Linear guide
AssigneeMachine Systems, Ltd.
InventorsDamon Mark, Chris Seitz, Gene Sloan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear guide assembly which includes a slide body that is moveably supported on a guide rail by a non-rolling bearing insert. A channel extends longitudinally through the body and the guide rail is received in the channel. The bearing insert facilitates longitudinal movement of the body along the rail. The nature of the mounting of the bearing insert to the body in the channel is such that the bearing insert can be readily removed from the body when excessively worn and replaced without also requiring replacement of the body.
Claims19
A linear guide assembly comprising:
- a slide body having a top, a bottom, opposing sides and opposing ends, portions of said body defining a channel extending longitudinally through said body and between said ends;
- a guide rail having opposing ends and a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of said channel to permit said rail to be received in said channel;
- said body being on said rail and said body longitudinally moveable along said rail while being restricted from laterally and vertically moving relative to said rail;
- non-rolling bearing means for facilitating longitudinal movement of said body along said rail, said bearing means mounted to said body;
- and
- mounting means located within said channel for removably mounting said bearing means to said body, said mounting means cooperating with said bearing means for vertically and laterally retaining said bearing means relative to said body and permitting removal and replacement of said bearing means independent of replacement of said body.
A linear guide assembly comprising:
- a slide body having a top, a bottom, opposing sides and opposing ends, portions of said body defining a channel extending longitudinally through said body between said ends, said body also including a plurality of longitudinal grooves defined in said channel;
- a guide rail having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of said channel, said rail being received within said channel and said body being restricted to longitudinal movement along said rail;
- a plurality of elongated sliding bearing members facilitating longitudinal sliding movement of said body along said rail, said bearing members being received in said grooves and being longitudinally insertable and frictionally retained therein, said bearing means and said body having a press-fit engagement therebetween;
- and
- retainer means removably attached to said body, said retainer means permitting longitudinal removal and replacement of said bearing members independent of replacement of said body when said retainer means is unattached to said body and preventing longitudinal removal of said bearing members when attached to said body.
A linear guide assembly comprising:
- a slide body having a top, a bottom, opposing sides and opposing ends, portions of said body defining a channel extending longitudinally through said body between said ends;
- a guide rail having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of said channel, said rail being received within said channel and said body being restricted to longitudinal movement along said rail;
- sliding bearing means for facilitating longitudinal sliding movement of said body, said bearing means being removably and insert mounted to said body, said bearing means includes a plurality of elongated members having a cross-section with flats formed thereon and engaging said rail;
- and
- retainer means for retaining said bearing means to said body, said retainer means permitting longitudinal removal and replacement of said bearing means independent of replacement of said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.