Linear guide comprising at least two profile-members

Abstract

The invention relates to a linear guide (1) having at least one inner and at least one outer profile-member (2, 3), the outer profile-member (3) at least partially surrounding the inner profile-member (2) and the profile-members (2, 3) being guided one inside the other by means of at least two linear guiding means which are preferably arranged diametrically opposite each other, wherein at least a portion of a first linear guiding means is arranged in a floating manner.

Claims

1. A linear guide comprising: at least one inner profile-member and at least one outer profile-member, the outer profile-member at least partially surrounding the inner profile-member and the profile-members being guided one inside the other by at least two linear guiding means which are arranged diametrically opposite each other, wherein the at least two linear guiding means each have a linear guiding rail and a complementary sliding member, wherein the at least two linear guiding means comprise a first linear guiding means, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is arranged in a floating manner, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is displaceable within predetermined limits transversely relative to a guiding direction of the profile-members, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means includes a ball head rotatably arranged in a ball joint, wherein the sliding members are each connected to the outer profile-member by a retention device, and wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is retained by the ball joint in a bearing seat arranged in a bearing calliper member in a floating manner.

2. The linear guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two linear guiding means further comprises a second linear guiding means, and the second linear guiding means forms a fixed bearing.

3. The linear guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is resiliently loaded transversely relative to the guiding direction of the profile-members.

4. The linear guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the linear guiding rails is securely connected to the inner profile-member.

5. The linear guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the linear guiding rails are securely connected to the inner profile-member.

6. The linear guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the linear guiding rails is secured in a guiding groove of the inner profile-member by sliding blocks.

7. The linear guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the sliding members is arranged on the outer profile-member.

8. The linear guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein a position of at least one of the sliding members relative to the outer profile-member is adjustable to center the inner profile-member in the outer profile-member.

9. The linear guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball joint in the bearing seat is arranged in the bearing calliper member in a resiliently loaded manner.

10. A linear guide comprising: at least one inner profile-member and at least one outer profile-member, the outer profile-member at least partially surrounding the inner profile-member and the profile-members being guided one inside the other by at least two linear guiding means which are arranged diametrically opposite each other, wherein the at least two linear guiding means each have a linear guiding rail and a complementary sliding member, wherein the at least two linear guiding means comprise a first linear guiding means, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is arranged in a floating manner, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is displaceable within predetermined limits transversely relative to a guiding direction of the profile-members, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means includes a ball head rotatably arranged in a ball joint, wherein the sliding members are each connected to the outer profile-member by a retention device, and wherein each of the retention devices is secured to the outer profile-member by sliding bushes.

11. The linear guide as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least two linear guiding means further comprises a second linear guiding means, and the second linear guiding means forms a fixed bearing.

12. The linear guide as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is resiliently loaded transversely relative to the guiding direction of the profile-members.

13. The linear guide as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the linear guiding rails is securely connected to the inner profile-member.

14. The linear guide as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the linear guiding rails are securely connected to the inner profile-member.

15. The linear guide as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the linear guiding rails is secured in a guiding groove of the inner profile-member by sliding blocks.

16. The linear guide as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the sliding members is arranged on the outer profile-member.

17. The linear guide as claimed in claim 10, wherein a position of at least one of the sliding members relative to the outer profile-member is adjustable to center the inner profile-member in the outer profile-member.

18. The linear guide as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sliding member of the first linear guiding means is retained by the ball joint in a bearing seat arranged in a bearing calliper member in a floating manner.

