Roller Carriage with Swingable Mounting for Tolerance Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing linear guides with long rail elements require tight manufacturing tolerances to achieve smooth displacement, which increases production complexity and costs.

Innovation Solution

A roller carriage with a carrier, multiple rollers, and a pivoting lever with a brake shoe, allowing for transverse movement and tolerance compensation, enabling reduced manufacturing tolerances and integrated braking and locking mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If tight manufacturing tolerances are applied to long rail elements to achieve smooth displacement, then the guidance precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the roller carriage by introducing a swingable mounting for the first roller that allows transverse movement. This parameter change enables the roller to adapt to tolerance variations in the rail element tracks, achieving smooth guidance without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances on the rail element itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention makes the roller carriage dynamic by allowing the first roller to swing transversely relative to the carriage body. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the roller to automatically compensate for manufacturing tolerances and maintain smooth operation along long rail elements without requiring precise static tolerances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If tight manufacturing tolerances are applied to long rail elements to achieve smooth displacement, then the guidance precision is improved, but the production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance precisionVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the roller carriage by introducing a swingable mounting for the first roller that allows transverse movement. This parameter change enables the roller to adapt to tolerance variations in the rail element tracks, achieving smooth guidance without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances on the rail element itself, thereby reducing production costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the roller carriage structure is simplified to reduce assembly labor and costs, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to compensate for manufacturing tolerances may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly laborVSAvoidtolerance compensation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the tolerance compensation function with the basic roller support function by integrating the swingable mounting directly into the roller carriage structure. This consolidation achieves tolerance compensation without adding separate complex mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The swingable first roller serves multiple functions: it provides the primary guidance function like other rollers while simultaneously compensating for manufacturing tolerances through its ability to swing transversely. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 roller carriage compensates for manufacturing tolerances and provides a compact, cost-effective solution for long rail elements by allowing transverse movement and integrated braking, reducing assembly labor and costs while maintaining smooth operation.

Implementation Method 1

the lever being spring-loaded in a pivot direction by the first spring element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3999752B1Roller carriage
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 ACCURIDE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
  • EP3999752B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3999752B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3999752B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a roller carriage for displaceable linear guidance in a longitudinal direction on a rail element, wherein the roller carriage has a carrier, a first running roller or a first pair of running rollers a second running roller or a second pair of running rollers and a third running roller or a third pair of running rollers, wherein each out of the first running roller or the first pair of running rollers, the second running roller or the second pair of running rollers and the third running roller or the third pair of running rollers is mounted on the carrier such that it can be rotated in each case about an axis of rotation, wherein the axes of rotation are substantially parallel to one another and wherein the first running roller or the first pair of running rollers, the second running roller or the second pair of running rollers and the third running roller or the third pair of running rollers are arranged on the roller carriage such that the first running roller or the first pair of running rollers can be brought into engagement with a first running track of the rail element and the second running roller or the second pair of running rollers and the third running roller or the third pair of running rollers can be brought into engagement with a second running track of the rail element, wherein one out of the first running roller or the first pair of running rollers, the second running roller or the second pair of running rollers and the third running roller or the third pair of running rollers is mounted such that it can be moved in a transverse direction, perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, in relation to the carrier, and wherein the movably mounted running roller is prestressed resiliently in the transverse direction by a first spring element.