Ball Screw Tunnel Raceway Nut Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball screw devices face issues with machining errors in the engaging structures, leading to increased component parts, manufacturing time, and costs due to the need for specialized tools and potential enlargement of the device to prevent ball exit from the tunnel raceway.
Innovation Solution
A ball screw device design featuring a two-point support on one side and one-point support on the other side of the helical groove, with a cut-out groove and through-hole to prevent ball exit, allowing for a smaller, lighter, and more durable device with reduced component count and improved manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional ball screw device uses a deflector and window portion structure to prevent ball exit, then ball containment is achieved, but machining errors occur in engaging structures, increasing component parts and manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the deflector and window portion into a single integrated nut structure. The nut includes a through-hole formed directly in its body with guidepaths at both ends, eliminating the need for separate deflectors and window portions. This integration reduces the number of component parts while maintaining the ball containment function, as the through-hole and guidepaths work together to guide balls from one end of the helical groove to the other without requiring additional discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides the helical groove for ball circulation, contains the through-hole for ball passage, and includes guidepaths at both ends to direct balls. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate specialized components like deflectors and window portions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional ball screw device uses discrete deflector and window portion components, then ball circulation is enabled, but the number of component parts increases and manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the functions of multiple discrete components (deflector, window portion, nut) into a single integrated nut structure with a through-hole and guidepaths. This reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing time and increasing productivity while maintaining the ball circulation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The through-hole and guidepaths are formed directly in the nut during the nut manufacturing process itself, rather than requiring separate manufacturing and assembly steps for deflectors and window portions. This preliminary integration of features into the base component reduces overall manufacturing time and complexity.
3Reliability
If a conventional ball screw device uses specialized thin tools to insert into the raceway, then ball containment is achieved, but the tools are not durable, time consuming to use, and costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates the ball containment function directly into the nut structure through the through-hole and guidepaths, eliminating the need for separate specialized thin tools. The guidepaths are formed as integral parts of the nut, providing durable and reusable ball guidance without requiring fragile external tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut structure itself provides the ball containment and guidance function through its integrated through-hole and guidepaths, rather than requiring external specialized tools. The structure serves its own containment purpose, making the process more durable and less dependent on fragile specialized tools.
4Ease of manufacture
If the tunnel raceway is enlarged to accommodate standard tools, then tool durability improves, but the entire ball screw device may need to be enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates the containment function into the nut's through-hole and guidepaths, eliminating the need for enlarged tunnel raceways or specialized thin tools. The guidepaths are formed with appropriate dimensions during nut manufacturing, providing durable ball guidance without requiring device enlargement.
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 design results in a small-sized, lightweight, and cost-effective ball screw device with improved load-bearing and rotation properties, reduced noise, and enhanced manufacturing simplicity, while maintaining efficient environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
a screw axis 1 having a helical groove 100 on its outer circumference, and a nut 2 having a helical groove 200 on its inner circumference, and balls 5 circulating in an orbit 3 along the helical groove 100 of the screw axis 1 and the opposing helical groove 200 of the nut 2
Data Source
AI summary
A ball screw device of a screw axis with a helical groove on its outer circumference for balls to circulate thereon includes a nut with a helical groove on its inner circumference for balls to circulate thereon, a number of balls to circulate in an orbit along the helical groove of the screw axis and the helical groove of the nut, and a tunnel raceway for the balls to circulate unlimitedly. The device has a through-hole formed within the wall of the nut for the balls to circulate from one end of the helical groove to the other end, the through-hole having a guidepath on either end of the helical groove to feed the balls into the tunnel raceway. Means are provided between the helical groove on one end face of the nut and the helical groove on the screw axis to prevent the balls from exiting either helical groove.