Abstract:
A hydrostatic bearing for supporting horizontal and vertical forces, with a guide rail ( 2 ) and a support element ( 1 ) with a hydrostatic mounting on the guide rail, whereby the angle α between the head side and the lateral guide surfaces ( 6, 8 ) of the guide section ( 3 ) is greater than or equal to 35 degrees and less than or equal to 75 degrees, and the angle γ between the mounting surface ( 7 ) and the lateral foot surface ( 9 ) of the mounting section ( 4 ) is greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 25 degrees.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a hydrostatic bearing for supporting horizontal and vertical forces. 
         [0002]    From DE 38 31 676 C1, for example, a hydrostatic bearing is known, in which a support element is supported hydrostatically on a guide rail. The guide rail has a trapezoidal guide section and a trapezoidal mounting section. The two sections are turned toward each other with their tapered sides. A head-side guide surface of the guide section and a mounting surface of the mounting section are turned away from and arranged parallel to each other. Lateral guide surfaces of the guide section are each arranged at an acute angle to the upper guide surface. Lateral foot surfaces of the mounting section are arranged at an acute angle to the mounting surface. The two lateral guide surfaces of the guide section connect to both longitudinal sides or edges of the head-side guide surface, wherein an angle is enclosed between the lateral guide surface and the head-side guide surface. 
         [0003]    The support element has two legs and a base connecting the two legs. With its two legs, the support element grips around the guide rail. The two legs and the base each feature a pressure pocket that can be pressurized hydrostatically for building up a hydrostatic pressure between the guide rail and the support element. 
         [0004]    Such hydrostatic bearings feature lower load ratings in comparison with known linear guides with recirculating roller bodies. For linear roller bearings with recirculating roller bodies, the loads to be transmitted are transmitted between the support element and the guide rail via a plurality of rollers, which roll under load on tracks of the guide rail and the support element. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The object of the present invention is to specify a hydrostatic bearing according to the features of the preamble of Claim  1 , in which the carrying capacity is improved. 
         [0006]    According to the invention, this objective is met in that the angle α between the head-side and the lateral guide surface of the guide section is greater than or equal to 35° and less than or equal to 75° and that the angle γ between the mounting surface and the lateral foot surface of the mounting section is greater than or equal to 10° and less than or equal to 25°. 
         [0007]    In the geometric formation of the guide rail and the support element provided here, it has been shown surprisingly that the carrying capacity is significantly increased in comparison with the hydrostatic bearing according to DE 38 31 676 C1. At the same hydraulic pressure, higher load ratings are achieved in comparison with the hydrostatic bearing according to DE 38 31 676 C1. 
         [0008]    The hydrostatic bearing according to the invention can be constructed in its clearance profile like a standard profile rail guide according to DIN 645-1. In DIN 645, connection measures for the guide rail and the support element, as well as the outer dimensions of the system, are described. 
         [0009]    An optimum for the formation and the carrying capacity of the hydrostatic bearing according to the invention is achieved when the angle α between the upper and the lateral guide surface of the guide section equals 55°. 
         [0010]    The pressure pocket provided on the base of the support element can be divided by a separating ridge arranged along the guide rail. This separating ridge can be provided on its side facing the guide rail with a support surface for contacting the guide surface of the guide section. This improvement according to the invention guarantees an emergency-running property of the hydrostatic bearing. If an excessive pressure force is applied at a right angle to the upper guide surface of the guide section, under some circumstances, the pressure cushion set between the guide rail and the support element can be pressed together, so that the separating ridge is led with its support surface into contact with the guide rail. This contact is created such that another method of the support element is possible on the guide rail. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the support element has a support body provided with the pressure pockets and two head pieces connecting to two end sides of the support body. Pressure channels connecting to the pressure pockets are provided, which are provided with chokes or flow control valves provided in at least one of the two head pieces for regulating the flow rate of hydraulic fluid. For problem-free adjustment of the hydrostatic bearing, the hydrostatic pressure can be set exactly in the three pressure pockets using the chokes or flow control valves. 
         [0012]    Advantageously, the support element can also be provided with return channels, which open into at least one of the two head pieces, wherein returning hydraulic fluid can be discharged via a return location provided on the head piece. For better oil return, a suction pump can also be connected. 
         [0013]    In a refinement according to the invention, the support element can be supplied further with two return channels, which are arranged longitudinal to the guide rail and which are each arranged in a corner region formed by the base and one of the two legs of the support element. In this corner region, the return channel can be formed as an open groove, which can be limited on its open longitudinal side by the guide rail. 
