Pivoting Guide Block Assembly for Heavy-Load Rail Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support and guide devices for mobile carriages or robots experience significant wear due to uneven load distribution and rail defects, leading to premature wear of guide blocks and rails, particularly under heavy loads and non-level assembly conditions.
Innovation Solution
A support and guide device with compensation means allowing for pivoting and elastic elements to distribute load homogeneously, absorb force peaks, and maintain alignment, featuring a fixing structure with a guide shoe and integral guide pad, and optional motorization for mobility, which includes a central support piece with lateral mobility and adjustable interface parts for easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If heavy loads are borne by support and guide blocks in cantilever arrangement, then the robot can be mobile along guide rails, but localized wear occurs on guide pads and balls
Solution Approach 1:
The guide block is divided into separate components: a body, a guide pad, and a mounting plate. This segmentation allows the guide pad to be replaced independently when worn, without replacing the entire block, thus addressing the wear issue while maintaining load bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate is made movable relative to the guide block body through pivoting means, allowing it to adjust its position and orientation. This dynamic adjustment compensates for variations in rail height and angular inclination, distributing loads more evenly and reducing localized wear on the guide pad and balls.
2Stability of the object's composition
If guide pads are fixed rigidly to mounting structure, then structural stability is maintained, but wear cannot be compensated and replacement is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pad is separated from the mounting structure as an independent replaceable component. It is attached to the mounting plate which can pivot on the guide block body, allowing the pad to be easily removed and replaced when worn without affecting the overall structural stability of the guide block assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting mounting plate provides dynamic adjustment capability that maintains structural stability during operation while enabling easy replacement of the guide pad. The pivot mechanism allows the plate to adapt to rail variations while keeping the pad attachment simple and reversible.
3Ease of operation
If guide blocks are used on rails with height variations and angular inclination, then mobility is achieved, but uneven load distribution causes premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate is designed to pivot on the guide block body, providing dynamic adjustment capability. This allows the plate to automatically compensate for height variations and angular inclinations of the rails, distributing loads more evenly across the guide pad and balls during mobile operation, thereby reducing premature wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting mechanism changes the angular parameter of the mounting plate relative to the guide block body, allowing adaptation to varying rail conditions. This parameter adjustment enables the system to maintain optimal load distribution and wear resistance while preserving mobility along the 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 solution significantly reduces localized wear on guide blocks and rails, extends their lifespan, and ensures smooth operation by compensating for angular and height variations, maintaining rail integrity and preventing excessive wear, while allowing for easy maintenance without disassembly of the load.
Implementation Method 1
The support block includes at least one elastic element, such as a spring washer or an elastomer washer
Implementation Method 2
compensation means that allow at least one degree of freedom in the pivoting of the mounting structure
Implementation Method 3
the guide pad may be guided by a linear ball bearing
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
A support and guidance device (1) comprising at least one support and guidance block (1A; 1B) which includes a fastening structure (2), and at least one guide pad (3) which is integral with the fastening structure (2), characterized in that the support and guidance block (1A; 1B) includes compensation means (4) allowing at least one degree of freedom in pivoting of the fastening structure (2). These compensation means compensate for inclination or vertical play generated when the device carries a heavy load and is mobile. Furthermore, translational guidance means in the block may be provided in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel to prevent wear due to rail parallelism defects.