Roller Patents (Class 384/44)
  • Patent number: 6550969
    Abstract: A carriage for a linear guiding device, designed to be arranged on a rail. The carriage includes a center section and two legs that each join the center section, thus providing the carriage with an essentially U-shaped design. The carriage further includes a support region as well as two deflector channels that connect the return channel and the support region, sleeve-shaped guiding elements that are arranged in recesses of a basic body of the carriage, in the return channels. Plastic material is poured in part or totally around one of the two ends of at least one sleeve-shaped guiding elements in order to secure it inside the recess. The sleeve-shaped guiding elements are each provided with centering elements on their outside surfaces, which elements are used to determine the position of a guiding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Schneeberger Holding AG
    Inventor: Ernst Mischler
  • Publication number: 20030035600
    Abstract: A rolling element interference preventer for a guide device prevents a number of rolling elements rolling at regular intervals in a continuous circulation path of the guide device from interfering with each other. The rolling element interference preventer is formed of a thermoplastic resin elastomer having a physical property in accordance with an expression, (A×B)÷C≧18, where A represents a 10% elongation stress, B represents a tensile strength, and C represents a bending modulus of elasticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida, Tomozumi Murata, Yoshiyuki Honjyo
  • Patent number: 6513977
    Abstract: In the present linear guide bearing, the center of curvature O′ of a ball reversing passage 27 is shifted to a return side ball passage 25 side by a given amount m when compared with the center of curvature, O′ of a conventional guide bearing. Due to this, not only the radius of curvature of a concave-arc-shaped groove 29 formed in each end cap 9 is reduced by a given amount m but also the concave-arc-shaped groove 29 is shifted to the return side ball passage 25 side by a given amount m, when compared with the conventional guide bearing. Thus, an angle &agr; formed between a line connecting the leading end of a tongue portion 31 to the center of curvature O′ of a ball reversing passage 27 and the moving-direction end face of a bearing main body 7, can be reduced significantly when compared with the conventional bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kasuga, Ryoichi Sato, Hiroki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20020172436
    Abstract: A rolling guide apparatus includes a track rail having roller raceway surfaces and a roller circulation path including load roller raceway surfaces corresponding to the roller raceway surfaces, and plural rollers arranged and housed in the roller circulation paths and circulate in association with movement of a moving block relative to the track rail. Each roller has a ratio of approx. 1.5<L/Da<approx. 3. By setting the ratio of roller length to roller diameter to a value of approx. 1.5<L/Da, the basic static load rating of a rolling guide apparatus of roller type becomes greater than that of a rolling guide apparatus of ball type when the pieces of the apparatus are of same model. By setting the ratio to a value of L/Da<approx. 3, occurrence of skew is prevented without failure without involvement of rigorous dimensional control of the axial clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Hiroaki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6471411
    Abstract: A self-containing full-complement cage for a flow-medium lubricated roller bearing includes long-rollers and short-rollers, which are arranged alternatively one after another in rolling direction. The cage has a pair of side plates (10, 11) one on either side of the rollers. Each short-roller has a central cylindrical bore (7). A shaft (14) passes axially through each bore (7) with radial play and along a center-line (15) of the short-roller. During operation of the bearing equipped with this cage, part of the ambient lubricant in the axial bore of the short-rollers becomes centrifugally pushed towards the side ends of the short-rollers and from there it is flung radially outwardly towards the outer surface of the adjacent long rollers. In this way there is effected a continuous distribution of flowing lubricating medium environment both to the outer surface of the long rollers and to the guiding surfaces ofthe recesses of the side plates, which closely slide on this outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Friedrich-Wilhelm Von Hackewitz
  • Patent number: 6419069
    Abstract: A cross roller assembly suitable for use with rollers disposed in a cross roller arrangement is provided for the purpose of preventing the rollers from skewing as much as possible to thereby guide them in a stable manner. The cross roller assembly (21) includes first and second rollers (8, 9), and a retainer (22) for holding the first and second rollers (8, 9) in respective alignment with their axes of rotation alternatively arranged at right angles with respect to each other. The retainer (22) has a pair of end holders (23) for supporting the opposite ends of each roller. Each of the end holders (23) has an outer surface which is formed of a flat guide surface so as to regulate or restrict each roller to its suitable posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6398417
    Abstract: A rolling member is utilized for such as a rolling bearing and the rolling members are disposed to be rollable between members which are relatively movable with respect to each other. The rolling member is provided with a rolling portion contacting the movable members during the rolling motion thereof and longitudinal both end portions. The rolling portion is formed to provide a protruded circular arc shape and the end portions are formed so as to provide a spherical shape, the circular rolling portion has a radius of curvature larger than a radius of each of the end spherical portions, and a distance between the end spherical portions is larger than a maximum diameter of the circular rolling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6390679