         [0014]    In this case, it is especially favorable when the guide section of the guide rail has, in its edge region formed by the lateral guide surface and its head-side guide surface, a flattened section, which extends along the guide rail and which limits the return channel. The width of the flattened section is then dimensioned so that the clear opening width of the open groove is largely covered. 
         [0015]    The support element can be provided on the free ends of its two legs with a longitudinal seal, which contacts the guide rail. This longitudinal seal can advantageously limit the return channel for the hydraulic fluid. 
         [0016]    Furthermore, the head piece can be provided with a front seal, which wraps around the guide rail and which contacts the lateral and the head-side guide surface of the guide section of the guide rail. Advantageously, this front seal can limit a collection channel, which wraps around the guide rail and by which the hydraulic fluid is led from the return channels into a central return location of the head piece. 
         [0017]    Between the trapezoidal guide section and the trapezoidal mounting section, a transition section can be provided, which connects the mounting section integrally to the guide section. The height of this transition section can vary as a function of the selected angle proposed according to the invention. 
         [0018]    The transition section can be provided on its opposing longitudinal sides with straight or concave curved transition surfaces, which connect to the lateral guide surfaces of the guide section and to the lateral foot surfaces of the mounting section. These transition surfaces can be formed as contact surfaces for the longitudinal seals of the support element already explained above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0019]    The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in a total of five figures. Shown are: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  a perspective view of a hydrostatic bearing according to the invention, 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  another perspective view of the hydrostatic bearing according to the invention, 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  a view of the hydrostatic bearing according to the invention, 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  a single element in perspective view, and 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  a partial longitudinal section through the hydrostatic bearing according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    The hydrostatic bearing according to the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  shows, in a perspective view, a support element  1 , which is supported on a guide rail  2  so that it can move longitudinally. The guide rail  2  is divided into two sections: a trapezoidal guide section  3  and a trapezoidal mounting section  4 . The two trapezoidal sections  3 ,  4  are turned toward each other with their tapered sides and are connected to each other integrally by a transition section  5 . 
         [0026]    The guide section  3  has a head-side guide surface  6 . A foot-side mounting surface  7  of the mounting section  4  is formed parallel to the head-side guide surface  6  on the opposite side of the guide rail  2 . Lateral guide surfaces  8  connect to both longitudinal sides or edges of the head-side guide surface  6 , wherein these lateral guide surfaces  8  are arranged with an angle α inclined relative to the head-side guide surface  6 . 
         [0027]    The mounting section  4  has lateral foot surfaces  9 , which are arranged inclined at an angle γ to the mounting surface  7 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  also shows that the lateral guide surfaces  8  of the guide section  3  and the lateral foot surfaces  9  of the mounting section  4  intersect at an angle β. 
         [0029]    The support element  1  has a support body  10  and two head pieces  11 , which are arranged on both end sides of the support body  10 . The support element  1  has two legs  12  and a base  13  connecting the two legs  12 , wherein the support element  1  wraps around the guide rail  2  with its two legs  12 . 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 2 , the support body  10  is cut transversely, wherein the two head pieces  11  are left off. In this representation, pressure pockets  14 , which are formed on two legs  12  and on the base  13  on their sides facing the guide rail  2 , can be seen clearly. These pressure pockets  14  can be pressurized hydraulically for building up a hydrostatic pressure between the guide rail  2  and the support element  1 . 
         [0031]    For this hydrostatic bearing according to the invention, the two lateral guide surfaces  9  of the guide section  2  are arranged at an angle α equal to 55° to the head-side guide surface  6  of the guide section  3 . At this inclination of the guide surfaces relative to each other, according to the invention significantly higher load ratings can be achieved than for known hydrostatic bearings. This angle α can equal at least 35° and at most 75°, wherein an optimum for the carrying capacity was determined at 55°. 
         [0032]    The lateral foot surfaces  9  of the mounting section  4  are arranged at an angle between 10 and 25° inclined relative to the foot-side mounting surface  7  of the mounting section  4 . With the angles α and γ proposed here, angles β are created between the lateral guide surfaces  8  and the lateral foot surfaces  9 , which can be given between 45 and 100°. The support element  1  has inner contours, which are adapted to the outer contours of the guide rail  2 . The inner sides of the two legs  12  are also arranged relative to the inner side of the base  13  at the angle α of the guide rail  2 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  shows boreholes  15 , which are provided on the head piece  11  and in which typical chokes or flow control valves not shown here are inserted. These boreholes  15  are connected hydraulically to pressure channels  16 , which are connected to the pressure pockets  14 . In  FIG. 2 , the pressure channels provided in the support body  10  are shown in section. The pressure channels  16  are pressurized with hydraulic fluid, for example, hydraulic oil, wherein the pressure in the pressure pockets  14  can be set precisely by adjusting the not shown chokes or flow control valves. 
