US 12,215,741 B2
Motion guidance device
Hiroyoshi Yasutake, Tokyo (JP); Ryuji Furusawa, Tokyo (JP); Ryunosuke Ozeki, Tokyo (JP); and Ryosuke Maruki, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to THK CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 18/014,666
Filed by THK CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Jul. 5, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/025298
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 5, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/009831, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 13, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-118184 (JP), filed on Jul. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0258232 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. F16C 29/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 29/06 (2013.01) 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A guide device comprising: a track member extending along a longitudinal direction; and a moving member relatively movable along the longitudinal direction of the track member,
the moving member being engaged with the track member in such a manner that rolling surfaces formed on the track member and the moving member, respectively, are mutually opposed to each other, with a plurality of rolling elements rollably sandwiched between the rolling surfaces of the both members,
the plurality of rolling elements circulating through a rolling element path when the moving member moves along the longitudinal direction of the track member, the rolling element path being formed of a loaded rolling path defined by the rolling surface of the track member and the rolling surface of the moving member, and a circulation path formed inside the moving member, wherein
a lubrication path for supplying lubricant to the circulation path is formed in the moving member;
the lubrication path comprises:
a common path opening to an outer wall surface of the moving member and including an inlet portion serving as a supply port for the lubricant;
a first path including a first communication portion in communication with the common path, and a first opening portion opening to a wall surface of the circulation path, the first path allowing grease to flow through when the grease is used as the lubricant; and
a second path including a second communication portion in communication with the common path, and a second opening portion opening to the wall surface of the circulation path, the second path allowing lubricating oil to flow through when the lubricating oil is used as the lubricant;
a cross-sectional area of the second path is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first path, and in the common path, the second communication portion of the second path is located closer to the inlet portion than the first communication portion of the first path; and
the guide device includes a plug member removably blocking the inlet portion of the common path in the lubrication path, the plug member being removable from the inlet portion to open the inlet portion, and
the plug member being configured to be moved inside of the common path to block the communication of the common path with the first communication portion.