Abstract:
An improved structure of linear sliding rail circulating device is primarily composed of: a rail, which laterally forms a sliding path; a sliding base, which slides to operate along said rail, and is provided with an aperture at the interior for receiving the rolling elements; and combination ends, which are circulating system correspondingly formed subject to the H-shape or U-shape rail for connecting to the front and rear ends of the sliding base to serve as closes of the rolling path of the rolling elements and U turns for the rolling elements. Accordingly, rails of various types can be partially altered common components, thereby easing device maintenance and minimizing manufacture costs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Technical Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a linear sliding rail circulating structure design, particularly to a sliding base, the components for the ends of which can be assembled by modules and altered to be applicable to extrusive or depressive rails, thereby having better resilience to ease manufacture of various type of linear sliding rail circulating devices.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a conventional linear sliding rail  10  structure is substantially composed of a rail  11  and a sliding base  12 , which can slide along the rail  11 . A groove is provided at the interior two sides of the sliding base  12  for receiving rolling balls (not shown), while the rear ends that the groove extends are sealed with ends  14 , which are interiorly provided with an U-turn groove  121  for the rolling balls (not shown) to alter direction (also refer to  FIG. 2 ). The outside of each end  14  is fastened to the sliding base  12  via an end cover  15 , such that the rolling steel balls  131  will be closed in U-turn sliding path  121  formed between the sliding path  111  and the end  14  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Furthermore, a sliding path  111  is laterally formed at the each side of the rail  11 , and an object can be additionally installed in the retainer holes  16  of the sliding base  12 . Driven by the sliding base  12 , the object can make displacement along the sliding path  111  of the rail  11 .  
         [0005]     However, as the ends  14  of the above-mentioned linear sliding rail structure are integrally formed, the outline of the rim is strictly required to fit with the sliding path  111  of the rail  11 , so that the sliding base  12  can smoothly move on the rail  11 . In view of this, in order to avoid inaccuracy in size for assembly, there exists difficulty in enhancing the precise size at the time of manufacture.  
         [0006]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the perfect design for a conventional linear sliding rail is that the ends  14  and rail  11  keep an appropriate gap distance a. However, if the gap distance a is too great, the rolling element  13  will easily detach due to the gap distance a, thus reducing the manufacture benefit.  
         [0007]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the above-mentioned rolling elements  13  are composed of a chain  133  and pluralities of rolling steel balls  131 . Pluralities of partition pieces  132  are provided in the chain  133  and spaced away from one another in a certain distance, which is filled in with a rolling steel ball  131 . As the cross-section of the chain  133  appears an inverted arc  134 , when the chain  133  is curved in the ends  14 , the area of the inverted arc  134  would become smaller and be easily cracked due to external destructive power.  
         [0008]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , showing another type of convention linear sliding rail  10 , as the design of the rail  11  appears a U outline, the manufacture thereof needs to re-mold subject to various rails, in order to fit the sliding  12  and ends  14 . A roller bolt  17  is installed at a positioning portion  18  to serve as a conveying device. However, as there exists problem in the gap between said rail  11  and sliding base  12 , the manufacture costs would be considerably increased.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, the research motion of the inventor is to provide an improvement of the linear sliding rail circulating device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The primary object of the invention is to provide a linear sliding rail circulating device, which is applicable to various rails, changeable with end components, assembly-exchangeable with common fittings, and therefore efficiently reducing the manufacture costs.  
         [0011]     Another object of the invention is to provide an end component structure, which can efficiently and appropriately control the issue in gap, be easily produced, and be efficient in manufacture cost and time.  
         [0012]     To achieve the above objects, the invention is primarily composed of a rail, a sliding base, ends, a rolling element, a sustainer, an anti-dust cover, etc. Said ends can be freely assembled and are each composed of a middle end block, a left end block and a right end block, which can be engaged and combined with each one another before being fastened to the front and rear ends of the sliding base. Besides, said end blocks can have the cross-section in form of an H or a recessive U, in order to alter the pattern of the laterally corresponding sides in the aperture of the rail sliding path. As such, common fittings can be applicable to partial structure of various rails, thus ease maintenance and curtail manufacture costs.  
         [0013]     Meanwhile, in view of the fact that the design of the chain of the rolling element presents a multi-angle saddle, and that the wings of the rolling element can have an arrangement of different vertical-central lines, the rolling element can be applicable to recessive U-type rail sliding device, thus reducing the manufacture costs.  
         [0014]     The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.  
         [0015]     Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional linear sliding rail structure.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is partially cut-away view of a conventional linear sliding rail structure.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a rolling element for a linear sliding rail of the prior art.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is side view of a conventional rolling element.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another type of linear sliding rail structure of the prior art.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a right end block according to the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  shows the combination of the left and right end blocks and the rolling elements.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing the combination of the end and the rail according to the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the sustainer of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view showing the combination of the sustainer and the left end block.  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the upper sustainer.  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  partially shows the combination of the upper sustainer and an upper anti-dust strip.  
