Linear guide assembly

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a linear guide assembly, and more particularly to a linear guide assembly having a point-contact configuration.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIG. 14 , a conventional linear guide assembly 80 has a bar device 81 , multiple partitions 82 and multiple rolling balls 83 . The bar device 81 has two bars 811 . The partitions 82 and the rolling balls 83 are mounted between the bars 811 at intervals. Each partition 82 has multiple concave surfaces 821 . Each rolling ball 83 is in surface-contact with the corresponding concave surfaces 821 . The rolling balls 83 are held by the concave surfaces 821 and are still rotatable.

However, each rolling ball 83 is in surface-contact with the concave surfaces 821 . A large area of an outer surface of each rolling ball 83 is touched by the concave surfaces 821 , instead of the oil. Accordingly, a friction between the rolling ball 83 and the concave surfaces 821 is large, and the rolling ball 83 cannot rotate smoothly and make noises. Nevertheless, each partition 82 does not have any structure to store the oil, so the oil easily escapes from the partition 82 and the rolling ball 83 .

With reference to FIG. 15 , another conventional linear guide assembly 90 has a bar device 91 and multiple partitions 92 . The bar device 91 has two bars 911 . The partitions 92 are mounted between and securely connected with the bars 911 and are arranged at intervals. Each partition 92 has four protuberant paws 921 . Each paw 921 has a concave paw surface 9211 . Each rolling ball is in surface-contact with the eight paw surfaces 9211 .

Similarly, each rolling ball is still in surface-contact with the paw surfaces 9211 . Consequently, a friction between the rolling ball and the paw surfaces 9211 is still large, and each paw 921 does not have any structure to store the oil.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a linear guide assembly to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

The main objective of the invention is to provide a linear guide assembly having a point-contact configuration.

A linear guide assembly has a bar device, multiple partitions, multiple containing spaces and multiple rolling balls. The partitions are mounted between two bars of the bar device at intervals to form the containing spaces. The rolling balls are respectively and rotatably mounted in the containing spaces. Each partition has multiple first protrusions and multiple second protrusions. Each rolling ball is in point-contact with the first protrusions and the second protrusions of adjacent two of the partitions. With the point-contact configuration, an outer surface of each rolling ball is lubricated by much oil.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged top perspective view of a first embodiment of a linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top perspective view of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 1 showing the rolling balls are removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view in partial section of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic side view of each rolling ball of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 1 showing that the rolling ball is point-contact with the two first protrusions of a corresponding adjacent one of the partitions and the second protrusion of the corresponding adjacent one of the partitions;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top perspective view of a second embodiment of the linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged top perspective view of a third embodiment of the linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged top view in partial section of the linear guide assembly in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a partial side view of a conventional linear guide assembly in accordance with the prior art; and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of another conventional linear guide assembly in accordance with the prior art, showing the rolling balls are removed.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 , a first embodiment of a linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a bar device, multiple partitions 10 , multiple containing spaces S and multiple rolling balls 30 . Each containing space S is located adjacent two of the partitions 10 . The rolling balls 30 are respectively mounted in the containing spaces S.

The bar device is resilient and has a front side F, a rear side R, an extending direction E and two bars 20 . The rear side R of the bar device is opposite to the front side F of the bar device. The two bars 20 are parallel to each other. Each bar 20 has an inner side. The inner side of each bar 20 faces that of the other bar 20 and has multiple recesses 21 arranged at intervals. The recesses 21 of the bar 20 respectively align with those of the other bar 20 .

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 , the partitions 10 are mounted between the bars 20 and are arranged at intervals along the extending direction E of the bar device. Each partition 10 has two first restricted sections 11 and a second restricted section 12 .

The two first restricted sections 11 of the each partition 10 are respectively and securely mounted on the inner sides of the bars 20 beside the recesses 21 and align with each other.

Each first restricted section 11 has a front side f 1 , a rear side r 1 , two first restricted surfaces 111 and two first protrusions 112 . The front side f 1 of each first restricted section 11 faces the front side F of the bar device. The rear side r 1 is opposite to the front side f 1 of each first restricted section 11 and faces the rear side R of the bar device.