19. The linear guide as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ball joint in the bearing seat is arranged in the bearing calliper member in a resiliently loaded manner.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1: shows a linear guide comprising at least two extruded profile-members according to the prior art,

(3) FIG. 2: shows a linear guide according to the invention comprising at least two extruded profile-members,

(4) FIG. 3: is an exploded illustration of the linear guide according to the invention from FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4: is a sectioned view through the linear guide according to the invention according to FIG. 2 along the lines IV-IV in FIG. 2,

(6) FIG. 5: is a sectioned view of the linear guide according to the invention according to FIG. 2 along the lines V-V in FIG. 2,

(7) FIG. 6: shows a linear guide according to the invention comprising two extruded profile-members with a three-part outer extruded profile-member,

(8) FIG. 7: shows a linear guide according to the invention comprising two extruded profile-members with a four-part outer extruded profile-member, and

(9) FIG. 8: is a cross section through a linear guiding profile-member according to another variant according to the invention.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a linear guide 1 comprising an inner extruded profile-member 2 and an outer extruded profile-member 3. Between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member 3, there are arranged at opposing sides two linear guiding means which guide a relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member 3. The linear guiding means each comprise a linear guiding rail 4 and a sliding member 5.

(11) The linear guiding rail 4 is arranged in a guiding groove 6 inside the inner extruded profile-member 2. The linear guiding rail 4 is connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of a retention device 7.

(12) Owing to the production-related dimensional tolerances during the production of the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member 3, occurrences of distortion may occur in the region of the linear guiding means during a relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and outer extruded profile-member 3.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a linear guide according to the invention comprising an inner extruded profile-member 2 and an outer extruded profile-member 3. The linear guide 1 comprises two linear guiding means which are arranged between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member 3 at opposing sides. The linear guiding means serve to guide the relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member 3. The linear guide 1 according to the invention differs from the prior art in that, at least at one side, at least a portion of a linear guiding means is constructed in such a manner that at least a compensation of the height tolerances is carried out at that location.

(14) The linear guiding means each comprise a linear guiding rail 4 and a sliding member 5. The linear guiding rails 4 are securely connected to the inner extruded profile-member 2. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the linear guiding rails are retained in a guiding groove 6 of the inner extruded profile-member 2 by means of sliding blocks 8.

(15) The sliding members 5 are connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of a retention device 7. A floating support is thereby ensured. According to the embodiment illustrated, the sliding member 5 is securely connected to the retention device 7.

(16) The retention device 7 is in the form of a covering cap in this instance.

(17) A base plate 9 is arranged between the retention device 7 and the outer extruded profile-member 3.

(18) The position of the sliding member 5 relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 is constructed so as to be adjustable in order to be able to center the inner extruded profile-member 2 in the outer extruded profile-member 3. The position of the sliding member 5 relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 can be changed by means of the grub screws 10.

(19) According to the embodiment illustrated, the sliding member 5 illustrated at the top in the figure is constructed so as to be movable relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3, whilst the sliding member 5 illustrated in the lower region of FIG. 3 is securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3, that is to say, forms a fixed bearing. If occurrences of distortion now occur between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member 3 during relative movement, they can be compensated for by means of a relative movement of the upper sliding member 5 relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 so that jamming of the relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and outer extruded profile-member 3 is prevented.

(20) The relative movement between the outer extruded profile-member 3 and sliding member 5 in the upper region of the device 1 according to FIG. 2 is achieved by means of a relative movement between the retention device 7 and outer extruded profile-member 3.

(21) The relative movement between the retention device 7 and outer extruded profile-member 3 is achieved by means of fitting screws which extend through a sliding bush 11.

(22) A plurality of retention devices 7 with associated sliding members 5 may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the outer extruded profile-member 3. At the upper side of the outer extruded profile-member 3, two such retention devices 7 with associated sliding members 5 are illustrated in FIG. 2.

(23) In order to be able to insert the sliding member 5 into the outer extruded profile-member 3, the outer extruded profile-member 3 has at least one recess 12 which is at least slightly larger than the external dimension of the sliding member 5.

(24) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the linear guide 1 from FIG. 2. The inner extruded profile-member 2 has at opposing sides a linear guiding rail 4 which is retained in a guiding groove 6 inside the inner extruded profile-member 2 by means of sliding blocks.

(25) In the outer extruded profile-member 3, two sliding members 5 are arranged in the upper region of the outer extruded profile-member 3 in the embodiment illustrated.

(26) The sliding members 5 are securely connected to the retention device 7. The retention device 7 is connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of fitting screws with a sliding bush 11 via a base plate 9. The guiding of the fitting screws in the sliding bushes 11 enables a relative movement between the retention device 7 and outer extruded profile-member 3.