         [0029]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of the upper sustainer according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 15  partially shows the combination of the upper sustainer and the upper anti-dust strip according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 16  partially shows the combination of the chain sleeve and the circulating partition.  
         [0032]      FIG. 17  partially shows the combination of the chain sleeve and the circulating partition according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view showing the rail and the right end block according to the invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view partially showing another type of rail and right end block according to the invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the rolling element.  
         [0036]      FIG. 21  is a side view of the rolling element.  
         [0037]      FIG. 22  is a side view of the rolling element according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 23  shows a comparison in respect of the areas of the chain of the invention and that of the prior art.  
         [0039]      FIG. 24  is a side view showing the chain in  FIG. 22  applied to the linear sliding rail.  
         [0040]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of another type of linear sliding rail structure according to the invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 26  is a partially cut-away view showing the linear sliding rail in  FIG. 25 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view showing the end of the linear sliding rail in  FIG. 25 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 28  is a top view of the linear sliding rail in  FIG. 25 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 29  is a rear view of the linear sliding rail in  FIG. 25 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 30  is a perspective view of another type of linear sliding rail structure according to the invention.  
         [0046]      FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional view of the linear sliding rail structure in  FIG. 30 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 32  is a partially enlarged view of the linear sliding rail structure in  FIG. 30 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional view of another type of linear sliding rail structure according to the invention.  
         [0049]      FIG. 34  is a partially enlarged view of the linear sliding rail structure in FIG.  33 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0050]     The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the linear sliding rail circulating device is provided with a rail  20 , a sliding base  30 , two rolling elements  40 , two ends  50  and two anti-dust covers  60 .  
         [0052]     The outline of the rail  20  appears as an H and is laterally formed with rails  21  at two sides, such that the sliding base  30  can slide along the rail  20 . The sliding base  30  is provided with rolling elements  40  inside and apertures  31  at the interior walls for receiving the rolling elements  40 , which therefore can slide on the sliding paths  21  and the apertures  31 , and subsequently drive the sliding base  30  to operate on the rail  20 . An end  50  is combined at each end of the aperture  31  and serves as a U-turn path for the rolling elements  40 . The end  50  is fastened to the sliding base  30  by the middle end block  51 . An oil-moistened cotton  61  is provided between the middle end block  51  and the anti-dust cover  60  for lubricating the rolling elements  50  to allow smooth operation.  
         [0053]     Further referring to  FIG. 6 , each of the ends  50  includes a middle end block  51  and a left end block  52  and a right end block  53  corresponding to each other. The ends  50  are combined to the vertical surface  32  of the front and rear ends of the sliding base  30 . Referring to  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9 , while extrusive ribs  511 ,  512  are formed at the two sides of the middle end block  51 , clamping frames  521 ,  531  can be formed at the left end block  52  and the right end block  53 , respectively, for clamping said ribs  511 ,  512 . By way of threads, the middle end block  51  can be fastened to the sliding base  30 , whereas the left end block  52  and right end block  53  can be engaged in a circulating strip  42  by positioning posts  522 ,  532  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), further engaged in the sliding base  30  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), and then, by way of threads, along with the anti-dust cover  60  fastened to the front and rear ends of the sliding base  30 . Recessive U-turn paths  57  correspondingly match the aperture  31  of the sliding base  30  are provided at the inner rim of the left end block  52  and right end block  53 , in order to provide a guide for the rolling elements  40 .  
         [0054]     By way of the above structure, the middle end block  51  can be combined to the vertical surface  32  of the sliding base  30  (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 ). The left end block  52  and the right end block  53 , having a size adopted to the width of the rail  20 , are combined to the ribs  511 ,  512  at the two sides of the middle end block  51 , such that whenever the fittings of the ends  50  require exchange, only the damaged fittings should be exchanged alone (possibly only one of the middle end block  51 , the left end block  52  and the right end block  53 ), thereby easing maintenance and curtailing costs.  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 10 , regarding the relations between the sliding base  30  and rail  20 , an upper sustainer  74  is provided at the top of the hollow of the sliding base  30 , and a middle sustainer  72  and a lower sustainer  73  are provided at the sides of the hollow, thereby avoiding the rolling elements  40  from dropping out of the aperture  31  at the time of rolling. Upper anti-dust strips  71  are adhered to the lower rim of the upper sustainer  74  for preventing dust from permeating into the apertures  31  and the sliding paths  21  to affect the smoothness of the rolling balls. Insertion pieces  741 ,  721  and  731  are formed at the sides of the upper sustainer  74 , middle sustainer  72  and lower sustainer  73 , respectively, while engaging grooves  54 ,  55  and  56  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) corresponding to said insertion pieces  741 ,  721  and  73  are provided at the left end block  52  and right end block  53 , respectively, thereby engaging with and fastening to each other (as shown in  FIG. 11 ).  
