Endless Seal Unit for Linear Guide Lubricant Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear guide apparatuses face issues with lubricant leakage due to gaps between seals, despite existing sealing technologies, which are not sufficiently effective in preventing lubricant loss while maintaining dust resistance.
Innovation Solution
A linear guide apparatus featuring a retainer with an endless seal unit and side seals, where the seal unit includes inward and outward facing lips that extend continuously and slidably contact the guide rail, and side seals with laminated inward and outward facing lips to seal gaps between the guide rail and slider, preventing lubricant leakage and foreign substance entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an endless seal unit with an inward facing lip is used to seal the opening portion, then lubricant leakage is prevented, but the seal structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function with the retainer structure by integrating the endless seal unit directly into the retainer that holds the rolling elements. This combination eliminates the need for separate sealing components while maintaining effective lubricant retention through the inward facing lip configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal unit applies local sealing quality at the opening portion where rolling elements are accommodated. The inward facing lip is specifically positioned and oriented to create a localized barrier that prevents lubricant leakage while allowing the rest of the retainer structure to maintain its primary function of holding rolling elements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple seals are used to seal all openings, then foreign substance entry is prevented, but gaps between seals cause lubricant leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated endless seal unit. This continuous seal structure eliminates the gaps that exist between multiple separate seals, preventing lubricant leakage while maintaining the barrier against foreign substance entry through the continuous sealing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple separate seals that create gaps at their junctions, the patent inverts the approach by using a single continuous endless seal unit. This reversal of the sealing strategy eliminates the seam-related leakage problem while maintaining comprehensive sealing coverage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a lip inclines away from peripheral parts of rolling elements, then foreign substance entry is prevented, but lubricant leakage cannot be sufficiently prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different sealing qualities at different locations of the seal unit. The inward facing lip is specifically oriented to face the opening portion and prevent lubricant leakage, while the overall seal unit structure maintains the barrier function against foreign substance entry. This localized functional differentiation resolves the contradiction between the two sealing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the lip from inclining away from rolling elements to inclining toward the opening portion. This parameter change in lip orientation transforms the sealing function from primarily blocking foreign substances to effectively retaining lubricant, while the endless seal unit structure maintains comprehensive sealing.
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 continuous seal configuration effectively prevents lubricant leakage and enhances sealing performance, ensuring the lubricant remains within the apparatus, maintaining effective lubrication and prolonging the apparatus' life while maintaining dust resistance.
Implementation Method 1
an inward facing lip inclining toward an inner side of the opening portion and extending toward the guide rail to be in sliding contact with the guide rail
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of rolling elements disposed rotatably in a rolling element rolling passage formed between the rolling element raceway surface of the guide rail and the rolling element raceway surface of the slider
Data Source
AI summary
A linear guide apparatus is provided in which an excellent sealing performance is achieved. The linear guide apparatus includes a retainer for retaining plural cylindrical rollers rotatably in a rolling element rolling passage. The retainer includes an opening portion and accommodates for retention of the plural cylindrical rollers in the opening portion. The retainer also includes an endless seal unit surrounding the opening portion. The seal unit includes an inward facing lip inclining toward the inner side of the opening portion and extending toward the guide rail to be in sliding contact with the guide rail. The inward facing lip is formed continuously all around the seal unit. The seal unit includes an outward facing lip inclining toward the outer side of the opening portion and extending toward the guide rail to be in sliding contact with the guide rail, in addition to the inward facing lip.