Linear Motion Slide Block Assembly for Stable Ball Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturization of linear motion devices increases assembling difficulty due to poor precision in aligning components, leading to misalignment and improper formation of stepped structures, which affects the smooth operation and yield rate of the device.
Innovation Solution
A linear motion device design featuring a guiding member with rail grooves, slide block assembly, ball race members, circulation members, and end covers with specific protrusions and recesses that facilitate precise positioning and alignment, allowing for easy assembly and reduced precision requirements, thereby preventing stepped structures and ensuring stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the linear motion device is miniaturized, then the device size is reduced, but the assembling difficulty greatly increases due to poor precision in aligning components
Solution Approach 1:
The end cover is pre-formed with a recess that has a positioning plane, which will later cooperate with the stopping plane of the circulation member to establish precise longitudinal positioning. This preliminary preparation of positioning features eliminates the need for complex alignment operations during assembly, directly resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and assembling difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning plane and stopping plane act as intermediary positioning features between the end cover and circulation member. These intermediary surfaces mediate the alignment relationship, enabling precise positioning without requiring direct alignment between multiple components, thus reducing assembling difficulty in miniaturized devices
2Ease of manufacture
If the components are assembled with standard tolerances, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the components cannot be aligned properly to form stepped structures
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning plane is pre-formed on the end cover recess at a specific position, and the stopping plane is pre-formed on the circulation member. These preliminary positioning features ensure that when components are assembled with standard tolerances, the planes automatically establish the correct relative positions, forming proper stepped structures without requiring high-precision machining or complex alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positioning parameter from requiring precise dimensional control of multiple components to relying on the contact between two planes (positioning plane and stopping plane). This parameter change allows standard tolerances to be used while still achieving proper alignment and stepped structure formation
3Device complexity
If the end cover is assembled without positioning features, then the device complexity is reduced, but the end cover cannot be positioned properly on the circulation member
Solution Approach 1:
The recess with the positioning plane is pre-formed as an integral feature of the end cover, and the stopping plane is pre-formed on the circulation member. This preliminary incorporation of positioning features into the component geometry provides precise positioning without adding separate positioning devices or increasing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is merged into the end cover itself through the recess with the positioning plane, rather than being a separate component. This merging provides precise positioning while maintaining simple device structure, as the positioning feature is integrated into the existing end cover geometry
Data Source
AI summary
A linear motion device includes a guiding member extending along a first direction and a slide block assembly slidably disposed on the guiding member. The slide block assembly includes a slide block, two ball race members at two sides of the slide block, two circulation members at two sides of the slide block along the first direction, and two end covers assembled on the circulation members. One or more of the circulation members has two revolve channel members. The revolve channel member has an upper protrusion member and a lower protrusion member protruding out of the upper protrusion member. Since the protruding portion of the lower protrusion member can be served as the bottom surface of the revolve curve, stepped structures caused by assembling or component tolerances are not formed between the bottom surface and nearby portions, and the balls can roll stably in the linear motion device.