    Abstract: A linear guide bearing device 1, which serves as the above-mentioned linear guide device, comprises a guide rail 3 and a slider 4. The guide rail 3 includes a plurality of rolling element rolling grooves 5. The slider 4 includes a plurality of load rolling element rolling grooves 8 and a plurality of curved passages 15. The rolling grooves 5 and 8 cooperate together in forming their associated load rolling passages 11 respectively. In an area ranging over each set of the rolling element rolling passage 11 and curved passage 15, there is formed a crowning 20 in a direction where the rolling groove 8 moves away from its associated rolling groove 5. In the end portion of each curved passage 15 on the rolling groove 5 side, there is formed a tongue portion 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Shizuo Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 6390678
    Abstract: The present invention provides a roller connector rotatably retaining a plurality of rollers arranged in a line and capable of being incorporated into an endless roller-circulation path of an endless sliding type linear guide unit and it also provides an improved linear guide unit using such roller connector. The roller connector comprises a plurality of rollers arranged in a row with the axes of rotation of the rollers being held parallel with one another, a plurality of spacers interposed between a plurality of rollers and each provided with a pair of concave seats with which each of the rollers comes into sliding contact and an elongate flexible connecting portion adapted to connect the spacers together and characterized in that the connecting portion is connected to the spacers at a position at which the outer peripheral surface of each of the rollers is divided into two substantially equal parts in the axial direction and that the connecting portion is provided only one side of the line of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6338573
    Abstract: The present invention offers a universal guide device capable of using the sliders of conventional straight guide devices intact. The universal guide device does not need a different slider for each different radius of track rail. The universal guide device can be manufactured at lower cost than normal. This universal guide device in accordance with the invention comprises a track rail and sliders mounted to the rail via balls circulating through endless circular paths. The rail has at least one straight region and at least one curved region shaped in an arc with a given radius of curvature. Each of the sliders is of saddlelike cross section. The sliders span the rail. The sliders have ball-rolling surfaces shaped linearly. The curved region of the rail is set narrower than the straight region of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Hiroaki Mochizuki, Kaoru Hoshide, Minoru Kouchi
  • Publication number: 20010048776
    Abstract: A roller retainer 11 encloses an outer periphery of the roller 9 situated on a diagonal 20 when the roller 9 is viewed from the side surface thereof. Whether the rollers 9 are arranged in a parallel manner or in a cross manner, the roller retainer 11 is able to keep a constant position and thus the disposition of the roller retainer 11 is free from the influence of the direction the roller 9. Also, since the roller retainer 11 restricts a corner portion 9a of the roller 9, the roller 9 is difficult to slip off the roller retainer 11 and thus the roller 9 can be restricted positively, thereby being able to control the skew of the roller 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tadashi Hirokawa, Kentarou Nishimura, Osamu Maruyama, Shino Kimura
  • Publication number: 20010038724
    Abstract: In a roller retainer assembly, a roller retainer 15 is thinned to retain individual one of plural rollers 7 circulating in a roller circulation path inclusive of linear and curved races and to hold opposite side surfaces of the roller 7 and front and rear surfaces thereof in the roller moving direction. A combination of linear and curve guide portions 16a and 16b different in inclination angle and a combination of linear and curve guide portion 17a and 17b different in inclination angle are formed respectively in opposite end surfaces of the roller retainer 15 in a retainer moving direction. In a linear race, the linear guide portions 16a and 17a come into contact with adjacent roller retainers 15 respectively. In a curved race, the curve guide portions 16b and 17b come into contact with adjacent roller retainers 15 respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomozumi Murata
  • Patent number: 6312158
    Abstract: A roller guide apparatus comprises: a track rail comprising a rail body extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and having a section in a width direction thereof in shape of circular arc protruding downward in an installed state and a base portion supporting a lower surface of central portion of the rail body in the width direction thereof, the rail body having an upper surface and lower surfaces extended in the width direction from the base portion, the upper and lower surfaces of the rail body having concentric circular arc shapes; a movable block body comprising a block body arranged so as to straddle the rail body and having a lower surface, in an assembled state, opposing to the upper surface of the rail body, a pair of bilateral leg portions extending downward from bilateral end portions of the block body with the track rail being interposed therebetween, a pair of support piece portions extending towards the track rail so as to oppose to the extended portions of the rail body; at least one barrel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroshi Teramachi, Mima Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6287005
