US 2019/0376554 A1 · LONG SPAN LEAD SCREW ASSEMBLY WITH ANTI-BACKLASH NUT AND WEAR COMPENSATED LOAD BEARING ELEMENT

Abstract

A motion device can include a carriage for traveling along a rail. The carriage can have at least one rotatable fixed position roller, and at least one rotatable adjustable roller that is movable relative to the at least one fixed position roller for self compensating for play between the rollers and mating surfaces of the rail. Each at least one adjustable roller can be part of a movable roller portion movably mounted to the carriage. The movable roller portion can be adjustably movable by a self adjustment mechanism. The self adjustment mechanism can include a mechanical advantage pushing member capable of movably engaging the movable roller portion. The mechanical advantage pushing member can be resiliently biased against the movable roller portion by a biasing arrangement. The biasing arrangement can be capable of causing movement of the mechanical advantage pushing member and the movable roller portion for moving the at least one adjustable roller for self compensating for said play.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A motion device comprising:

a carriage for traveling along a rail, the carriage having at least one rotatable fixed position roller, and at least one rotatable adjustable roller that is movable relative to the at least one fixed position roller for self compensating for play between the rollers and mating rail race surfaces of the rail, each at least one adjustable roller being part of a movable roller portion movably mounted to the carriage, the movable roller portion being adjustably movable by a self adjustment mechanism, the self adjustment mechanism including a mechanical advantage pushing member capable of movably engaging the movable roller portion, the mechanical advantage pushing member being resiliently biased against the movable roller portion by a biasing arrangement, the biasing arrangement capable of causing movement of the mechanical advantage pushing member and the movable roller portion for moving the at least one adjustable roller, for self compensating for said play.

A motion device comprising:

a linear rail;
a carriage slidably mounted to the rail for travel along the rail;
and
a rotatable lead screw extending along a longitudinal axis mounted to the rail for driving the carriage along the rail, the carriage including axially spaced first and second partial follower nuts having a respective first and second thread forms for engaging mating threads on the lead screw, the first partial follower nut being biased against the lead screw in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis by a first nut transverse self adjustment mechanism for removing backlash, the second partial follower nut also being biased against the lead screw in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis by a second nut transverse self adjustment mechanism for removing backlash, the second partial follower nut being further biased against the lead screw along the longitudinal axis relative to the first partial follower nut, by a second nut axial self adjustment mechanism for removing backlash during high load or high acceleration operation.

1 more element

A method of rollably moving a carriage of a motion device along a rail, the carriage having at least one rotatable fixed position roller, and at least one rotatable adjustable roller, that roll on mating engagement surfaces of the rail, the method comprising:

moving the at least one adjustable roller relative to the at least one fixed position roller for self compensating for play between the rollers and the mating rail race surfaces of the rail, each at least one adjustable roller being part of a movable roller portion movably mounted to the carriage, the movable roller portion being adjustably moved by a self adjustment mechanism, the self adjustment mechanism including a mechanical advantage pushing member movably engaging the movable roller portion, the mechanical advantage pushing member being resiliently biased against the movable roller portion by a biasing arrangement, the biasing arrangement causing movement of the mechanical advantage pushing member and the movable roller portion for moving the adjustable roller, for self compensating for said play.

A method of removing backlash associated with a rotatable lead screw in a motion device, the motion device having a carriage slidably mounted to a linear rail for travel along the rail driven by a rotatable lead screw extending along a longitudinal axis, and mounted to the rail, the carriage including axially spaced first and second partial follower nuts having respective first and second thread forms for engaging mating threads on the lead screw, the method comprising:

biasing the first partial follower nut against the lead screw in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis with a first nut transverse self adjustment mechanism for removing backlash;
biasing the second partial follower nut against the lead screw in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis with a second nut transverse self adjustment mechanism for removing backlash;
and
biasing the second partial follower nut against the lead screw axially along the longitudinal axis relative to the first partial follower nut with a second nut axial self adjustment mechanism for removing backlash during high load or high acceleration operation.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Long span lead screw assembly with anti-backlash nut and wear compensated load bearing element

Life of this patent

Long span lead screw assembly with anti-backlash nut and wear compensated load bearing element

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40