Ball Circulating Device for Motion Guide Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motion guide apparatuses and ball screw devices face issues with ball bearing elements not being suitably guided due to 90-degree turning angles in tubular circulating elements, causing flexible coupling members to twist and obstructing smooth movement.
Innovation Solution
A motion guide apparatus with a ball circulating device featuring a ball circulating channel rotated between 160 to 220 degrees, including helical and curved guide pathways that align with the gap between the screw shaft and ball nut, allowing smooth passage of ball bearing elements and flexible coupling members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If 90-degree turning angles are used in tubular circulating elements, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flexible coupling members twist and ball bearing elements cannot be suitably guided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the turning angle parameter from 90 degrees to between 160-220 degrees in the guide pathways of the ball circulating device. This parameter modification eliminates the twisting of flexible coupling members while maintaining reliable guidance of ball bearing elements, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and guiding reliability.
2Device complexity
If guide grooves are turned with 90-degree angle to match the tubular circulating elements, then the structure is compact, but the flexible coupling members are twisted and cannot move smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the guide groove angle parameter from 90 degrees to between 160-220 degrees, allowing flexible coupling members to pass through without twisting. This parameter change enables smooth movement of ball bearing elements while maintaining a relatively compact device structure.
3Device complexity
If the ball circulating channel is not rotated, then the structure is simple, but the flexible coupling members twist and ball bearing elements are not suitably guided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotation parameter for the ball circulating channel, rotating it between 160-220 degrees relative to the tubular circulating element. This rotational parameter change eliminates the twisting problem and ensures reliable guidance of ball bearing elements through the ball guiding passage.
Data Source
AI summary
A motion guide device includes a ball nut attached onto a shaft and having helical grooves for receiving ball bearing elements, a ball circulating member is engaged with the ball nut and includes a ball circulating channel communicative with the helical groove of the ball nut, and includes an intermediate segment and two end segments, a ball coupler includes two flexible coupling members for engaging with the ball bearing elements, and the ball circulating member includes two opposite helical guide pathways for receiving the flexible coupling members of the ball coupler, and curved relative to the ball circulating member for smoothly guiding the flexible coupling members to move through the ball circulating member.