Plastic Lubricant Supply Apparatus for Linear Guide Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lubricant supply apparatuses for linear guide systems face issues such as insufficient lubricant supply to guide rail surfaces, complex assembly processes, and heavy, non-compact designs due to steel components, leading to potential deformation and foreign substance introduction.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant supply apparatus with a plastic casing impregnated with lubricant, featuring multiple lubricant application units that contact both bearing rolling grooves and guide rail surfaces, and integral bushings with anti-deformation protrusions for secure mounting, ensuring reliable lubricant distribution and preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel plates are used for base plate and flow rate control unit, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases and compact structure cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from steel to plastic, transforming the physical properties of the base plate and flow rate control unit. This material substitution reduces weight while maintaining structural integrity through optimized plastic material selection and design, enabling a compact structure without sacrificing necessary strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by integrating multiple plastic components (base plate, flow rate control unit, casing) into a unified plastic-based lubricant supply apparatus. This composite approach allows for weight reduction compared to traditional steel constructions while maintaining the required mechanical properties through material composition and structural design.
2Stability of the object's composition
If complex integration process is used for steel base plate with casing, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple previously separate steel components (base plate, flow rate control unit, casing) into an integrated plastic structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for complex integration processes between dissimilar materials, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining structural integrity through unified material properties and design.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the material parameter from steel to plastic, the patent fundamentally alters the manufacturing approach. Plastic materials offer easier forming, joining, and integration capabilities compared to steel, reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving structural integrity through appropriate plastic material selection and design optimization.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple bosses with hollow pipe shape are provided on elastic casing, then deformation prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the deformation prevention function from the complex hollow pipe bosses and reimplements it through simpler integral ribs directly formed on the plastic casing. This extraction simplifies the structure by removing unnecessary hollow pipe complexity while maintaining the essential deformation resistance through optimized rib design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameter of deformation resistance elements from hollow pipe bosses to solid integral ribs. This parameter change simplifies the device complexity by eliminating hollow cavity formation and assembly steps, while maintaining adequate deformation resistance through appropriate rib geometry and material properties.
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 solution provides a constant lubricant supply to both bearings and guide rail surfaces, extending maintenance periods and enabling precise linear movement while minimizing leakage and foreign substance introduction, with a compact and deformation-resistant design.
Implementation Method 1
a plastic casing impregnated with lubricant, featuring multiple lubricant application units that contact both bearing rolling grooves and guide rail surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a lubricant supply apparatus (140), which supplies lubricant to a surface of a guide rail (1) in a linear guide system, such as an LM guide, in which a slider (2) is movably assembled with the guide rail using bearings, such as balls or rollers, interposed between the slider and the guide rail, and slides along the guide rail. The lubricant supply apparatus (140) has a first lubricant application unit, which is in contact with a plurality of bearing rolling grooves formed along the opposite side surfaces of the guide rail; a second lubricant application unit, which is in contact with both the upper surface and the opposite side surfaces of the guide rail; a partition plate, which isolates the first lubricant application unit from the second lubricant application unit; and a casing, which is mounted to each of the front and rear ends of the slider and receives the first lubricant application unit, the partition plate and the second lubricant application unit therein.