Linear Motion Guide Unit with Lubricant-Infused Cellular Return Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional linear motion guide units with cylindrical rollers face challenges in maintaining lubrication for long-lasting service life and preventing alignment issues, leading to maintenance-free operation difficulties, especially for slender rollers.
Innovation Solution
A linear motion guide unit with a tubular composition comprising a tubular skeleton and cellular members impregnated with lubricant, featuring a return passage and turnaround passages with spacer pieces that provide enhanced mechanical strength and lubricant reservoirs to ensure continuous lubrication, preventing roller leaning and ensuring smooth recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional linear motion guide units use periodic lubricant replenishment, then adequate lubricant film is maintained between rolling elements and raceway, but maintenance-free operation cannot be achieved and lubricant consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The return passage is pre-filled with lubricant before the guide unit begins operation. The lubricant is stored in advance within the return passage structure, allowing the rolling elements to be continuously lubricated as they pass through the return passage without requiring external replenishment during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit lubricates itself through its own structure. The return passage acts as both a structural component and a lubricant reservoir, automatically supplying lubricant to rolling elements as they recirculate through the system without external intervention or additional lubricant supply mechanisms.
2Volume of moving object
If slender cylindrical rollers are used in linear motion guide units, then compact design is achieved, but alignment stability deteriorates and rollers tend to lean
Solution Approach 1:
The return passage is constructed from sintered resinous material with cellular or porous structure. This porous material provides both mechanical support and lubricant retention capabilities, creating a stable environment that prevents slender rollers from leaning while maintaining compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The return passage combines sintered resinous material with lubricant impregnation to create a composite structure. This composite provides both structural stability to support slender rollers and lubrication properties to prevent leaning, achieving both compact size and alignment stability.
3Quantity of substance
If sintered resinous member with cellular structure is used for return passage, then lubricant retention is improved, but mechanical strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The return passage is constructed as a composite structure combining sintered resinous material with lubricant impregnation. The sintered resin provides the cellular structure for lubricant retention, while the impregnated lubricant and structural design provide the necessary mechanical strength to support rolling elements.
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 solution provides a maintenance-free operation with efficient lubrication in harsh environments and high-speed applications, reducing sliding resistance and eliminating the need for periodic lubricant replenishment, while maintaining the stability and alignment of slender rollers.
Implementation Method 1
a cellular molded member, the cellular molded member being impregnated in advance with lubricant to fill cells or pores with the lubricant
Data Source
AI summary
A linear motion guide unit suitable for slender rollers, in which a tubular composition to define a return passage as well as a spacer piece to make a turnaround improve in property of retaining lubricant therein, thereby helping accomplish long-lasting service operation for lubrication. The tubular composition is composed of a tubular skeleton and a cellular member that fits into a window cut in the tubular skeleton. An end cap is comprised of an end cap major body, and two classes of spacer pieces nested in the end cap major body to define the turnaround passages. The spacer pieces of two classes are each made around outside surfaces thereof with some circular holes, which have functions of lubricant reservoirs, prevention of distortion or deformation caused in the molded spacer pieces, and ejector pinholes used to extract the molded spacer pieces out of the mold.