US 12,135,058 B2
Retainer for linear guideway and linear guideway using the same
Yu-Shun Cheng, Taichung (TW); and Kuan-Chieh Liu, Taichung (TW)
Assigned to HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP., Taichung (TW)
Filed by HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP., Taichung (TW)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/072,901.
Prior Publication US 2024/0183392 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. F16C 29/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 29/0607 (2013.01) [F16C 29/0642 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retainer for a linear guideway, comprising a main body extending along a longitudinal direction, a retaining portion extending from a long side of the main body along a width direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a hollow portion formed under a part of the retaining portion, wherein when the retaining portion is compressed, the part of the retaining portion is elastically deformed relative to the main body through the hollow portion;
wherein the retaining portion includes a first retaining part, a second retaining part, and a third retaining part located between the first retaining part and the second retaining part and abutted with the hollow portion; the retainer further has two gaps commutating with the hollow portion; the third retaining part is located between the gaps, such that when the third retaining part is compressed, the third retaining part is elastically deformed through the hollow portion and the gaps.
 
5. A linear guideway comprising:
a rail;
a slider movably disposed on the rail;
two end covers mounted to two end surfaces of the slider;
a plurality of balls disposed between the rail, the slider, and the end covers; and
at least one retainer as claimed in claim 1 disposed between the rail and the slider for retaining the balls.
 
6. A retainer for a linear guideway, comprising a main body extending along a longitudinal direction, a retaining portion extending from a long side of the main body along a width direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a hollow portion formed under a part of the retaining portion, wherein when the retaining portion is compressed, the part of the retaining portion is elastically deformed relative to the main body through the hollow portion;
wherein the retaining portion includes a first retaining part, a second retaining part, and a plurality of third retaining parts located between the first retaining part and the second retaining part and abutted with the hollow portion; the retainer further has a plurality of gaps commutating with the hollow portion; each of the third retaining parts is located between two adjacent gaps of the plurality of gaps, such that when one of the third retaining parts is compressed, the compressed third retaining part is elastically deformed through the hollow portion and the gaps.