         [0056]     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the upper sustainer  74  is provided at the central bottom with a partition strip  742 , which is provided with a positioning post  743  at each side. The upper anti-dust strip  71  is provided with a furrow  711  corresponding to the partition strip  742  and positioning holes  712  corresponding to each other. The furrow  711  and the position holes  712  are engaged and positioned with the partition strip  742  and the positioning posts  743 , respectively.  
         [0057]     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , showing another embodiment of the invention, the upper sustainer  74  is likewise provided at the central bottom with a partition strip  742 , along which is laterally provided with corresponding splints  744  at the upper and lower sides, therefore, by way of the sheet  713  at the sides of the furrow  711 , a formal anti-dust strip  71  can be engaged between the splints  744  (as shown in  FIG. 15 ), in order to permit the upper sustainer  74  position with the upper anti-dust strip  71 .  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 16 , the invention further comprises four chain sleeves  41  and four circulating partitions  42 , wherein the chain sleeves  41  are used for inserting into the apertures  31  of the sliding base  30  for covering the exterior of the rolling elements  40 . A circulating partition  42  is provided at each end of the chain sleeves  41  such that the circulating partitions  42  will be padded at the interior of the right end block  53  or left end block  52  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Each of the circulating partitions  42  is provided at the upper and lower ends with respective guide holes  421  and extruding surrounding walls  422  which can be positioned in the apertures of the sliding base. Locking extrusions  423  are provided on the top of the surrounding walls  422 , and by way of the combination of the locking extrusions  423  and the gaps  411  at the rear end of the chain sleeves  41 , the guide holes  421  can be corresponded to the hole of the chain sleeve  41 . Meanwhile, each circulating partition  42  is provided with through hole  426  to correspond to the aperture post  532  on the right end block  53  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) for the purposes of position. Accordingly, the guide holes  421  would correspond to the U-turn grooves  57  of the right end block  53  of left end block  52 , thereby the rolling elements  40  can keep a constant circulating movement in the chain sleeves  41 , the circulating partitions  42  and U-turn grooves  57 .  
         [0059]     Further referring to  FIGS. 6 and 16 , while each circulating partition  42  is provided at the upper and lower ends with respective extruding surrounding walls  422 , the top of which is provided with openings  427 , each chain sleeve  41  is correspondingly provided at the upper and lower ends with lateral openings  414 , such that the openings  427  and lateral openings  414  will combine to form a groove for receiving and positioning the chain of the rolling element  40 . After the guide holes  421  are engaged with the chain sleeves  41 , they can efficiently isolate the rolling elements  40  from the apertures  31 , in order to avoid steel power and the like from entering into the chain sleeves  41 , and subsequently reduce friction and noise during operation, and enhance the smoothness of operation.  
         [0060]     Now referring to  FIG. 17 , which shows another type of combination structure for the chain sleeves  41  and the circulating partitions  42 . Clamping blocks  424  are provided at two sides of the surround walls  422  of the circulation partitions  42 , while unconnected first thin walls  425  will extend inwardly between every two clamping blocks  424 . The chain sleeves  41  are provided at the rim with second thin walls  412 , the middle section of which is inwardly provided with a locking extrusion  413  for engaging and locking between the unconnected first thin walls  425 , such that the second thin walls  412  and the first thin walls  425  will fill up with each other, i.e. the gaps on the surround walls  422 , thereby the chain sleeves  41  and the circulating partitions  42  will combine with each other.  
         [0061]     As shown in  FIG. 18 , an extruding step c is formed at the end  50  adjacent to the sliding rail  20 . As such, the end  50  and the rail  20  can keep an appropriate distance b and can more appropriately lean against the rolling elements  40  to prevent them from detaching away from the rail. In addition, the extruding step c can alternatively be an inclined plane d (as shown in  FIG. 19 ), thereby the appropriate gap distance b between the end  50  and the rail  20  would become closer and provide a better support for the rolling elements  40 .  
         [0062]     Referring to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the rolling elements  40  are composed of chains  430  substitutionally provided with pluralities of rolling balls  401  and partition pieces  402 . The chain  403  has a cross section in the form of a multi-angle saddle with wings  404 , the area of which is greater than the arc  134  of the conventional chain  133  (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), thereby increasing the strength of the chain  403  and partition piece  402 .  
         [0063]     As shown in  FIG. 22 , the wings  404  of the rolling elements  40  may have an arrangement of uncrossed vertical-central lines e, such that the wings  404  can, by way of the distance f between the central points of the uncrossed vertical-central lines e, provide more room for receiving the device to be installed on the sliding base  30  (as shown in  FIG. 24 ). Concomitantly, the resistance of the wings  404  can be enhanced.  