    Abstract: A roller guiding apparatus for use in linear guiding portions of a variety of kinds of industrial machines such as machine tools and the like is provided for guiding rollers which rollingly travel along a pair of opposed roller-rolling surfaces formed on a traveling rail and a movable body so as to move the movable body along the traveling rail. The apparatus employs barrel-shaped rollers which are suitable for supporting heavy loads and have excellent self-aligning ability and vibration-damping capability. To this end, the barrel-shaped rollers (4) each have a pair of arc-shaped portions (4a, 4b) which gradually decrease in their diameter from a center thereof toward opposite ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Publication number: 20010016088
    Abstract: A first invention of the subject application aims to smoothly circulate the rollers by integrally molding at least one member of the roller returning passage, the roller end surface guide wall and the direction changing portion with the block body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.,
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6261001
    Abstract: A guide rail (21) has an upper surface (26) with a pair of upper rolling paths (23) and side surfaces (70) with a pair of side rolling paths (24). The upper rolling paths (23) are concave surfaces inclined downward toward a longitudinal middle portion with respect to width of the guide rail (21) and extending along arcs of a circle. A moving block (22), provided with a groove (39) receiving the guide rail (21) therein, is mounted on the guide rail (21) so as to straddle the rail. A plurality of upper rollers (35) are supported in rows on the moving block (22) so as to roll along the upper rolling paths (23). The upper rollers (35) each has a convex side surface (35a). A plurality of side rollers (36) are supported in rows on the moving block (22) so as to roll along the side rolling paths (24). Even if a lateral force acts on the moving block due to a positional error in the guide rail, the rollers are able to roll smoothly and the smooth traveling of the moving block is insured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6254274
    Abstract: A traveler comprises a track with two lateral side grooves and a top surface, and a car slideably held on the track. The car has first and second lateral side portions, with bearing means in each portion for engaging respective of the track side grooves. The car further has thrust bearings removably held in a race in a car center portion for engaging the track top surface when the car may be tilted towards one or the other lateral sides, as may occur when the car is under a load from that lateral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Harken, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Monahan, Thomas Hanson
  • Patent number: 6217217
    Abstract: A first invention of the subject application aims to smoothly circulate the rollers by integrally molding at least one member of the roller returning passage, the roller end surface guide wall and the direction changing portion with the block body. Namely, at least one member of the roller returning passage forming member 91 for forming the roller returning passage 9, the roller end surface guide wall 13 and the direction changing passage inner periphery portion forming member 12 for forming the direction changing passage inner periphery portion 10b is integrally molded by inserting the block body into a molding die. A second invention of the subject application aims to realize a smooth circulation and movement of the rollers, and to prevent the running-out of the roller chain during the circulation of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6210039
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a linear motion guide device and a table guide device having an automatic controllability and to realize a load bearing structure having a high rigidity. The device is characterized in that a movable block (4) is formed to provide an L-shape in section, rolling ball rows (B1-B4) are disposed to be rollable between ball rolling grooves formed to an upper surface of a track rail (1) and a horizontal portion of the movable block (4) and between ball rolling grooves formed to a side surface of the track rail (1) and a suspending portion (3), wherein each of the ball rolling grooves has a circular-arc-shape in section having a deep-groove shape having a groove depth of approximately ⅓ to ½ of a diameter of the rolling ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6203200
    Abstract: A roller train for enabling a slider to be freely guided along a track rail and to a linear motion guide apparatus employing this roller train that is used in machine tools, industrial robots, precision instruments, and the like provides a roller train capable of substantially preventing skew in the rollers that can prevent the rollers from circulating smoothly. A linear motion guide apparatus that employs this roller train enables the slider to move smoothly. The roller train 13a includes a plurality of rollers 14a and a retaining member 15. The retaining member 15, constructed of a slick synthetic resin material, is provided with roller retaining holes 19 to retain the plurality of rollers 14a in a series. In particular, side plates 20 for covering both end faces of the 14a are provided on the portions of the retaining member 15 that oppose both end faces of the 14a contained in the roller retaining holes 19. The side plates 20 prevent skew in the rollers 14a, enabling the same to roll smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 6109789
    Abstract: A linear slide includes an elongated guide rail and a sliding block straddling the guide rail. A plurality of rolling elements are disposed between the sliding block and the guide rail so that the sliding block is capable of sliding back and forth along the length of the guide rail. The rolling elements include cylindrical roller trains, which are carried on the upper surface of the guide rail, and rolling ball trains which are carried on the lateral surfaces of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Hsi-Kuan Chen
