US 5,350,054 AGranted

Ball block for mounting linear motor

OwnerRaymond K. Fosterinventor

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Abstract

The ball end (16) of the piston rod (14) of a linear motor (6) is mounted in a ball block (52). The block (52) has mating housing portions (54, 56) that abut along mating surfaces (64) that are substantially parallel to, but slope relative to, the motor axis (X). One housing portion includes an integral rear wall (70) through which the axis (X) extends and which defines a portion of a socket (58) that receives the ball end (16). The other housing portion has a flange (78) that projects into a space between the socket (58) and a sloping extension (74) of the wall (70). The outer surface (76) of the wall (70) is secured to a fixed support (84). The wall (70) transmits loads carried by operation of the motor (6) from the ball end (16) directly to the support (84) and minimizes loads on the fasteners (68) securing the housing portions (54, 56) together. The housing portion that includes the wall (70) is made from a material with a high load carrying capability. The other portion is relatively easy to machine and includes a passageway to deliver fluid to the ball end (16). A reinforcing bar (150) extends rearwardly from the motor (6) through a channel formed by a floor member of a reciprocating floor conveyor.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A ball block for mounting a ball end of a linear motor, said motor having a piston component and a cylinder component, said ball end being formed on an outer end of one of said components, and said motor being operable to move said components relative to each other along an axis that extends through a center portion of said ball end, said ball block comprising:

first and second mating housing portions that together define a socket for receiving the ball end;
said housing portions abutting each other along mating surfaces that are substantially parallel to said axis;
and said socket having a closed rear end portion, and a forward end portion;
a passageway extending from said forward end portion through said first and second housing portions, said passageway being dimensioned to receive therethrough a forwardly projecting portion of the component on which the ball end is formed;
and
a plurality of fasteners positioned around said socket and extending through said mating surfaces to secure said housing portions together;
wherein one of said housing portions includes an integral rear wall;
said wall having an inner forward surface that defines a rear portion of said socket, and an outer rear surface that is securable to a fixed support;
and said axis extending through said rear surface and said forward surface, and said wall extending substantially perpendicularly past said axis, to directly transmit loads created by operation of the linear motor from the ball end to a fixed support to which said wall is secured.

6 more elements

In a reciprocating floor conveyor, the combination comprising:

a plurality of floor members;
a linear motor;
said motor including a piston component, a cylinder component, a rear ball end, and an opposite forward end that is attached to one of said floor members;
and said motor being operable to move said components relative to each other along an axis that extends through a center portion of said ball end;
and
a ball block comprising:
first and second mating housing portions that together define a socket for receiving said ball end;
said housing portions abutting each other along mating surfaces that are substantially parallel to said axis;
and said socket having a closed rear end portion, and a forward end portion;
a passageway extending from said forward end portion through said first and second housing portions, said passageway being dimensioned to receive therethrough a forwardly projecting portion of said motor;
and
a plurality of fasteners positioned around said socket and extending through said mating surfaces to secure said housing portions together;
wherein one of said housing portions includes an integral rear wall;
said wall having an inner forward surface that defines a rear portion of said socket, and an outer rear surface that is secured to a fixed support;
and said axis extending through said rear surface and said forward surface, and said wall extending substantially perpendicularly past said axis, to directly transmit loads created by operation of said linear motor from said ball end to said fixed support.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.