         [0034]    The pressure pocket  14  shown on the base  13  of the support element  1  is divided by a separating ridge  17  arranged along the guide rail  2 . Each divided pocket is connected hydraulically to a separate pressure channel  16 . 
         [0035]    This pressure pocket  14  formed on the base  13  with the separating ridge  17  can be seen clearly in  FIG. 4 . The separating ridge  17  is provided on its side facing the guide rail  2  with a support surface  18  for contact on the guide surface  6  of the guide section  3  of the guide rail  2 : if the hydrostatic pressure built-up in the pressure pocket  14  is not sufficient under an applied load, then the support element  1  comes into contact with the support surface  18  on the guide rail  2 . The support surface is designed so that another method of the support element  1  on the guide rail  2  is possible. This support surface  18  is used as overload protection and can also be viewed as a fail-safe device if the hydrostatic pressure completely breaks down. 
         [0036]    Under the applied hydrostatic pressure, hydraulic fluid can escape from the pressure pockets  14 . This escaping hydraulic fluid can be discharged via return channels and prepared again for further use, for example, in an external reservoir. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows return channels  19 ,  20 . In this figure, a part of the support body  10  cut transversely is shown together with a part of the guide rail  2  cut transversely. The two return channels  19  are arranged along the guide rail  2  in corner regions formed by the base  13  and the two legs  12  of the support element  1 . These return channels  19  are formed as open grooves and are limited on their open longitudinal sides by flattened sections  21  formed on the guide rail  2 . These flattened sections  21  are provided in an edge region, which is formed by the lateral guide surfaces  8  and the head-side guide surface  6  of the guide section  3  of the guide rail  2 . 
         [0038]    The support element  1  is further provided with two longitudinal seals  22 , which are arranged on the two free ends of the two legs  12 . The two longitudinal seals  22  contact the guide rail  2 . The two longitudinal seals  22  are shown in section in  FIG. 3 . These longitudinal seals  22  contact a contact surface  23  of the guide rail  2 . These contact surfaces  23  are formed on the transition section  5  on their longitudinal sides lying opposite each other. The contact surfaces  23  connect to the lateral guide surfaces  8  of the guide section  3  and to the lateral foot surfaces  9  of the mounting section  4 . These contact surfaces  23  can be constructed as flat surfaces, but they can also be concave. These contact surfaces  23  form transition surfaces  24 , which connect to the lateral guide surfaces  8  of the guide section  3  and to the lateral foot surfaces of the mounting section  4 . These longitudinal seals  22  limit the already mentioned return channel  20 . Hydraulic fluid, which escapes from the pressure pockets  14  formed on the two legs  12 , is led into the return channel  20 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows a partial longitudinal section through the hydrostatic bearing according to the invention. What is to be taken from this figure is that the head piece  11  is provided with a front seal  25 , which wraps around the guide rail  2  and contacts the lateral and the head-side guide surface  6 ,  8  of the guide section  3  of the guide rail  2 . This front seal  25  also limits the one collection channel  26 , in which returned hydraulic fluid is led from the return channels  19 ,  20 . This returned hydraulic fluid is led via the collection channel  26  into the central return location  27 , which is provided on the head piece  11 . A pipe line not shown here for returning the hydraulic fluid into a similarly not shown reservoir can be connected to this central return location  27 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0040]      1  Support element
   2  Guide rail
   3  Guide section
   4  Mounting section
   5  Transition section
   6  Head-side guide surface
   7  Foot-side mounting surfaces
   8  Lateral guide surface
   9  Lateral foot surface
   10  Support body
   11  Head piece
 
         12  Leg 
       13  Base 
       [0041]      14  Pressure pocket 
         15  Borehole 
       [0042]      16  Pressure channel
   17  Separating ridge
   18  Support surface
   19  Return channel
   20  Return channel
   21  Flattened section
   22  Longitudinal seal
   23  Contact surface
   24  Transition surface
   25  Front seal
   26  Collection channel
   27  Central return location