Linear Guide Segmented Rail Fixation for Thermal Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing linear guides face challenges in achieving a large movement path for the carriage while maintaining low play and accommodating thermal expansion differences between the profiled body and guide rails.

Innovation Solution

The linear guide features a profiled body with guide rails arranged in a row along the axis of movement, where the guide rails are connected to the profiled body in a material-locking manner adjacent to the abutment region, allowing for free movement along the axis of movement while ensuring reliable fixation and expansion compensation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If guide rails are material-locked to the profiled body along the entire length, then fixation reliability is improved, but thermal expansion compensation is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidthermal expansion compensation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail connection is segmented into two distinct zones: a material-locked connection zone at the abutment region for reliable fixation, and a free zone along the majority of the rail length for thermal expansion compensation. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different connection qualities are applied to different portions of the guide rail. The abutment region features strong material-locked connection for stability, while the remaining length allows free movement. This local differentiation of connection quality resolves the contradiction between fixation reliability and thermal expansion compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Length of moving object

If guide rails are arranged in series to achieve large movement path, then movement path length is improved, but play between components is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement path lengthVSAvoidplay between components

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rails are pre-aligned and connected in series during assembly, with the material-locked connection at the abutment region ensuring precise positioning before operation. This preliminary precise connection prevents play from developing during use, even across multiple rails arranged in series.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If guide rails are made in limited lengths for manufacturing reasons, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide rail manufacturingVSAvoidmultiple guide rails in series

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The overall guideway system is segmented into multiple standard-length guide rails connected in series. Each rail can be manufactured using standard processes, and the modular design allows flexible assembly to achieve any required total length, balancing manufacturing ease with system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design enables a large movement path for the carriage with minimal play, effectively compensates for thermal expansion differences, and ensures reliable fixation of the guide rails to the profiled body.

Implementation Method 1

The carriage (3) is mounted on the profiled body (2) for linear movement and has a rolling bearing unit (74) which bears against a guideway (5) with at least one rolling element (76)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 2

They must have a certain degree of freedom of movement in the direction of the axis of movement. This degree of freedom of movement is necessary in order to enable compensation between the typically different expansions of the profiled body and the guide rails in the event of temperature changes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS20250052276A1Linear guide

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 FESTO AG & CO KG

AI summary

Linear guide having a profiled body extending along an axis of movement and a carriage which is mounted on the profiled body such that it can move linearly along the axis of movement and which has a rolling bearing unit, which bears with at least one rolling element against a guideway. The guideway has two guide rails which are arranged in a row along the axis of movement and which are each positively received on the profiled body in spatial directions aligned transversely to the axis of movement, in which mutually opposite end faces of the two guide rails delimit a joint region and in each case adjacent to the joint region between the respective guide rail and the profiled body a material connection region is formed, which extends at most over 10 percent of a total length of the respective guide rail along the axis of movement.