Universal guide device and moving table device using same
US6338573B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L29/00
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention offers a universal guide device capable of using the sliders of conventional straight guide devices intact. The universal guide device does not need a different slider for each different radius of track rail. The universal guide device can be manufactured at lower cost than normal. This universal guide device in accordance with the invention comprises a track rail and sliders mounted to the rail via balls circulating through endless circular paths. The rail has at least one straight region and at least one curved region shaped in an arc with a given radius of curvature. Each of the sliders is of saddlelike cross section. The sliders span the rail. The sliders have ball-rolling surfaces shaped linearly. The curved region of the rail is set narrower than the straight region of the rail.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.