 12, 14, and the guide region has a constant diameter D1 over its entire longitudinal extent, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. Generally preferably, the guide region always has the same maximum diameter D1 over its entire longitudinal extent, which, as explained here, is significantly larger than the maximum diameter D2 provided at the two longitudinal ends of the rail section 1. Figure 3 shows the underside of the rail section 1, wherein the term "underside" refers to the side that points vertically downwards in the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement. On this underside, a plurality of fastening recesses 15 are provided, into which a pin and / or a screw withExternal thread can be inserted so that the rail section can be fastened to a support. Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of the rail 1000 of a further embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention. In addition to a first guide section, the rail 1000 further comprises a further guide section which runs parallel to the guide section, but is spaced from it in a transverse direction Y running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The first guide section is formed by a first group of rail sections 1, whereas the further guide section is formed by a second group of rail sections 100, wherein the rail 1000 comprises both the first group of rail sections 1 and the second group of rail sections 100. The rail sections 1 of the first group are offset in the longitudinal direction X relative to the rail sections 100 of the secondGroup arranged so that in each case one of the rail sections 1, 100 of one of the two groups extends over the section, relative to the longitudinal direction X, over which the explained longitudinal distance is provided between two rail sections 1, 100 of the other group that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction X. Otherwise, the design of the rail sections 1, 100 corresponds in each case to the design of the rail sections 1, as explained for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3. In Figure 5, comprising Figures 5a and 5b, a rail 1000 of a further embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention is shown schematically. The rail 1000 comprises two rail components 103, 104, each having a rail section 1 and two fastening blocks 17. The rail sections 1 are designed analogously to the rail sections 1 explained with reference to Figures 1 to 4, however - with the formation of the respectiveRail component 103, 104 - each connected to two fastening blocks 17 by fixing the fastening blocks 17 to the fastening recesses 15 by means of pins and then welding the fastening blocks 17 to the respective rail section 1. The rail components 103, 104 of the rail are of identical design. Generally, a rail of an embodiment according to the invention preferably has a plurality of rail components 103, 104, wherein at least the majority, in particular all, of the rail components 103, 104 are of identical design. In the present plain bearing arrangement, the rail components 103, 104 are each fastened to a support element 3, 4 of a support. In the present case, the support elements 3, 4 are each wooden panels. The support elements 3, 4 are connected to one another by means of a joint 5, wherein the joint 5 defines a joint axis that runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, so that the support elements 3, 4 and thus also theThe fixed rail components 103, 104 are pivotally mounted relative to one another about the joint axis by means of the joint 5. While in Figure 5b the rail 1000 is shown in the shape it has in the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, in Figure 5a the rail components 103, 104 are angled relative to one another. In Figures 5a, 5b, the carriage of the plain bearing arrangement is not shown, but its provision is obvious to a person skilled in the art. While in the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement the rail section axes of the rail sections 1 are aligned parallel to one another and run in the longitudinal direction, so that a carriage can be moved linearly in the longitudinal direction along the guide section of the rail, guided perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by the guide section formed by the rail sections 1, the rail section axes of the rail sections 1 are angled 90° relative to one another in the state shown in Figure 5a.so that in this state, a corresponding displaceability of a carriage over the entire extension length of the guide section of the rail 1000 is not guaranteed. Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a rail 1000 of a further embodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention. The rail 1000 according to Figure 6 comprises three rail components 101. The rail components 101 together form both the guide section and the further guide section of the rail 1000. For this purpose, the rail components 101 each have a rail section 1 and a further rail section 100, which are arranged with their rail section axes parallel to one another, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. In the operating state, the rail section axes of all rail sections 1, 100 are in the longitudinal direction, i.e., they are parallel to the longitudinal direction. The rail section 1 and the further rail section100 of each rail component 101 are connected to one another by two fastening blocks 110, in this case by means of a pin and welding, as explained above. Each of the fastening blocks 110 has a recess 111, by means of which the rail components 101 can be fixed in position to a support (not shown in Figure 6). In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 6 and generally advantageous according to the invention, the rail components 101 are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction X and are each spaced apart from one another by a longitudinal distance, wherein this longitudinal distance is identical to the longitudinal distance that the rail sections 1 of two rail components 101 adjacent in the longitudinal direction X have and is identical to the longitudinal distance that the further rail sections 100 of the two rail components 101 adjacent in the longitudinal direction X have. In Figure 7, comprising Figures 7a, 7b and 7c, a carriage 2 of a furtherEmbodiment of a plain bearing arrangement according to the invention as well as a cross section through the plain bearing arrangement in the operating state and a cross section through the carriage 2 alone are shown. Figure 7a shows the carriage 2 in perspective. The carriage 2 has a guide receptacle 21 and a further guide receptacle 210 as well as a passage 22 provided between the guide receptacles 21, 210. In the operating state of the plain bearing arrangement shown in Figure 7c, the carriage 2 is arranged on one of the rail components 101 of the rail 1000, wherein the rail section 1 of the rail component 101 is arranged in the receptacle 21 and the further rail section 100 of the rail component 101 is arranged in the further guide receptacle 210. The rail component 101 corresponds to the rail component 101 of the rail 1000 of the embodiment shown in Figure 6, wherein overall the rail of the plain bearing arrangement according to Figure 7 is analogous to the rail 1000.the embodiment according to Figure 6. In the operating state, the rail components 101 are fastened to a support (not shown in Figure 7), in which a fastening screw 112 is inserted through the recess 111 provided on the respective fastening block 110 and is screwed to the support. Figure 7c shows a plan view of a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slide bearing arrangement in the operating state. Figure 7b shows a corresponding cross section of the carriage 2 alone. In the present embodiment, the entire carriage 2 is made of a sliding material. From the combined view of Figures 7a, 7b and 7c, it can be seen that the carriage 2 has a sliding section formed by the guide receptacle, wherein the sliding section has stop sections running in the longitudinal direction, which are spaced from one another by flushing recesses 211, so that in the operating stateFlushing channels 2100, 2101 result, which run continuously in the longitudinal direction X and through which cleaning fluid can be flushed between the rail sections 1, 100 and the associated guide receptacles 21, 210. Furthermore, the carriage 2 has lateral openings 230, each of which is fluid-conductingly connected to one of the guide receptacles 21, 210, so that cleaning fluid can also reach the flushing channels 2100, 2101 through them, which is generally advantageous according to the invention.

