Patent Application
20080080796
The present invention will be more clear from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to
The synchronous spacer 20 is strip-shaped and includes a plurality of spacer elements 21 and two strip-shaped links 22 disposed at both sides of the plurality of spacer elements 21. The spacer elements 21 are maintained between the rolling elements 40. The synchronous spacer 20 moves together with the rolling elements 40 to circulate within the track 51 of the linear guideway 50.
Each of the guiding blocks 30 is fixed at the outer side of the spacer element 21 at either end of the synchronous spacer 20 (the guiding blocks 30 in this embodiment are formed by integral ejection molding, so there is a die hole in the center of the respective guiding blocks). A smooth arc-shaped surface 31 is formed on each of the guiding blocks 30 and is located correspondingly to the surface of the rack 51 of the linear guideway 50. The guiding block 30 is larger than the spacer element 21 of the synchronous spacer 20 but is smaller than the rolling element 40.
For a better understanding of the function of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description.
The present invention comprises a rail 52, a sliding block 53, two end caps 54, a plurality of rolling elements 40, a synchronous spacer 20, and two guiding blocks 30. The rail 52 is axially formed with a first rolling groove 521 for enabling the rolling elements 40 to roll therein. The sliding block 53 is moveably mounted on the rail 52 and is axially formed with a second rolling groove 531 for the rolling elements 40. The second rolling groove 531 and the first rolling groove 531 cooperate with each other to form a load circulating groove 511. The sliding block 53 is further formed with a non-load circulating groove 512. The end caps 54 are disposed at both ends of the sliding block 53 and each is formed with a return portion 541 that cooperates with the load circulating groove 511 and the non-load circulating groove 512 to form a complete circulating path.
When in use, the synchronous spacer 20 and the rolling elements 40 circulate in the track 51 of the linear guideway 50. Each of the guiding blocks 30 is fixed at the outer side of the spacer element 21 at either end of the synchronous spacer 20. A smooth arc-shaped surface 31 is formed on each of the guiding blocks 30 and is located correspondingly to the surface of the rack 51 of the linear guideway 50. Therefore, the rolling elements 40 can be guided smoothly to the load circulating groove 511 or the non-load circulating groove 512 by the guiding blocks 30. And the smooth arc-shaped surface 31 of the guiding blocks 30 will slide along the inner surface of the track 51 of the linear guideway 50 without the problem of the angular-edge caused interference, thus ensuring the stable operation of the linear guideway.
It is to be noted that the guiding block 30 is larger than the spacer element 21 but is smaller than the rolling element 40, plus the guiding block 30 is integral with the spacer elements 21 of the synchronous spacer 20. Therefore, when the synchronous spacer of the present invention circulates within the track 51, although there is a great tangent difference between the return portion 541 of the end cap 54 and the load circulating groove 511, the smooth arc-shaped surface 31 can enable the guiding blocks 30 to smoothly slide over the assembly clearances and the corners of the linear guideway. Further, the guiding blocks 30 reduce the impact distance between the rolling element 40 at the rear of the guiding block 30 and the inner surface of the track 51, thus reducing the impact caused noise. Therefore, the size of the guiding blocks 30 being larger than the spacer element 21 and smaller than the rolling element 40 can force the synchronous spacer 20 to move along the predetermined route, and can prevent a large impact distance from being caused by the fact that the spacer elements at both ends of the conventional synchronous spacer are too small, thus effectively reducing the noise and the impact caused when the rolling elements circulate along the track.
Finally, the operation of the present invention is explained as follows:
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
To summarize, the synchronous spacer with a guiding block in accordance with the presentinvention comprises strip-shaped links, a plurality of spacer elements, and a guiding block fixed at the end of the links. An arch-shaped surface is formed on the guiding block and is located correspondingly to inner surface of the track of the linear guideway, the guiding block is larger than spacer element of the synchronous spacer but is smaller than the rolling elements. With the guidance of the guiding block, the synchronous spacer is prevented from impacting the inner surface of the track, enabling the linear guideway to move smoothly and stably.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