  • Patent number: 6094819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of a slider of a rectilinear guide unit for guiding a movable body such as a work table of a machine tool, an industrial robot or the like by moving along an orbital rail arranged on a stationary section such as a bed, column or the like as it bears a load thereon. This method comprises a first step in which a metallic block main body as a core of the slider is machined to a predetermined shape and to form ball load rolling contact surfaces in the block main body and a second step in which the block main body machined in the previous step is inserted into a mold so as to allow a die-molding material to be padded thereon to thereby form an endless ball circulation path wherein in the first step, chamfered sections are formed on the corners of the block main body corresponding to a portion where the above-mentioned endless ball circulation path is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Teramachi, Takeki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6086254
    Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly includes a carriage having a bearing track, a fluid inlet port and a fluid supply passage interconnecting the fluid inlet port and the bearing track. The bearing track has a load bearing portion, a return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing portion and the return portion. The carriage is supported for linear movement on a rail. A plurality of rolling elements are positioned in the bearing track and a pressurized hydrostatic fluid supply is connected to the fluid inlet port for supplying hydrostatic fluid under pressure to the bearing track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Lyon
  • Patent number: 6042268
    Abstract: An object is to increase structural rigidity of a movable block by improving a contacting structure and arranging relations of four rows of rollers disposed between the movable block and a track rail.The device is characterized in that upper two rows of rollers 21, 22 are arranged to portions close to a center side from side ends of the upper surface of the track rail 1, while roller rolling surfaces 61, 62 corresponding to the rollers 21, 22 are formed to the upper surface of the track rail 1 and a lower surface of a horizontal portion 4 of the movable block 3, that lower two rows of rollers 23, 24 are arranged such that one row of rollers is disposed to right and left side surfaces of the track rail 1, respectively, while roller rolling surfaces 63, 64 corresponding to the lower two rows of rollers 23, 24 are formed to the right and left side surfaces of the track rail 1 and inner side surfaces of the supporting leg portions 5, 5 of the movable block 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6026389
    Abstract: A video query and editing system which is capable of querying images without fast-forward and playback operations, to specify an editing start or end point easily, and to lower editing cost of compressed data. An edit control window is displayed (11) first, and then a file for query and editing is selected in query and editing file processing 12. In motion picture query processing 13, image query is performed in macro or micro units for the selected file and then the images to be under the query and editing are displayed. In editing section specification 14, a start point and an end point of a section for the editing are specified out of the images displayed in the motion picture query processing. Editing of a plurality of sections or other files are performed in the same manner as for the above processing if desired. After all the editing sections are determined, the editing sections are played back in editing section playback 17 to confirm the editing parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Kokusai, Denshin, Denwa, Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Nakajima, Kiyono Ujihara, Akio Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 5964535
    Abstract: A machine slide comprising a support member having two longitudinally-extending races with outwardly-facing, longitudinally extending grooves at opposite sides thereof, and a carriage movable on the support member. The carriage has two longitudinally-extending races having inwardly facing, longitudinally-extending grooves. When the carriage is placed on the support member, the grooves of the support member and the grooves of the carriage correspond to define two parallel longitudinally-extending raceways for roller bearings. There are two longitudinally-extending slits forming an island in the bottom surface of the carriage above one of the races on the carriage. A longitudinally-extending groove is located along the outside face of the side wall of the carriage nearest the island. A bearing retainer that regulates the spacing of the roller bearings is mounted within each raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Bayside Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Feinstein, Robert Nichols
  • Patent number: 5871282
    Abstract: The linear motion rolling guide unit has a top seal secured to the casing which comprises sealing members facing side areas of the upper surface of the track rail. Each of the sealing members comprises a lip seal portion and a labyrinth seal portion. The lip seal portion is inclined outwardly toward the raceway grooves of the casing and its front end contacts the side area of the upper surface of the track rail. The labyrinth seal portion is arranged on a central area side of the lip seal portion and does not contact the side area of the upper surface of the track rail. Hence, the labyrinth seal portions of the top seal prevent foreign matters from entering into the raceway grooves and the lip seal portions prevent leakage of grease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouhei Yuasa
