Gothic Style Ball Screw Circulating Member Return Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circulating members in ball screws with circular arc-shaped return paths create a non-continuous level difference with Gothic-type nut threads, leading to ball jamming and noise due to the mismatch in geometry.
Innovation Solution
A circulating member with a return path featuring Gothic-style connecting ports at both ends, matching the Gothic-type threads of the nut, eliminating the level difference and ensuring smooth ball circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a circular arc-shaped return path is used in the circulating member, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but a level difference is created at the conjunction with Gothic-type threads, causing balls to be struck and jammed
Solution Approach 1:
The return path is designed with different cross-sectional shapes at different locations: it has a Gothic-style cross section at the connecting ports where it interfaces with the Gothic-type threads, and a circular arc-shaped cross section in the middle portion. This local variation in geometry allows the return path to match the thread profile at critical interfaces while maintaining structural simplicity, thereby eliminating the level difference that causes ball jamming while keeping the overall structure easy to manufacture.
2Device complexity
If a constant cross-section circular arc-shaped return path is used, then the circulating member structure is simple, but it cannot flushly abut the inner threads, creating a level difference that causes ball impact
Solution Approach 1:
The return path employs local quality variation by having a Gothic-style cross section at the connecting ports to match the thread profile and eliminate level differences, while maintaining a circular arc-shaped cross section in the intermediate portions. This localized geometric adaptation at critical interfaces resolves the ball impact issue without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the return path does not match the thread profile, then manufacturing is easier, but a non-continuous level difference exists, causing balls to strike and jam
Solution Approach 1:
The return path is designed with a Gothic-style cross section specifically at the connecting ports where it interfaces with the Gothic-type threads, matching the thread profile locally to eliminate level differences. The intermediate portions maintain a simpler circular arc-shaped cross section. This localized matching ensures smooth ball circulation at critical interfaces while keeping the overall structure easy to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A circulating member for a ball screw is disposed on a nut, the nut is formed with Gothic type threads, and the circulating member of the ball screw is formed with return path for enabling the balls to circulate. The connecting ports at both ends of the return path for connecting the threads of the nut are shaped in Gothic style, thus eliminating the level difference and consequently preventing the balls from being struck and jammed.