Linear Guide Lubricant Supply with Dynamic Pressing Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional linear guides face challenges in maintaining a sufficient lubricating state over a long period due to dimensional changes in lubricant supply members as the lubricant content decreases, leading to reduced pressing forces and altered contact states between lubricant supply members and guide rail components.
Innovation Solution
A linear guide design featuring a lubricant supply member with a first recessed part above the guide rail and pair of second recessed parts on the side surfaces, along with upper and side surface pressing units, allows for vertical and widthwise movement to maintain pressing force and ensure consistent lubricant supply despite dimensional changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lubricant supply member containing a lubricant is used to supply lubricant to the guide rail, then the linear guide can operate smoothly, but over time the lubricant content decreases causing dimensional changes that reduce pressing force and alter contact state
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant supply member is designed with movable recessed parts that can dynamically adjust their position. The upper pressing unit allows the first recessed part to move vertically, while side surface pressing units allow the second recessed parts to move in the width direction. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain optimal contact state with the guide rail even as the lubricant supply member undergoes dimensional changes over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes dimensional changes in the lubricant supply member caused by lubricant depletion not as a detrimental effect but as a mechanism to trigger positional adjustment. As the lubricant content decreases and the member shrinks, the pressing units enable the recessed parts to move to new positions that maintain pressing force, effectively converting a harmful parameter change into a useful adjustment mechanism.
2Quantity of substance
If the lubricant content in the lubricant supply member is extremely high, then adequate lubrication is provided initially, but dimensional change due to lubricant reduction becomes large causing loss of pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates dynamic pressing units that compensate for dimensional instability. The upper pressing unit with vertical movement capability and side surface pressing units with width direction movement capability ensure that even when the lubricant supply member undergoes significant dimensional changes due to high initial lubricant content depletion, the pressing force on the guide rail is maintained through automatic positional adjustment.
3Reliability
If the lubricant supply member is pressed against the guide rail to maintain contact, then lubrication is effective, but dimensional changes cause reduced pressing force and altered contact state over time
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing units are designed to enable dynamic movement of the recessed parts. The upper pressing unit allows vertical movement of the first recessed part, while side surface pressing units allow width direction movement of the second recessed parts. This dynamic capability ensures that pressing force is maintained despite dimensional changes by allowing the recessed parts to automatically adjust their position to maintain optimal contact with the guide rail.
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 design stabilizes lubricant supply over a long period by securing pressing force and maintaining contact between lubricant supply members and guide rail components, even as the lubricant content decreases, ensuring smooth operation.
Implementation Method 1
a linear guide in which a lubricant can be supplied to contact portions of a guide rail, a slider, and a rolling body over a long period of time
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant supply member of a linear guide includes a first recessed part formed above a guide rail, a pair of second recessed parts formed at both left and right side-surface positions of the guide rail, and protrusions slidable on rail side raceway surfaces of the guide rail. A lubricating unit includes a first cylindrical part, arranged in the first recessed part, to allow the first recessed part to move in a vertical direction of the slider, and to press the first recessed part to a widthwise outside of the slider, and a pair of second cylindrical parts, arranged in the pair of second recessed parts, to allow the pair of second recessed parts to move in a width direction of the slider, and to press the pair of second recessed parts in the vertical direction of the slider, respectively.