(27) Using the grub screws 10, the position of the sliding member 5 relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 can be changed, whereby the inner extruded profile-member 2 can be centerd in the outer extruded profile-member 3. The sliding members 5 are arranged in a recess 12 within the outer extruded profile-member 3.

(28) FIG. 4 is a cross section through the linear guide 1 according to FIG. 2 in the region of the sliding members 5. The upper sliding member 5 is connected to the retention device 7 by means of a screw arrangement 13. The retention device 7 is connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of fitting screws with a sliding bush 11. Between the retention device 7 and the outer extruded profile-member 3 there is arranged a base plate 9 which is connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of sliding blocks 8.

(29) The lower sliding member 5 is connected to the lower retention plate 7 in FIG. 4 by means of a screw arrangement 13. The lower retention device 7 is securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of sliding blocks 8.

(30) The sliding members 5 cooperate in each case with a linear guiding rail 4 in order to guide the relative movement between the outer extruded profile-member 3 and the inner extruded profile-member 2. The linear rails 4 which are arranged at opposite sides of the inner extruded profile-member 2 are securely connected to the inner extruded profile-member 2 by means of sliding blocks 8. The linear rails 4 are in each case arranged inside a guiding groove 6 in the inner extruded profile-member 2.

(31) FIG. 5 is a sectioned view through the linear guide 1 according to FIG. 2 in the region of the retention device 7, outside the sliding members 5. The retention device 7 illustrated at the top in FIG. 5 is connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 so as to be movable relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of fitting screws with a sliding bush 11. A base plate 9 is arranged between the retention device 7 and outer extruded profile-member 3.

(32) The retention device 7 in the lower region of the device according to FIG. 5 is securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of a screw arrangement 13 and sliding blocks 8.

(33) Linear guiding rails 4 are connected to the inner extruded profile-member 2 at opposing sides. The linear guiding rails 4 are arranged between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member in order to guide a relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and outer extruded profile-member 3. The linear guiding rails 4 cooperate with sliding members 5. The linear guiding rails are constructed as dovetail profile-members, the sliding members 5 are constructed in a complementary manner thereto and engage around them. The sliding member 5 which belongs to the retention device 7 in the upper region of the device according to FIG. 5 is movably connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of the retention device 7, whilst the sliding member 5 which belongs to the retention device 7 in the lower region of FIG. 5 is securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member. Owing to the fact that the upper sliding member 5 is constructed so as to be movable relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3, height tolerances of the linear rails 4 and/or the inner extruded profile-member 2 can be compensated for.

(34) FIG. 6 shows a linear guide 1 according to the invention, three linear guiding rails 4 being securely connected to the inner extruded profile-member 2. The linear guiding rails 4 are each connected to the inner extruded profile-member 2 in a guiding groove 6 within the inner extruded profile-member 2.

(35) Sliding members 5 which are connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 cooperate in each case with the linear guiding rails 4 in order to guide the relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the outer extruded profile-member 3.

(36) In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and the left-hand sliding member 5 is securely connected to a retention device 7, the retention device 7 being securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3. The sliding member 5 illustrated at the bottom in FIG. 6 is securely connected to a retention device 7, but with the retention device 7 being connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 so as to be able to be moved relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of fitting screws which each extend through a sliding bush 11. A base plate 9 is arranged between the lower retention device 7 and outer extruded profile-member 3.

(37) In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the outer extruded profile-member 3 is constructed in three parts, the individual parts of the outer extruded profile-member 3 being fixed to each other by means of the fixed retention devices 7, that is to say, in the upper and in the left-hand region of FIG. 6. The fixing of the individual parts of the outer extruded profile-member 3 in the lower region is achieved by means of the base plate 9 since the retention device 7 is constructed in the lower region of FIG. 6 so as to be movable relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 and consequently cannot act as a fixing means.