[0002] Ma / bs September 17, 2024 Applicant: igus GmbH 51147 Cologne Plain bearing arrangement with multi-part rail List of reference symbols 1 Rail section (of the first group) 2 Carriage 3 Support element 4 Support element 5 Joint 11 First longitudinal end 12 Chamfer 13 Second longitudinal end 14 Chamfer 15 Mounting recess 17 Mounting block 21 Guide seat 22 Passage 23 Side opening 100 Rail section of the second group 101 Rail component 103 Rail component 104 Rail component 110 Mounting blocks 111 Recess 112 Mounting screw 210 Guide seat 211 Flushing recesses 230 Side openings 1000 Rail 2100 Flushing channel 2101 Flushing channel D1 Diameter D2 Diameter S Longitudinal distance X Longitudinal direction Y Transverse direction

Claims

Ma / bs September 17, 2024 Applicant: igus GmbH 51147 Cologne Plain bearing arrangement with multi-part rail Claims 1. Plain bearing arrangement comprising a carriage (2) and a rail (1000) elongated in a longitudinal direction, wherein the rail (1000) comprises a guide section having a total extension length in the longitudinal direction (X), wherein the carriage (2) has a guide receptacle (21, 210) for receiving the guide section and, in an operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, the guide section is arranged in the guide receptacle (21, 210) and, starting from the operating state, the carriage (2) is slidably displaceable along the guide section over its total extension length continuously in the longitudinal direction (X) relative to the rail (1000), while its position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) is continuously fixed due to the guide section arranged in the guide receptacle (21, 210), characterized in thatthat the rail (1000) comprises a plurality of rail sections (1, 100) which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (X) and together form the guide section of the rail (1000), two in each case in the longitudinal direction (X), Adjacent rail sections (1, 100) are spaced apart from one another by a longitudinal distance (S).

