Ball Screw Lubrication via Heated Grease Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball screw devices lack a heating mechanism for lubricating grease or oil, leading to inadequate lubrication and increased manufacturing costs due to complex designs and worn-out non-loaded balls, which result in inefficient sliding movement and high production expenses.
Innovation Solution
A ball screw device with a lubricating device attached to the movable nut member, featuring a heating structure that softens the lubricating grease or oil, allowing it to be easily applied to the required positions through a combination of a cylindrical element, housing, and oil distributing member, utilizing a wax and oil mixture with a heat-conductive housing to facilitate lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-loaded balls made of lubricating materials are used to lubricate the screw shaft and ball nut, then the sliding movement is lubricated, but the balls wear out and their outer diameter reduces, causing gaps to increase and rotation to become unsuitable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the non-loaded lubricating balls from the system and replaces them with a lubricating device that applies lubricant directly to the ball bearing elements and screw shaft through channels and nozzles, eliminating the wear issue while maintaining lubrication effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lubricating device with lubricant reservoir and distribution mechanism as an intermediary system to deliver lubricant to the contact surfaces, replacing the direct-contact lubricating balls approach
2Reliability
If specially designed or selected self-lubricating sliding or bearing materials are used, then the sliding or bearing function is improved, but the manufacturing costs greatly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the lubrication approach from using expensive specialized self-lubricating materials to using conventional lubricant materials delivered through a lubricating device, maintaining lubrication performance while reducing material costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standard lubricant materials rather than expensive specialized self-lubricating materials, achieving the same lubrication function through a different, more economical approach
3Reliability
If guide members are engaged in the helical groove portions of the screw shaft with oil retaining members, then oil application is achieved, but the ball nut requires special design and machining, complicating manufacturing procedures and increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the guide members from the ball nut design and integrates the lubrication function directly into the ball nut through internal channels and nozzles, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining oil application capability
Solution Approach 2:
The ball nut is designed to perform both its primary function of guiding ball bearing elements and the secondary function of housing the lubricating device with oil distribution channels, eliminating the need for separate guide members
4Ease of manufacture
If lubricating grease or oil is applied without heating, then the lubrication system is simple, but the lubricating grease or oil cannot be suitably applied to the screw shaft and ball nut
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a heating element within the lubricating device to warm the lubricant, changing its physical properties to improve flow and distribution characteristics, thereby enhancing application effectiveness while maintaining system integration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures effective lubrication of the ball screw device, reducing wear and tear on components, maintaining efficient sliding movement, and simplifying manufacturing processes by integrating a heating mechanism that softens the lubricating grease, thereby enhancing the device's operational performance and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device for suitably heating the lubricating grease or oil and for allowing the lubricating grease or oil to be easily filled or applied to the required position of the movable nut member
Implementation Method 2
a lubricating device attached to a movable nut member for applying a lubricating grease or oil onto the movable nut member and for suitably lubricating the movable nut member
Data Source
AI summary
A ball screw device includes an elongated shaft having an outer groove, a ball nut having a screw hole for receiving the elongated shaft and having a passage communicating with the screw hole of the ball nut, and a lubricating device includes an inner cylindrical element engaged onto the elongated shaft and secured to the ball nut, a housing attached onto the cylindrical element and contacted with the ball nut, and the housing includes a chamber for receiving a lubricating grease, an oil distributing member is engaged into the passage of the ball nut and engaged into the screw hole of the ball nut for engaging with the elongated shaft, and an inner element is engaged in the housing and engaged with the distributing member for supplying the lubricating grease to the distributing member.