Patent ID: 8844891
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A slide apparatus for a vehicle, comprises: a first rail provided at a vehicle; a second rail supported by the first rail and being movable relative to the first rail in an extending direction of the first rail; and a rolling element circulation unit separately provided from the second rail, the rolling element circulation unit including a first case, a second case engaging with the first case, and a plurality of rolling elements accommodated within a receiving portion defined by the first case and the second case, the rolling element circulation unit being fixed to an outer side portion of the second rail, the receiving portion provided at facing surfaces of the first case and the second case and including first and second annular receiving portions accommodating the plurality of rolling elements that are annularly arranged in a rolling and circulating manner, the second case including elongated bores connected to the first and second annular receiving portions respectively and extending in an extending direction of the second rail in a state where the second case is mounted at the second rail, a portion of the rolling elements being exposed from the elongated bores while being inhibited from disengaging from the elongated bores, at least one of the first case and the second case including a partition wall separating the rolling elements accommodated within the first annular receiving portion from the rolling elements accommodated within the second annular receiving portion so that the rolling elements accommodated within the first annular receiving portion and the rolling elements accommodated within the second annular receiving portion are inhibited from making contact with one another, wherein the rolling elements exposed from the elongated bores make contact with an operating surface formed at the first rail and respective inner surfaces formed at the first and second annular receiving portions, and the rolling elements roll and circulate within the first and second annular receiving portions in association with a relative movement between the first rail and the second rail, and wherein each of the first and second annular receiving portions includes at least one of an inclined circulation passage and a curved circulation passage in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the second rail in a state where the rolling element circulation unit is mounted at the second rail, the inclined circulation passage being inclined in a direction where a circulation path of the rolling elements forms a sharp angle relative to the operating surface, the curved circulation passage at which the rolling elements make contact with the operating surface in a curved path.