# US 2013/0239368 A1 · System, method, and apparatus for holding a track to a base

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- Number: US 2013/0239368 A1
- Document ID: US20130239368A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/888,177
- Filed: 2013-05-06
- Published: 2013-09-19
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-29
- Assignees: Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation
- Applicants: Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation
- Inventors: Nigel S. WATSON
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239368A1

## CPC

- F16C 29/005: {Guide rails or tracks for a linear bearing, i.e. adapted for movement of a carriage or bearing body there along}
- F16C 29/004: {Fixing of a carriage or rail, e.g. rigid mounting to a support structure or a movable part}
- F16C 29/045: {having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts}
- E04C 2003/0421: {comprising one single unitary part}
- E04C 2003/0439: {the cross-section comprising open parts and hollow parts}
- E04C 2003/0465: {square- or rectangular-shaped}
- Y10T 29/49948: Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]
- Y10T 29/49963: Threaded fastener
- Y10T 403/7062: Clamped members
- Y10T 403/7064: by wedge or cam
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Bolt-on clamp extrusions for fastening a track to support base extrusion for providing customers with a simple-to-assemble, customizable, reconfigurable, and user-friendly solution for reliable linear motion track assembly. A back-to-back track configuration provides a low-profile track assembly. Custom made base extrusions include deformable fingers disposed in the slot to ensure proper fit despite a variance in track size.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clamp apparatus for holding a linear guide track comprising:
an axial member having a substantially c-shaped cross section consisting of:
a connected end; and
a pair of horizontally disposed arms defining a gap therebetween, wherein each of said arms comprises a conduit, and wherein the conduits line up;
wherein the gap is configured to accept a linear guide track;
wherein said conduits are configured to accept a bolt, such that the bolt displaces at least one of said pair of horizontally disposed arms upon the application of force by tightening a nut onto said bolt, such that the gap closes, thereby clamping onto a track inserted therein.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The clamp apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a raised area groove disposed on a bottom side of said axial member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein said axial member comprises one integral work piece that is formed by a technique selected from among extrusion and metal injection molding.

### Claim 4

A back-to-back track assembly comprising:
a base extrusion comprising a substantially rectangular member elongated axially on a first axis, wherein said base extrusion comprises a plurality of conduits drilled normal to said first axis at regular intervals along the length of the extrusion;
two linear motion guide tracks, each track having a substantially rectangular end and a substantially triangular end, wherein said two linear motion guide tracks are placed on said base extrusion with said substantially triangular ends facing away form each other such that a space is formed between the two substantially rectangular ends, wherein said space is substantially the same width as the diameter of said conduit;
a plurality of retaining washers placed on the top of said two linear motion guide tracks, said plurality of retaining washers having a washer conduit therethrough, wherein said plurality of retaining washers are placed such that each washer conduit aligns with one of said plurality of conduits;
a plurality of nuts and bolts, wherein one of said plurality of bolts is inserted through said washer conduit, through said space, and through one of said plurality of conduits drilled in said base extrusion, wherein at least a threadable portion of the bolts extends out of said base extrusion, and wherein one of said plurality of said nuts threads onto said threadable portion, thereby forcing said retaining washer onto said two linear motion guide tracks and securing said two linear guide tracks to said base extrusion,
a beam extrusion having at least one T-shaped beam slot having a T-shaped beam slot opening that is more narrow than the core of the T-shaped beam slot; and
at least one guide wheel rotatably coupled to an axis, wherein the outermost portion of the at least one guide wheel comprises a substantially v-shaped track interface, wherein said axis is coupled with a track bar configured to be inserted into said T-shaped beam slot,
wherein said substantially v-shaped guide wheel track interface geometrically couples with said substantially triangular end of said linear motion guide track such that the beam extrusion is linearly movable over the axial distance of said linear motion guide track.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A back-to-back track assembly of claim 4, wherein said washer conduits are countersunk such that the head of said plurality of said bolts are housed within said washer conduits when tightened.

### Claim 6

A method of assembling a back-to-back track assembly comprising:
providing a base extrusion comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular member, wherein said base extrusion comprises a plurality of conduits drilled at regular intervals along the length of the extrusion;
placing two linear motion guide tracks on said base extrusion, wherein each track has a substantially rectangular end and a substantially triangular end, wherein said two linear motion guide tracks are placed on said base extrusion with said substantially triangular ends facing away form each other such that a space is formed between the two substantially rectangular ends, wherein said space is substantially the same width as the diameter of said conduit;
placing a plurality of retaining washers on the top of said two linear motion guide tracks, wherein said plurality of retaining washers have a washer conduit therethrough, wherein said plurality of retaining washers are placed such that each washer conduit aligns with one of said plurality of conduits;
threading a plurality of bolts through said washer conduit, through said space, and through one of said plurality of conduits drilled in said base extrusion, wherein at least a threadable portion of the bolts extends out of said base extrusion;
threading a nut onto said threadable portion of each of said plurality of bolts, thereby forcing said retaining washer onto said two linear motion guide tracks and securing said two linear guide tracks to said base extrusion;
providing a beam extrusion having at least one T-shaped beam slot having a T-shaped beam slot opening that is more narrow than the core of the T-shaped beam slot; and
providing at least one guide wheel rotatably coupled to an axis, wherein the outermost portion of the at least one guide wheel comprises a substantially v-shaped track interface, wherein said axis is coupled with a track bar configured to be inserted into said T-shaped beam slot; and
coupling the guide wheel with at least one of said two linear motion guide track, wherein said substantially v-shaped guide wheel track interface geometrically couples with said substantially triangular end of said linear motion guide track such that the beam extrusion is linearly movable over the axial distance of said linear motion guide track.

### Claim 7

A snap-in support base extrusion comprising:
a substantially rectangular work piece formed by an extrusion, said work piece having at least one substantially rectangular slot for accepting the insertion of a linear motion guide track, wherein at least one substantially rectangular slot comprises two walls and a bottom surface, wherein at least one of the walls comprises a plurality of deformable teeth protrusions disposed orthogonal to the surface of said at least one wall and extending at least partially into said slot, wherein the insertion of a linear motion guide track into said slot deforms said plurality of deformable teeth protrusions, thereby ensuring a tight fit of the linear motion guide track within the slot and also providing resistance to removal of said linear motion guide track from the slot.