Linear Drive Spindle Support for Low-Noise, Low-Wear Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing linear drives experience unwanted running noises and increased wear due to tolerance-related radial play in the sliding bearing area, which is exacerbated by thermal expansion, leading to potential jamming and vibration.

Innovation Solution

The support apparatus incorporates a rolling bearing and a segmented sliding sleeve with resilient joints, allowing the threaded spindle to rotate relative to the sliding sleeve, ensuring radial support without play, and reducing friction-related wear through independent pivoting of sliding sleeve segments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sliding sleeve is used to support the threaded spindle, then radial support is provided, but tolerance-related radial play causes running noises and increased wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradial support stabilityVSAvoidrunning noises and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding sleeve is divided into multiple sliding sleeve segments that can pivot independently relative to one another and relative to the rolling bearing. This segmentation allows each segment to adapt to radial play caused by tolerances, maintaining constant contact with the output rod while reducing running noises and wear through independent movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-generated harmful factors

If radial play is reduced to eliminate running noises, then noise is reduced, but thermal expansion can cause increased friction or jamming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverunning noisesVSAvoidoperational reliability under thermal conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding sleeve segments are designed to pivot independently in a radial direction through swivel areas, creating a dynamic support system. This dynamic capability allows the segments to adapt to both radial play (reducing noise) and thermal expansion (preventing jamming) by adjusting their position relative to the output rod during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a rolling bearing is added to allow rotation, then rotational movement is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational movement capabilityVSAvoidsupport apparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rolling bearing is integrated into the support apparatus alongside the segmented sliding sleeve, combining rotational capability with radial support in a unified structure. The sliding sleeve segments pivot on the rolling bearing, merging the functions of rotation and radial positioning into a single coordinated system rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If selective dimensions of sliding sleeves are provided to achieve lowest radial play, then radial play is minimized, but assembly effort and storage costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradial play minimizationVSAvoidassembly effort and storage costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing multiple sliding sleeves with selectively different dimensions, the invention uses a single design of sliding sleeve segments with pivotable joints. The parameter that changes is the angular position of the segments relative to each other, allowing adaptation to different radial play conditions without requiring multiple component variants, thus simplifying manufacturing and assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration provides a smooth linear output movement with reduced noise and wear, maintaining constant contact with the output rod despite manufacturing tolerances and temperature fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

the support apparatus has a rolling bearing positioned on the threaded spindle and supporting the sliding sleeve, which rolling bearing allows the threaded spindle to rotate relative to the sliding sleeve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 2

connected to one another via resilient joints, so that they can be pivoted independently of one another in a radial direction relative to one another and relative to the rolling bearing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

the temperatures occurring during operation lead to thermal expansion, which can result in increased friction or even jamming of the components moving relative to each other if the radial play is too low

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS12404919B2Linear drive

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 FESTO AG & CO KG

AI summary

A linear drive includes an output member which is linearly movable with respect to a drive housing, and which has a spindle nut and a hollow output rod connected thereto. The output member is linearly displaceable by means of a rotationally drivable threaded spindle, which is inserted through the spindle nut into the output rod. To support the threaded spindle, a support apparatus is provided at its anterior end section, which has a rolling bearing and a sliding sleeve seated thereon. The sliding sleeve is divided into sliding sleeve segments, which are connected to one another by resilient joints and are each prestressed with a support area section against the inner peripheral surface of the output rod.