# US 2025/0154730 A1 · Rail connecting structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0154730 A1 - Document ID: US20250154730A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/838,440 - Filed: 2023-01-19 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-15 - Assignees: Thk Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Thk Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yuichi Mizutani; Kazutoshi Harima; Marina Takeda; Akira Ishihara; Yusuke Asano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250154730A1 ## CPC - E01B 5/02: Rails - E01B 25/30: Tracks for magnetic suspension or levitation vehicles - E01B 25/305: {Rails or supporting constructions} - F16C 29/005: {Guide rails or tracks for a linear bearing, i.e. adapted for movement of a carriage or bearing body there along} - B65G 54/02: electrostatic, electric, or magnetic - B65G 2812/99: Conveyor systems not otherwise provided for - E01B: PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A rail connecting structure is provided which can absorb misalignment occurring on rail mounting members side and reduce a level difference generated at a connecting portion of rails. A rail connecting structure that connects rails (6, 7) to be mounted on rail mounting members (4, 5) includes a base block (22) that is placed at a connecting portion (14) of one rail (6) and the other rail (7) and is separate from the rail mounting members (4, 5), in which the base block (22) is fastened to the one rail (6) and the other rail (7) with fastening members that are passed through mounting holes (6a, 7a) of the one rail (6) and the other rail (7), and the base block (22) is not fixed to the rail mounting members (4, 5), and is movable relative to the rail mounting members (4, 5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rail connecting structure that connects rails to be mounted on rail mounting members, the rail connecting structure comprising a base block that is placed at a connecting portion of one rail and the other rail and is separate from the rail mounting members, wherein the base block is fastened to the one rail and the other rail with fastening members that are passed through mounting holes of the one rail and the other rail, and the base block is not fixed to the rail mounting members and is movable relative to the rail mounting members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rail connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein there is a gap between the base block and the rail mounting members, or an interposed object that allows movement of the base block is interposed between the base block and the rail mounting members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rail connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein side surfaces of the rails are pressed against a reference surface of the base block by use of cap screws that are threadedly engaged with the base block. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rail connecting structure according to claim 3, wherein the side surfaces of the rails are pressed against the reference surface of the base block by use of the cap screws and rail retainers placed on side surfaces of the rails opposite to the reference surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rail connecting structure according to claim 4, wherein a shank of each of the cap screws has a threaded portion on a tip side thereof and an unthreaded portion on a head side thereof, and a female thread portion of the base block is formed with a fall prevention groove having a greater width than an axial length of the threaded portion in such a manner as to divide the female threaded portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rail connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the one rail is mounted on one rail mounting member, and the other rail is mounted on the other rail mounting member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The rail connecting structure according to claim 2, wherein side surfaces of the rails are pressed against a reference surface of the base block by use of cap screws that are threadedly engaged with the base block. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The rail connecting structure according to claim 2, wherein the one rail is mounted on one rail mounting member, and the other rail is mounted on the other rail mounting member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The rail connecting structure according to claim 3, wherein the one rail is mounted on one rail mounting member, and the other rail is mounted on the other rail mounting member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The rail connecting structure according to claim 4, wherein the one rail is mounted on one rail mounting member, and the other rail is mounted on the other rail mounting member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The rail connecting structure according to claim 5, wherein the one rail is mounted on one rail mounting member, and the other rail is mounted on the other rail mounting member.