Roller Linear Guide Oil Storage Structure for Full-Length Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller-type linear guides face challenges in lubricating the rolling elements effectively due to insufficient lubrication from oil storage members, which results in increased frictional resistance, vibration, and reduced rigidity, particularly in miniaturized designs where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an oil storage member within a concave portion of the slider's non-load passage, extending along the whole length, and optionally on the inner surface of the turning passage, ensures comprehensive lubrication of rollers without occupying additional volume, maintaining slider rigidity and enhancing lubrication effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the oil storage member is arranged in the turning passage, then the rolling elements can be lubricated, but the lubricating oil is insufficient because the turning passage occupies a very short length
Solution Approach 1:
The oil storage member is extended along the axial direction of the linear guide, transforming from a point-like or short-segment lubrication source into a longitudinally extended lubrication zone. This dimensional extension allows the oil storage member to contact rolling elements throughout a significant portion of their travel path, dramatically increasing the quantity of lubricating oil available and the duration of effective lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
By positioning the oil storage member to extend along the axial direction and contact rolling elements continuously as they pass through the non-load passage, the lubrication action becomes continuous rather than intermittent. This ensures that rolling elements receive lubricating oil throughout their entire journey through the non-load passage, maintaining consistent lubrication effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the oil storage member is arranged above the rail at the underside of the slider, then the rolling elements can be lubricated along the whole length of the load passage, but it requires space between the rail and the slider which is not beneficial for miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The oil storage member is nested within the slider body structure, specifically arranged in the non-load passage which is an existing internal passage of the slider. This nesting approach allows the lubrication function to be integrated into the existing slider geometry without requiring additional external space between the rail and slider, thus enabling miniaturization while maintaining lubrication coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-load passage, which originally served only as a structural passage, is repurposed to also serve as the location for the oil storage member. This multi-functional use of the non-load passage allows it to simultaneously maintain structural integrity and provide lubrication storage, eliminating the need for separate dedicated lubrication space and enabling compact design.
3Reliability
If the oil storage block is arranged in the slider rigid body, then the rolling elements can be lubricated, but the rigidity of the slider rigid body is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The oil storage function is extracted from the slider rigid body material itself and relocated to a dedicated oil storage member positioned within the non-load passage. This extraction allows the slider rigid body to maintain its full structural integrity and rigidity, while the lubrication function is provided by the separate oil storage member that does not compromise the rigid body's mechanical properties.
4Device complexity
If only the end surfaces of the rollers are lubricated, then the lubrication process is simple, but the track surfaces of the rollers are not lubricated effectively resulting in poor lubrication effect
Solution Approach 1:
The oil storage member is designed with a surface that locally contacts both the end surfaces and the track surfaces of the rollers as they pass through the non-load passage. This localized multi-point contact arrangement ensures that different surfaces of the rollers receive lubrication at different positions along the oil storage member, providing comprehensive lubrication coverage without requiring a complex multi-component lubrication system.
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 stable circular rolling of rollers, improves lubrication efficiency, and supports miniaturization by ensuring the oil storage member does not compromise the slider's rigidity or increase its volume, while providing a larger contact area for lubrication, thus enhancing the overall performance of the linear guide.
Implementation Method 1
the rolling elements need to be lubricated to reduce the frictional resistance between the rolling elements and the inner surface of the circulation passage
Data Source
AI summary
A roller-type linear guide with an oil storage function and an oil storage accessory thereof are disclosed. The roller-type linear guide includes a rail, a slider unit, a plurality of rollers, and an oil storage member. The slider unit is mounted on the rail to form a circulation passage. The rollers are disposed in the circulation passage to drive the slider unit to reciprocate on the rail. The rollers each have a rolling surface. A non-load passage of the circulation passage has two first inner surfaces facing the rolling surface. The oil storage member is disposed in a concave portion of the first inner surfaces, thereby lubricating the rollers running in the non-load passage. The oil storage accessory is disposed in a through hole of the slider rigid body to form the non-load passage.