(38) The inner extruded profile-member 2 according to FIG. 6 has a groove channel 14 for a toothed belt and a groove channel 15 for a measuring strip, the toothed belt which is used being able to cooperate with a drive device which brings about a relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and outer extruded profile-member 3. The measuring strip used in the groove channel 15 can be used in this instance to determine the relative movement between the inner extruded profile-member 2 and outer extruded profile-member 3.

(39) FIG. 7 shows a linear guide 1 having a four-part outer extruded profile-member 3. The retention devices 7 illustrated at the top and on the right in FIG. 7 are securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3, whilst the retention devices 7 illustrated on the left and at the bottom in FIG. 7 are connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 so as to be able to be moved relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3 by means of fitting screws having a sliding bush 11. Between the movably arranged retention devices 7 and the outer extruded profile-member 3, there is arranged a base plate 9, respectively, which plates fix the position of the individual parts of the outer extruded profile-member 3 relative to each other.

(40) The position of the individual parts of the outer extruded profile-member 3 in the upper and right-hand region of FIG. 7 is determined by means of the retention devices 7 which are securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3.

(41) A sliding member 5 is securely connected to the retention devices 7 in each case. The sliding members 5 each cooperate with a linear guiding rail 4, which are arranged in each case in a guiding groove 6 in the inner extruded profile-member 2 and securely connected to the inner extruded profile-member 2.

(42) In FIG. 7, it can be seen that, from opposing retention devices 7, one is in each case securely connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3, whilst the other retention device 7 is connected to the outer extruded profile-member 3 so as to be able to be moved relative to the outer extruded profile-member 3. Dimensional tolerances are thereby able to be compensated for in two directions.

(43) FIG. 8 shows another variant of the linear guide according to the invention. As in the embodiments previously described, the linear guiding means are constructed between the outer extruded profile-member 3 and the inner extruded profile-member 2 at the side illustrated at the bottom in the figure as fixed bearings, whereas the linear guide is constructed at the diametrically opposed side of the linear guide as a movable bearing. The construction of the fixed bearing side, that is to say, the linear guiding means illustrated at the bottom in FIG. 8, is in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the same components being given the same reference numerals.

(44) The movable bearing side is constructed differently in so far as the sliding member 5 which is secured to the outer extruded profile-member 3 has at that location a plurality of degrees of freedom. As already mentioned in the introduction, not only are height tolerances of the inner extruded profile-member 2 and the linear guiding rails 4 thereby compensated for, but also any imprecise running or tolerances transversely relative to the guiding direction of the extruded profile-members 2, 3. The sliding member 5 of the movable bearing side is securely provided with a ball head 16, which is retained in a bearing seat 17 which forms a ball joint with the ball head 16. The bearing seat 17 is formed by two mutually complementary ball plates 18a, 18b, of which the upper ball plate 18a has a dome-like recess and the lower ball plate 18b has a circular aperture with an edge which is circular-arc-like in cross section.

(45) The sliding member 5 of the movable bearing side may have, in place of a ball head 16, a barrel-shaped bearing pin which has a spherical or round covering face. Such a bearing pin may, for example, be displaceably guided in a cylindrical bearing bush so that any bearing seat in the context of the above description can be dispensed with. A resiliently loaded bearing is not necessarily required.

(46) The ball plates 18a, 18b are arranged in a floating manner, that is to say, transversely relative to the guiding direction of the extruded profile-members 2, 3 inside a bearing calliper member 19 and are pretensioned by means of compression springs 20 in the direction towards the linear guiding rail 4. The compression springs 20 are not necessarily required for the operation and in particular for tolerance compensation. The bearing calliper member 19 is securely screwed to the outer extruded profile-member 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(47) 1 Linear guide 2 Inner extruded profile-member 3 Outer extruded profile-member 4 Linear guiding rail 5 Sliding member 6 Guiding groove 7 Retention device 8 Sliding block 9 Base plate 10 Grub screws 11 Fitting screw with sliding bush 12 Recess 13 Screw arrangement 14 Groove channel for toothed belt 15 Groove channel for measuring strip 16 Ball head 17 Bearing seat 18a, 18b Ball plates 19 Bearing calliper member 20 Compression