  • Patent number: 5836701
    Abstract: A spin bearing assembly including, a pair of mutually opposing complementary bearing support members having mutually spaced apart bearing support surfaces which may be, for example, bearing races and a set of spin bearings located therebetween. Each spin bearing includes a pair of end faces, a central rotational axis passing through the end faces, a waist region substantially mid-way between the end faces and having a first thickness dimension, and discrete side surface regions located between the waist region and the end faces and having a second thickness dimension different from the first thickness dimension of the waist region and wherein the side surface regions further have respective curvilinear contact surfaces adapted to provide a plurality of bearing contact points on the bearing support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: John M. Vranish
  • Patent number: 5809834
    Abstract: A combination linear and circular motion roller bearing assembly have a rail and a pair of tracks, each located along a side wall of the rail. The rail forms a contiguous path having both linear and circular portions. A slider bearing assembly is movably attached to the rail. The slider bearing assembly has internal continuous paths that correspond to the tracks. Each internal path has a plurality of ball bearings therein. Each internal path has an opening adjacent the corresponding track and a tapered insert therein for exposing a predetermined number of ball bearings to the track to allow rolling movement with a respect to the track as the slider bearing assembly moves along the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: MRBA Company
    Inventor: Richard K. Goldy
  • Patent number: 5800064
    Abstract: In this linear motion rolling guide unit, return passages are formed by sleeves fitted in return bores in the casing, and these sleeves are made elastically deformable, so that they can offset the slide resistance of rolling elements and secure the smooth rolling of the rolling elements. In this linear motion rolling guide unit, sleeves extending over the whole length of the return bores in the casing and forming return passages for cylindrical rollers are fitted in the return bores, and clearances, in which the sleeves can be elastically deformed, are provided between the inner surfaces of the return bores and the outer surfaces of the smaller-diameter portions of the sleeves. The sleeves are provided with slits extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, and both end portions of the sleeves are held in the return bores in the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Ohya
  • Patent number: 5695288
    Abstract: A linear motion rolling bearing which, together with enabling lubricant to be supplied inexpensively and reliably, allows maintenance relating to the occurrence of lubricant clogging and so forth to be performed easily, while also enabling the supply of lubricant to be performed extremely simply even in the case of small products. Lubricant insertion holes are formed in end seals provided on the ends of an outer cylinder, and a lubricant such as grease is injected through the lubricant injection holes using an injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadato Sugihara, Tsutomu Togashi
  • Patent number: 5634722
    Abstract: The linear motion rolling guide unit has sealing devices that can be applied without having to modify the fundamental specifications of the existing unit and which can also be installed and removed easily. Each of the seals in the sealing device comprises a metal plate core and a rubber bonded to the core by baking. The core has at the central part a notched portion that allows a pair of seal side portions to be opened or expanded. Replacement of the seals can be done simply by fitting new seals over the track rail from above. The interference of the seals in the assembled sealing device can be adjusted easily by adjusting the distance that the adjust screws, whose front ends contact the side surface of the core, are screwed in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouhei Yuasa, Masahide Saitoh
  • Patent number: 5575565
    Abstract: A rolling guide unit is disclosed of the curved movement type that together with achieving increased load capacity and rigidity, improved vibration damping characteristics, low noise levels, smooth operation and an extended service life, also demonstrates adequate functions particularly with respect to generated centrifugal force.The above-mentioned effects are obtained by employing a cross roller system in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Takei, Takehiko Hara
  • Patent number: 5549390
    Abstract: A guide rail for use in drilling, cutting and grinding tools has two first and second pairs of guide surfaces (1, 2, 3, 4) arranged opposite one another relative to a first axis of symmetry (S1). Each pair of first and second guide surfaces are V-shaped and are laterally spaced apart and extend in the direction of a central axis of the guide rail. A second axis of symmetry (S2) extends perpendicularly to the first axis of symmetry (S1). An additional third pair of guide surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the second axis of symmetry (S2) and have a flattened arrowhead-like sloping roof-shaped configuration and extend in the direction of the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rudolf Reitberger
  • Patent number: 5456182
    Abstract: A device for hanging loads and transporting them along a suspended cable or rod constructed of a housing having two parallel side walls, a bottom wall with a longitudinal slot, a top wall and two end walls and containing a plurality of identical pulley-like wheels each having a groove in its peripheral face and a breadth, depth and shape allowing it to accommodate the cable or rod, the housing defining inside it a circumferential path which is essentially filled with wheels which freely move in a plane parallel to that of the side walls and around a core member, the arrangement is such that the wheels located in the lower portion of said path which is adjacent to the bottom rest on said cable or rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Inventor: Avraham Neeman