         [0064]     As shown in  FIG. 23 , the wing  404  of the chain  403  has a cross-section in form of a multi-angle saddle, and therefore, the cross-section thereof would have an area g more than that of the prior art, rendering the curved portion more reinforced.  
         [0065]     Referring to  FIGS. 25 and 26 , which show another embodiment of the invention, the linear sliding rail is primarily composed of a U-shape rail  80 , and a sliding base  80  sliding along the interior sides of the U-shape rail  80 . The interior of the sliding base  80  can be provided with apertures  811  for receiving the rolling elements  82 , and the center of the sliding base  81  is provided with a roller bolt  83  for driving the sliding base  81  to make replacement. Each of the apertures  811  is provided with two ends  84 , the exterior of which is fastened to the sliding base  81  via an anti-dust cover  85  (as shown in  FIG. 27 ). A sliding path  801  is laterally formed on the interior wall of the U-shape rail  80 , while each end  84  can be combined by a left end block  52  and a right end block  53  (referring to  FIG. 26 ).  
         [0066]     Further referring to  FIGS. 26 and 28 , an oil-moistened cotton  61  is clamped by the end  84  and the anti-dust cover  85 , such that when the rolling elements  82  can be lubricated when rolling inside the apertures  811 , thereby the sliding base  811  can operate more smoothly. Besides, the oil-moistened cotton  831  can be surrounded over the roller bolt  83  for lubrication purposes.  
         [0067]     As shown in  FIG. 29 , while the rail  80  is in form of a U shape, the user can switch the position of the left and right end blocks  52 ,  53 , such that the apertures originally corresponding to the sliding paths  801  of the rail  80  would turn outside. Furthermore, a sustainer  86  and an anti-dust strip  87  are provided on the contact surface between the U-shape rail  80  and sliding base  81 . (As the structure of the ends, rolling elements and chain are substantially the same as aforementioned, descriptions thereof have been omitted to avoid redundant.) In view of the above, additional costs for making molds for new ends can be spared, and use of the device has become more flexible.  
         [0068]     As shown in  FIG. 30 , when the linear sliding rail device is provided as being composed of a U-shape rail  80  and a sliding base  81 , a rolling path for the rolling balls  401  would be formed between the apertures  811  outside of the sliding base  81  and the sliding paths inside of the U-shape rail  80 . And a first sliding path  804  and a second sliding path  805  (as shown in  FIG. 31 ) will be formed at the two interior walls  802 ,  803  corresponding to the sliding base  81 . Each side of the first sliding path  804  and second sliding path  85  is provided with rolling balls  401 . Retainer holes  16  are provided on the top of the sliding base  81  for positioning the carried article. A roller bolt  83  is provided at the center of the sliding base  81 , such that the sliding base  80  can be guided by the rolling balls  401  and makes linear movement along the first and second sliding paths  804 ,  805  between the U-shape rail  80  and the sliding base  81 .  
         [0069]     Now refer to  FIG. 32 , as clearly reflected in the partially enlarged view, when the rolling balls  401  are rolling in the first sliding path  804  or the second sliding path  805 , and clamped to roll between the sliding paths and the apertures, a first contact arc  91  and a second contact arc  92  will form at the interior groove arc and the contact arc, respectively. Two link lines h extending from the arc through the center of two rolling balls would cross and form a bevel angle. The two link lines h intersect at the interior of the sidewalls  802 ,  803 , so that the supporting intersection points C, D (as shown in  FIG. 31 ) will be formed, thereby forming a better torque load for the two sides of the U-shape rail  80  and the sliding base  81 .  
         [0070]     Referring to  FIGS. 33 and 34 , likewise, the contact portion of the two sidewalls of the U-shape rail  80  and the sliding base  81  is provided with a hardened material  90 , which is composed of durable, reinforced and high hardness elements. A first contact surface  91  and a second contact surface  92  (as shown in  FIG. 34 ) are formed along the contact arc between the interior walls of the first and second sliding paths  804 ,  805  and rolling balls  401 . Accordingly, supporting intersection points C, D formed by the contact arcs of the first and second sliding paths  804 ,  805  and the rolling balls  401  will be formed in the hardened material, thereby efficiently enhancing the torque load for the U-shape rail  80  and the sliding base  81 . In addition, the hardened material  90  can be chosen from a number of suitable materials, including steel, aluminum alloy, macromolecular material and sintered alloy, etc., which need be partially applied to between the supporting intersection points C and D, thereby efficiently minimizing the costs for manufacturing materials.  
         [0071]     Concluded above, the invention is provided subject to an improvement for the integrally formed ends of the prior art, which cause inconvenience in maintenance. The invention can allow the ends assembled and exchanged, thereby ease maintenance and minimize costs.  
         [0072]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.  
         [0073]     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.