The two first restricted surfaces 111 of each first restricted section 11 are concave, are respectively formed on the front side f 1 and the rear side r 1 of the first restricted section 11 .

The two first protrusions 112 of each first restricted section 11 respectively protrude from the first restricted surfaces 111 . Preferably, each first protrusion 112 is an arcuate rib. The term “arcuate” in the present invention defines as a segment of a spheroid, which is similar to a ball, but not perfectly round.

Preferably, each first restricted section 11 has two first paws 110 on which the two first restricted surfaces 111 of the first restricted section 11 are respectively formed.

The two first paws 110 of each first restricted section 11 protrude upwardly and respectively face the front side F and the rear side R of the bar device. Each first paw 110 has a proximal end 1101 and a distal end 1102 opposite to the proximal end 1101 of the first paw 110 . The distal end 1102 of each first paw 110 protrudes toward a corresponding adjacent one of the containing spaces S, such that the distal end 1102 of the first paw 110 is protuberant relative to the proximal end 1101 of the first paw 110 . A thickness T 1 of the distal end 1102 of each first paw 110 is larger than a thickness T 2 of the proximal end 1101 of the first paw 110 .

The second restricted section 12 of each partition 10 is located between the two first restricted sections 11 of the partition 10 and has a front side f 2 , a rear side r 2 , two second restricted surfaces 121 and two second protrusions 122 . The front side f 2 of the second restricted section 12 of each partition 10 faces the front side F of the bar device. The rear side r 2 is opposite to the front side f 2 of each second restricted section 12 and faces the rear side R of the bar device.

The two second restricted surfaces 121 of the second restricted section 12 of each partition 10 are concave, are respectively formed on the front side f 2 and the rear side r 2 of the second restricted section 12 . The two second protrusions 122 of each partition 10 respectively protrude from the second restricted surfaces 121 . Preferably, each second protrusion 122 is an arcuate rib.

Preferably, each second restricted section 12 has two second paws 120 on which the two second restricted surfaces 121 are respectively formed. The two second paws 120 of each second restricted section 12 protrude downwardly and respectively face the front side F and the rear side R of the bar device.

Each second paw 120 has a top end 1201 and a bottom end 1202 opposite to the top end 1201 of the second paw 120 . The bottom end 1202 of each second paw 120 protrudes toward a corresponding adjacent one of the containing spaces S, such that the bottom end 1202 of the second paw 120 is protuberant relative to the top end 1201 of the second paw 120 . A thickness T 3 of the bottom end 1202 of each second paw 120 is larger than a thickness T 4 of the top end 1201 of the second paw 120 .

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the containing spaces S are formed between the bars 20 beside the partitions 10 and arranged at intervals along the extending direction E of the bar device. Each containing space S is formed between adjacent two of the partitions 10 and two of the recesses 21 those align with each other. Because the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 protrude into a corresponding one of the containing spaces S, a shape of each containing space S is spheroid.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 , each containing space S has two oil-storage areas 40 . The two oil-storage areas 40 of each containing space S are respectively located at two opposite sides of a corresponding one of the rolling balls 30 . Each oil-storage area 40 is formed between the side of the rolling ball 30 , the two first protrusions 112 of a corresponding one of the partitions 10 and the second protrusion 122 of the corresponding adjacent one of the partitions 10 .

With reference to FIGS. 1 , 4 , 5 , and 7 , the rolling balls 30 are respectively and rotatably mounted in the containing spaces S. Each rolling ball 30 is in point-contact with the four first protrusions 112 of adjacent two of the partitions 10 and the two second protrusions 122 of the adjacent two of the partitions 10 . In the first embodiment, the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 can be in point-contact with the rolling balls 30 because the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 are arcuate, as defined in the above description. With reference to FIG. 7 , three points P represent that one side of each rolling ball 30 is in point-contact with the two first protrusions 112 of a corresponding adjacent one f the partitions 10 and the second protrusion 122 of the corresponding adjacent one of the partitions 10 . Preferably, the two first protrusions 112 and the second protrusion 122 which are in point-contact with the same side of a corresponding one of the rolling balls 30 are arranged at a circular line.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 , because the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 protrude into a corresponding one of the containing spaces S, the shape of each containing space S is spheroid. Furthermore, the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 are in point-contact with the corresponding rolling ball 30 to hold the rolling ball 30 and to allow the rolling ball 30 to rotate. Because the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 are in point-contact with the corresponding rolling ball 30 , an outer surface of each rolling ball 30 is touched by more oil than a conventional rolling ball is. Accordingly, a friction between each rolling ball 30 and the two adjacent partitions 10 is effectively reduced, and the rolling balls 30 can rotate very smoothly.