  • Patent number: 5391003
    Abstract: The rolling guide unit has a track rail formed with raceway surfaces, a casing moveable relative to the track rail and having raceway surfaces at positions facing the raceway surfaces of the track rail, and a number of cylindrical rolls that run rolling between the facing raceway surfaces. An end portion of that raceway surface of the track rail which is heavily loaded with a distributed load is crowned to make the raceway surface at the end portion curved, thereby eliminating uneven load and therefore dents and flaking of the raceway. This enhances durability and sliding characteristics of the raceway surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Thomson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Ooya
  • Patent number: 5380096
    Abstract: The linear motion rolling guide unit includes a track rail, a casing slidable with respect to the track rail, end caps mounted to the ends of the casing, and flow regulating valves installed in oil grooves formed in the end caps. When the linear motion rolling guide unit is used in an inclined condition with the right side tilted downward, the flow regulating valves may be turned clockwise to limit the flow of lubricating oil to the raceways on the right side. This makes the amounts of oil supplied to the left- and right-side raceways equal even when the linear motion rolling guide unit is used in other than a horizontal attitude, assuring good lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5380097
    Abstract: A lubricating device for a linear motion rolling guide unit which ensures smooth supply of lubricating oil to the upper and lower raceways when the track rail is laid on an inclined or vertical surface of a base. A slider mounted astride the track rail has a casing slidable relative to the track rail and end caps attached to the longitudinal ends of the casing. The end caps are each formed with oil passages, branch oil passages and communication oil passages to supply lubricating oil to the raceways on both sides between the track rail and the casing. Open-close plugs are installed in the branch oil passages. The track rail is formed with communication through-holes that allow the raceways on both sides to communicate with each other. The lubricating oil, after lubricating the upper raceways, flows down the communication through-holes to lubricate the lower raceways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5324118
    Abstract: The linear motion rolling guide unit of this invention makes the total lengths of the retainer plates, which support the cylindrical rolls, longer than that of the casing so that the retainer plates can be inserted into the end caps for assembly. This simplifies the construction and reduces manufacturing costs. The retainer plates each comprise retaining portion formed with two or more rows of slots that support the cylindrical rolls in such a way as to allow the rotating motion of the rolls, a bent portion which is bent away from the track rail, and locking portions projecting from both ends of the bent portion. The locking portions fit into recesses in the end caps, the bent portion fits into grooves in the end caps, and the upper end portion of the retainer fits into grooves in the end caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Ichida
  • Patent number: 5308164
    Abstract: The linear motion rolling guide unit according to this invention has the casing mounted on the track rail so that it can be moved along the track rail. The end caps formed with the recessed arc surfaces for the direction changing passages are attached to the ends of the casing. To form the direction changing passages, the spacers are disposed so that they face and are spaced from the recessed arc surfaces of the end caps. A number of rollers circulate through the raceways formed between the track rail and the casing and through the direction changing passages. The roller-contacting surfaces of the spacers are formed with oil grooves that extend in the direction of roller movement. The oil grooves act as an escape for grease and also hold grease therein, thus reducing the sliding resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5281030
    Abstract: The linear roller bearing device provides full support and smooth sliding arrangement between the bearing body and the support rail. Four continuous channels are formed in the bearing body to house a plurality of rollers having identical configuration and dimensions. The rollers have a smooth cylindrical body and conical ends. At least two removable side covers are provided in the bearing body to facilitate access to the rollers for maintenance and replacement purposes. The rollers can be inserted into the continuous channels which are covered with removable end covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Ondrej Krnac
  • Patent number: 5277660
    Abstract: A tripod joint provides unlimited rolling plunge capabilities by using a chain-linked plurality of roller bearings. The roller bearings travel in an endless path around the inner member continuously providing plunging movement of the outer member with respect to the inner member. The angular travel of the joint is accommodated by angular movement of the inner member with respect to an inner roller. This insures that the plurality of roller bearings will maintain a rolling movement with respect to the outer member even when the joint is operated at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick J. Uchman
  • Patent number: 5273365
