US 12,071,977 B2
Linear motion guide bearing
Kenichiro Tsuruta, Mino (JP)
Assigned to NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/759,238
Filed by NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Nov. 12, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/042271
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/149338, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-008651 (JP), filed on Jan. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0051758 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. F16C 29/00 (2006.01); F16C 29/04 (2006.01); F16C 29/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 29/005 (2013.01) [F16C 29/048 (2013.01); F16C 29/06 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A linear motion guide bearing comprising:
a rail made of a steel plate, having a pair of first rolling surfaces extending parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction;
a slider having a pair of second rolling surfaces extending parallel to each other and opposing the pair of first rolling surfaces, respectively; and
a plurality of rolling elements disposed to be able to roll on the first and second rolling surfaces;
the slider having a pair of circulation passages formed therein, the circulation passages being spaces connecting one end and another end in each of a pair of load-carrying races, the load-carrying races being spaces between the pair of first rolling surfaces and the pair of second rolling surfaces,
the plurality of rolling elements circulating in annular spaces configured from the load-carrying races and the circulation passages,
in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the rail includes:
a bottom wall portion,
a first side wall portion rising from one end of the bottom wall portion,
a second side wall portion rising from another end of the bottom wall portion and opposing the first side wall portion, and
a top wall portion extending from an end of the first side wall portion opposite to the bottom wall portion to oppose the bottom wall portion,
one of the first rolling surfaces being made up of wall surfaces of the second side wall portion and the bottom wall portion on an inner side of a first corner portion, the first corner portion being a region where the second side wall portion and the bottom wall portion are connected,
the other of the first rolling surfaces being made up of wall surfaces of the first side wall portion and the top wall portion on an inner side of a second corner portion, the second corner portion being a region where the first side wall portion and the top wall portion are connected,
wherein the slider includes
a first component made of a bent steel plate, the first component having the pair of second rolling surfaces,
a second component fixed to the first component in such a manner that a first circulation passage as a part of one of the pair of the circulation passages and a second circulation passage as a part of the other of the pair of the circulation passages are formed between the second component and a surface of the steel plate constituting the first component opposite to the surface on which the second rolling surfaces are formed,
a third component made of resin, disposed at one end of the first component in the longitudinal direction of the rail, and fixed to the first component so as to form a first turnaround passage connecting one of the load-carrying races and the first circulation passage and a second turnaround passage connecting the other of the load-carrying races and the second circulation passage, and
a fourth component made of resin, disposed at another end of the first component in the longitudinal direction of the rail, and fixed to the first component so as to form a third turnaround passage connecting the one load-carrying race and the first circulation passage and a fourth turnaround passage connecting the other load-carrying race and the second circulation passage.
 
6. A linear motion guide bearing comprising:
a rail made of a steel plate, having a pair of first rolling surfaces extending parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction;
a slider having a pair of second rolling surfaces extending parallel to each other and opposing the pair of first rolling surfaces, respectively; and
a plurality of rolling elements disposed to be able to roll on the first and second rolling surfaces;
the slider having a pair of circulation passages formed therein, the circulation passages being spaces connecting one end and another end in each of a pair of load-carrying races, the load-carrying races being spaces between the pair of first rolling surfaces and the pair of second rolling surfaces,
the plurality of rolling elements circulating in annular spaces configured from the load-carrying races and the circulation passages,
in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the rail includes:
a bottom wall portion,
a first side wall portion rising from one end of the bottom wall portion,
a second side wall portion rising from another end of the bottom wall portion and opposing the first side wall portion, and
a top wall portion extending from an end of the first side wall portion opposite to the bottom wall portion to oppose the bottom wall portion,
one of the first rolling surfaces being made up of wall surfaces of the second side wall portion and the bottom wall portion on an inner side of a first corner portion, the first corner portion being a region where the second side wall portion and the bottom wall portion are connected,
the other of the first rolling surfaces being made up of wall surfaces of the first side wall portion and the top wall portion on an inner side of a second corner portion, the second corner portion being a region where the first side wall portion and the top wall portion are connected,
wherein
the slider includes
a first component made of a bent steel plate, the first component having the pair of second rolling surfaces,
a second component made of resin, fixed to one end of the first component in the longitudinal direction of the rail, and
a third component made of resin, fixed to another end of the first component in the longitudinal direction of the rail,
the second and third components have a first circulation passage as a part of one of the pair of the circulation passages and a second circulation passage as a part of the other of the pair of the circulation passages formed parallel to the second rolling surfaces across the second and third components,
the second component has formed therein a first turnaround passage connecting one of the load-carrying races and the first circulation passage and a second turnaround passage connecting the other of the load-carrying races and the second circulation passage, and
the third component has formed therein a third turnaround passage connecting the one load-carrying race and the first circulation passage and a fourth turnaround passage connecting the other load-carrying race and the second circulation passage.