In the first embodiment, the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 are arcuate, so the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 can still be in point-contact with the corresponding rolling ball 30 even when the rolling ball 30 are shifted from the corresponding containing space S. The arcuate first protrusions 112 and second protrusions 122 also help the corresponding rolling ball 30 to stably stay in a central position of the containing space S, to reduce a shifting degree of the rolling ball 30 , and to make the rolling ball 30 smoothly rotate.

With the protuberant second paws 120 and the protuberant first paws 110 , the corresponding rolling ball 30 can be surrounded by the second paws 120 and the first paws 110 and be prevented from falling off the corresponding containing space S.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6 , oil can be injected into the two oil-storage areas 40 along multiple dotted arrows W. With the oil-storage areas 40 , the present invention can effectively keep the oil and the oil facilitates the smooth rotation of the rolling ball 30 . Because the two oil-storage areas 40 of each containing space S communicate with each other, the oil can be filled within the containing space S evenly such that the rolling ball 30 can rotate smoothly.

With reference to FIG. 8 , a second embodiment of the linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention is substantially the same with the first embodiment. Each first protrusion 112 A is a longitudinal rib; and each second protrusion 122 A is a longitudinal rib.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 , a third embodiment of the linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention is substantially the same with the first embodiment.

One of the first paws 110 of each first restricted section 11 protrudes upwardly and the other first paw 110 of the first restricted section 11 protrudes downwardly. One of the second paws 120 of each second restricted section 12 protrudes upwardly and the other second paw 120 of the second restricted section 12 protrudes downwardly. A protruding direction of each second paw 120 is different from that of an adjacent one of the first paws 110 .

With reference to FIG. 13 , a fourth embodiment of the linear guide assembly in accordance with the present invention is substantially the same with the first embodiment. Each first protrusion 112 B is a lump, and each second protrusion 122 B is a lump.

From the above description, it is noted that the present invention has the following advantages:

1. Point-Contact Configuration:

With the first protrusions 112 , 112 A, 112 B and the second protrusions 122 , 122 A, 122 B being in point-contact with the corresponding rolling ball 30 , the outer surface of each rolling ball 30 is lubricated by more oil than a conventional rolling ball is. Accordingly, a friction between each rolling ball 30 and the two adjacent partitions 10 is effectively reduced, and the rolling balls 30 can rotate greatly smoothly.

2. Protuberant Structure:

Because the first protrusions 112 , 112 A, 112 B and the second protrusions 122 , 122 A, 122 B are protuberant and the protruding direction of each second paw 120 is different from that of the adjacent one of the first paws 10 , the first protrusions 112 , 112 A, 112 B and the second protrusions 122 , 122 A, 122 B are capable of surrounding the rolling balls 30 well and prevent the rolling balls 30 from falling off.

3. Excellent Lubrication:

The oil-storage areas 40 can effectively contain the oil that lubricates the rotation of the rolling ball 30 . Because the two oil-storage areas 40 of each containing space S communicate with each other, the oil is filled within the containing space S evenly such that the rolling ball 30 can rotate smoothly. Thus, the noise of the linear guide assembly is also reduced.

4. Steady Maintenance:

In the first embodiment, the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 are arcuate, so the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 can still be in point-contact with the corresponding rolling ball 30 even when the rolling ball 30 are shifted from the corresponding containing space S. The arcuate the first protrusions 112 and the second protrusions 122 also help the corresponding rolling ball 30 to stably stay in a central position of the containing space S, to reduce a shifting degree of the rolling ball 30 , and to make the rolling ball 30 smoothly rotate.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.