2. Plain bearing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal distance (S) is more than 3 mm, in particular at least 5 mm, and in particular less than 15 mm, in particular less than 10 mm. 3.

4. Plain bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail sections (1, 100) each have a guide region which extends over at least 80% of their longitudinal extent and over which they each have a cross-section corresponding to the guide receptacle (21, 210), wherein the guide region is spaced from at least one longitudinal end (11, 13) of the respective rail section, wherein the rail section has a cross-section at the longitudinal end (11, 13) which is smaller than its cross-section within the guide region, wherein in particular the rail section between the longitudinal end and the guide region has a chamfer which in particular has an angle between 30° and 80°, in particular between 45° and 70°, to the longitudinal direction (X).a sliding section of the carriage (2) is formed, over which the carriage (2) rests against a specific one of the rail sections (1, 100) in the operating state, wherein the sliding section has a longitudinal extension length in the longitudinal direction (X) that is at least 1.5 times the longitudinal distance (S) by which the specific rail section is spaced from one of the remaining rail sections of the rail (1000) adjacent to it in the longitudinal direction (X).

5. A plain bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail sections (1, 100) each have a fastening recess (15), in particular a fastening bore, running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and / or are each connected to a fastening block (17, 110), which in particular has a recess (111), in particular a bore, for inserting a fastening means for fastening the block to a substrate by means of the fastening means.A plain bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail sections (1, 100) are each connected to a fastening element in a materially bonded manner, in particular by means of gluing or welding.

7. A plain bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that. the rail sections (1, 100) can be fastened to a support independently of one another.

8. A plain bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two of the rail sections (1, 100) adjacent in the longitudinal direction (X) are connected to one another in the operating state by a joint (5) by which they are arranged so as to be angled relative to one another.

9. A plain bearing arrangement according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the support has two support elements (3, 4), wherein one of the two adjacent rail sections (1, 100) is fastened to each of the support elements (3, 4), and the support elements are connected to one another by the joint (5).Plain bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail sections (1, 100) are made of a metal and / or that the guide receptacle (21, 210) of the carriage (2), in particular the carriage (2), is made of a sliding material.

11. Plain bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail (1000) has a further guide section. wherein the guide section is formed by a first group of rail sections (1) and the further guide section is formed by a second group of rail sections (100), wherein the rail sections of the first group (1) are arranged parallel to the rail sections of the second group (100) and spaced apart from them in a transverse direction (Y).

12. Plain bearing arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the rail sections of the first group (1) are arranged offset in the longitudinal direction (X) from the rail sections of the second group (100). 13.A plain bearing arrangement according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that a rail section of the first group (1) and a rail section of the second group (100) are each integrated into a single rail component, wherein in particular the individual rail components (101, 102, 103) can be fastened to a support independently of one another and / or the rail sections (1, 100) integrated in the respective rail component (101, 102, 103) are non-detachably connected to one another.

14. Use of individual rail components (101, 102, 103), each comprising at least one rail section (1, 100), for realizing a rail (1000) elongated in the longitudinal direction (X) for a plain bearing arrangement which, in addition to the rail (1000), comprises a carriage (2), wherein the rail (1000) comprises a guide section having a total extension length in the longitudinal direction. (X), and the carriage (2) has a guide receptacle (21, 210) for receiving the guide section, and in an operating state of the plain bearing arrangement, the guide section is arranged in the guide receptacle (21, 210), and the carriage (2), starting from the operating state, is slidably displaceable along the guide section over its entire extension length continuously in the longitudinal direction (X) relative to the rail (1000), while its position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) is continuously fixed due to the guide section arranged in the guide receptacle (21, 210), characterized in that the rail components are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (X) at a distance from one another, and in this way the rail (1000) is formed, wherein each of the rail components forms a rail section of the rail (1000), and the rail sections (1,1000) together form the guide section of the rail (1000).,

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