    Abstract: A linear motion rolling contact guide unit includes a rail which is formed at each side with a pair of oppositely oriented inner flat guide surfaces each extending in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the rail and with an inner Gothic arch shaped guide groove also extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rail. The guide unit also includes a slider which is slidably mounted on the rail and which is formed with a pair of oppositely oriented outer flat guide surfaces each located opposite to and spaced part from an associated one of the inner flat guide surfaces to define a pair of first guide channels for rollers and also with an outer Gothic arch shaped guide groove located opposite to the inner Gothic arch shaped guide groove to define a second guide channel for balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuo Kondoh
  • Patent number: 5251983
    Abstract: The linear motion rolling guide unit has: a track rail; a casing slidable relative to the track rail and having a pair of raceway surfaces; end caps mounted to the casing; V-shaped grooves formed between the raceway surfaces of the casing; a retainer having an engagement projecting portion engaged in the V-shaped groove; and a number of rollers circulating in contact with the facing raceway surfaces. The overall length of the retainer is set larger than that of the casing, and the ends of the retainer are engaged in the engagement grooves in the end caps to position the end caps with respect to the casing. Therefore, the positioning of the end caps on the casing can be made accurately without being affected by heat-treatment-induced deformation and machining errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Anada, Yasumasa Ooya
  • Patent number: 5244283
    Abstract: A double rail linear motion guide assembly suitable for carrying a load large in weight and size is provided. A pair of main and auxiliary guide rails are fixedly attached to a base. An inner guide groove is formed at each of the side surfaces of the main guide rail having a rectangular cross section. A U-shaped main slider provided with a pair of endless circulating paths is fixedly attached to a table and slidably mounted on the main guide rail in a straddling fashion and formed with an outer guide groove at its inner side surface. A plurality of rolling members are provided in the endless circulating paths. The auxiliary guide rail has a flat top guide surface and at least one flat bottom guide surface. An auxiliary slider having either a generally C-shaped or L-shaped cross section is fixedly attached to the table and slidably mounted on the auxiliary guide rail and is formed with endless circulating paths filled with rolling members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Morita
  • Patent number: 5230568
    Abstract: A linear bearing with revolving roller elements has a carrier body on which a closed track is formed, the runner elements moving on this track, which comprises a load track, a return track, and two substantially U-shaped roller element deflection tracks. Lateral guide means are provided for the roller elements: the guide means have homogeneous lateral guide walls for the roller elements and are formed to be step-free and continuous over the length of the load track and over at least part of the adjacent deflection tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: INA Lineartechnik oHG
    Inventors: Heinz Greiner, Richard Negele, Siegmund H. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5228783
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit generally includes a rail, a slider, a plurality of rollers provided in a roller guide channel defined between the rail and the slider and a plurality of balls provided in a ball guide channel defined between the rail and the slider. The roller guide channel is defined between an inner inclined guide surface formed at a shoulder of the rail and an outer inclined guide surface formed in the slider and the ball guide channel is defined between an inner guide groove having a Gothic arch-shaped cross section and an outer guide groove having also a Gothic arch-shaped cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ueki
  • Patent number: 5211483
    Abstract: Rolls of roller bearings have in their axial middle portion a load-transmitting peripheral surface and on their axial end portions there are respective radially projecting and space-maintaining peripheral surfaces. Therefore, only the space-maintaining peripheral surfaces of adjacent rolls contact one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Deutsche Star GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Blaurock
  • Patent number: 5193914
    Abstract: A quad guideway endless linear motion guide unit includes a rail, a slider and a plurality of rolling members interposed between the rail and the slider. The slider includes a center block and a pair of end blocks fixedly attached to the ends of the center block. The rail has four inner guide surfaces and the center block has four outer guide surfaces, each located opposite to a corresponding one of the inner guide surfaces to thereby define a load path section. The center block is formed with four holes, in each of which a sleeve having a passage defining a return path section is fitted. Each of the end blocks is provided with four curved connecting path sections for connecting the corresponding ends of the load and return path sections to thereby define an endless circulating path. The sleeve has a profiled end which is complementary in structure to an associated end of a corresponding one of the curved connecting path sections of the end block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5169239
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved roller assembly. The roller assembly is used primarily for a constant velocity tripod joint. The roller assembly comprises a rectangular base, a plurality of needle rollers and a one piece rectangular cover. The rectangular cover is attached to the rectangular base by a snap ring or a staking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean J. Schneider