Abstract:
An arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement for providing stability and properties of low inertia. The arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement includes a rail being a solid body having a top and opposed sides each interconnecting the top; a shaft being movable upon the rail; and a carrier assembly being movable with the shaft upon the rail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to linear guide-ways and more particularly pertains to a new arrangement and method for guiding load in a linear movement for providing stability and properties of low inertia. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of linear guide-ways is known in the prior art. More specifically, linear guide-ways heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     The prior art includes a circulating system for a linear guide way comprising a slide block, a slide rail, two cover plates, two end caps and plural rolling elements. The slide block is disposed on the slide rail. The two cover plates and the two end caps are disposed at two opposite ends of the slide block, respectively. Another prior art includes a dust proof device used with a linear guide apparatus including a strap-shaped plate fixed to the upper surface of a guide rail throughout the whole length of the guide rail to cover the openings of through holes used for inserting bolts which secure the guide rail to a base. Also, another prior art includes a self-lubricating ball screw comprising a nut, a screw shaft, at least one lubricating unit and at least one external oil tank. Further, another prior art includes a linear roller guide unit comprising an elongated rail and a carrier straddling the rail. A plurality of rollers installed between the carrier and the rail so that the carrier can slide along the elongated rail. Yet, another prior art includes a linear guideway arrangement being provided by upper and lower guide bars held in a spaced apart parallel relationship by a series of locator blade pieces having end contours engaging the inside surfaces of the guide bars. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement which has many of the advantages of the linear guide-ways mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art linear guide-ways, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a rail being a solid body having a top and opposed sides each interconnecting the top; a shaft being movable upon the rail; and a carrier assembly being movable with the shaft upon the rail. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not he regarded as limiting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement which has many of the advantages of the linear guide-ways mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art linear guide-ways, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement for providing stability and properties of low inertia. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement that has unlimited length capabilities. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement that is compact and resistant to wear and tear. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1 . is an exploded perspective view of a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement  10  may generally comprise a rail  11  being a solid body having a top  12  and opposed sides  13 , 14  each interconnecting the top  12 . The rail  11  includes an upper portion  15  and a lower portion  16  with a semi-cylindrical depression  50  recessed in the top  12  and extending a length of the rail  11 . The semi-cylindrical depression  50  is disposed in the upper portion  15  of the rail  11 . The semi-cylindrical depression  50  has a semi-cylindrical wall  17  having diametrically opposed longitudinal side edges  18 , 19  with threads  20  being integral to and protruding from the semi-cylindrical wall  17  and also extending laterally from one of the diametrically opposed side edges  18  to the other one of the diametrically opposed side edges  19  and extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the semi-cylindrical depression  50  and further being spaced along the length of the semi-cylindrical wall  17  with the threads  20  being ridges. The rail  11  may also include flanges  21 , 26  integral to and extending from the upper portion  15  of the rail  11  and from the opposed sides  13 , 14  of the rail  11  and extending the Length of the rail  11 . Each flange  21 , 26  has a top side  22 , 27  and a bottom side  23 , 28  and has grooves  24 , 25 , 29 , 30  disposed in the top side  22 , 27  and bottom side  23 , 28  and extending a length of the flange  21 , 26 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a shaft  31  may be movable and conventionally supported upon the rail  11 . The shaft  31  may have a selected length and may be received in and movable along the semi-cylindrical depression  50 . The shaft  31  may include a ball screw  31  made of solid and rigid material and having external threads  32  and being threaded in and upon the semi-cylindrical depression  50  and being movable linearly along the semi-cylindrical depression  50 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , a carrier assembly  33  may be movable with the shaft  31  and conventionally supported upon the rail  31 . The carder assembly  33  includes a block  34  having a top  35  and a bottom  36  and also having a cavity  39  disposed in the bottom  36  and extending a length of the block  34  through opposed ends  37 , 38  of the block  34  and being equidistant from sides  53 , 54  of the block  34 . The cavity  39  has a semi-cylindrical upper portion  40  and a lower portion  41 . The block  34  has threads  51  integral to and protruding from a wall  52  forming the semi-cylindrical upper portion  40 . The threads  51  are ridges which extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through the opposed ends  37 , 38  of the block  34  and which are spaced along a length of the semi-cylindrical upper portion  40 . The semi-cylindrical upper portion  40  is conventionally supported upon the ball screw  31  for movement therewith. The block  34  also includes grooves  44 , 45  disposed in walls  42 , 43  forming the lower portion  41  of the cavity  39  and arranged parallel to the top  35  of the block  34 . The grooves  44 , 45  extend the length of the block  34  through the opposed ends  37 , 38 . The grooves  44 , 45  receive the flanges  21 , 26  of the rail  11  to retain the block  34  to the rail  11 . The cavity  39  is wider in the lower portion  41  between the wall  42 , 43  than in the semi-cylindrical upper portion  40 . The carrier assembly  33  further includes seals  46 , 47  formed and conventionally secured to the opposed ends  37 , 38  of the block  34  and also includes seal supports  48 , 49  securing the seals  46 , 47  and being fastenable to the ends  37 , 38  of the block  34 . 
     In use a load is communicated to the block  34  such that the load is conventionally supported by the block  34 . The load is operationally moved with the block  34  being conventionally moved upon the rail  11  using an external force. The moving of the block  34  results in the moving of the ball screw  31  along the rail  11 . The ball screw  31  is rotated relative to the rail  11  and to the block  34  with the block  34  moving with the ball screw  31  along the rail  11 . The threaded cavity  39  of the block  34  urges the ball screw  31  to rotate, move and thread along the rail  11  in a linear movement. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore. the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the arrangement and method for guiding a load in a linear movement. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.