Rolling Guide Ball Circulation Layout for Stable Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional linear motion guide apparatuses face issues with spacer instability, leading to assembly challenges and operational malfunctions due to frictional forces and congestion in circulation paths, which complicates the arrangement of rolling body units and spacers.
Innovation Solution
A rolling guide apparatus with a configuration that includes a first member, a second member, and rolling body units positioned between them, featuring a rolling path and a circulation path with elastic balls that absorb force and maintain stability, preventing congestion and frictional force fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spacers are used to prevent rolling body unit congestion in the circulation path, then the congestion and frictional force issues are resolved, but the spacers fall down when gaps occur between the rolling path and circulation path or between rolling body units and spacers, causing the linear motion guide apparatus to lock in operation
Solution Approach 1:
A retention member is introduced as an intermediary component between the rolling body unit and the circulation path. This retention member extends from the rolling body unit into the circulation path to prevent the rolling body unit from falling down, while not interfering with the circulation of rolling bodies. This resolves the contradiction by providing operational stability without requiring complex spacer arrangements.
2Reliability
If spacers are alternately arranged with rolling body units to prevent spacers from falling down, then operational stability is improved, but the arranging operation becomes intricate, resulting in inferior assembling property
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is extracted from the spacer and transferred to a dedicated retention member. This allows the spacer to focus solely on preventing congestion, while the retention member handles the prevention of falling down. This separation of functions simplifies the overall arrangement and improves assembling property while maintaining operational stability.
3Quantity of substance
If the moving quantity of entrance-side rolling body units exceeds the moving quantity of exit-side rolling body units, then the rolling body units get into an over-congested state in the circulation path, but this causes frictional force to abruptly augment, leading to malfunction and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The retention member provides beforehand cushioning by preventing rolling body units from over-congesting in the circulation path. By maintaining proper spacing and preventing falling down, the retention member ensures smooth circulation and prevents abrupt increases in frictional force, thereby maintaining reliability.
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 apparatus is easier to assemble and operates stably, preventing malfunctions by ensuring that elastic balls are always positioned in the circulation path to absorb forces and reduce frictional forces, thus enhancing the assembly process and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of first rolling bodies and a plurality of second rolling bodies each composed of an elastic material, at least one second rolling body being always positioned in the circulation path
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling guide apparatus having a first member 1, a second member 2, and a rolling body unit 5, the apparatus including a guide path G of the rolling body unit 5 including a rolling path R configured to have a rolling groove 1a and a rolling groove 3a, and a circulation path C allowing communication between a start point and an end point of the rolling path R, the rolling body unit 5 being configured to have a plurality of first rolling bodies 5a and a plurality of second rolling bodies 5b each composed of an elastic material, at least one second rolling body 5b being always positioned in the circulation path C. The rolling guide apparatus is easy to be assembled and is capable of performing stable operations.