Ball Spline Deflecting Device Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball return devices for ball spline devices lack precise anchoring and guiding mechanisms, leading to inefficient movement of ball bearing members through the endless ball guiding passages, especially with 90-degree returning angles or sharp curvatures.
Innovation Solution
A deflecting device with an anchoring structure is integrated into the ball spline device, featuring an elongated shaft with longitudinal channels, a nut member with compartments and recesses, and deflecting devices with curved guiding pathways that securely anchor and guide ball bearing members through the system, ensuring smooth movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ball return pipes are used with tube support flanges, then the ball return device can be mounted onto the nut, but the ball return pipes cannot be closely or precisely secured to the nut and the tubular tongues cannot be precisely directed toward the endless ball guiding passage
Solution Approach 1:
The ball return device is divided into separate functional components: the nut member with integrated guiding pathways, the deflecting device with curved guiding pathways, and the ball bearing members. This segmentation allows each component to be precisely manufactured and positioned independently, solving the positioning precision problem while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflecting device is nested within the nut member structure, with the curved guiding pathways of the deflecting device connecting to the longitudinal recesses of the nut member. This nested arrangement ensures precise directional alignment of the tubular tongues toward the endless ball guiding passage while consolidating multiple functions into a compact integrated structure.
2Ease of operation
If 90-degree returning angles or sharp returning angles are formed in the ball return pipe, then the ball return device can guide balls through the passage, but the ball bearing members cannot be smoothly moved through the passage
Solution Approach 1:
The deflecting device incorporates curved guiding pathways with smooth transitions instead of sharp 90-degree angles. The curved pathways have controlled radii that ensure smooth directional changes for the ball bearing members, eliminating abrupt transitions and enabling smooth movement through the passage while maintaining the necessary geometric configuration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the ball return pipes are highly supported above the nut, then the structure is stable, but the ball return pipes cannot be closely secured to the nut
Solution Approach 1:
The deflecting device is merged with the nut member to form an integrated assembly. The curved guiding pathways of the deflecting device are positioned to connect seamlessly with the longitudinal recesses of the nut member, ensuring close and precise alignment. This integration maintains structural stability while achieving the required manufacturing precision for proper ball guiding.
Data Source
AI summary
A ball spline device includes a shaft engaged into a nut member and having a number of longitudinal channels and recesses aligned with each other for engaging with ball bearing members, the nut member includes a number of grooves, and two deflecting devices are engaged onto the shaft and the nut member and each include a number of curved guiding pathways each having an inlet portion communicating with the recess of the nut member for guiding the ball bearing members into and out of the curved guiding pathways of the deflecting devices, and an outlet portion communicating with the groove of the nut member for guiding the ball bearing members into and out of the grooves of the nut member.