Linear motion bearing assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A linear motion bearing assembly comprising:
- a support rail having at least one rail race;
a carriage having at least one carriage race and at least one bearing track, a fluid inlet port adapted to receive a continuous source of pressurized hydrostatic fluid, and a fluid supply passage interconnecting the fluid inlet port and at least one bearing track, the at least one bearing track having a load bearing portion, a return portion and a pair of turnaround portions interconnecting the load bearing portion and the return portion; and
a plurality of rolling elements positioned along the bearing track, the rolling elements being adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the support rail and being positioned between the rail race and the carriage race to define a leakage gap therebetween, the leakage gap being of a dimension to generate hydrostatic pressure within the at least one bearing track when a source of hydrostatic fluid is provided therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A linear motion bearing assembly includes a carriage having a bearing track, a fluid inlet port and a fluid supply passage interconnecting the fluid inlet port and the bearing track. The bearing track has a load bearing portion, a return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing portion and the return portion. The carriage is supported for linear movement on a rail. A plurality of rolling elements are positioned in the bearing track and a pressurized hydrostatic fluid supply is connected to the fluid inlet port for supplying hydrostatic fluid under pressure to the bearing track.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A linear motion bearing assembly comprising:
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a support rail having at least one rail race; a carriage having at least one carriage race and at least one bearing track, a fluid inlet port adapted to receive a continuous source of pressurized hydrostatic fluid, and a fluid supply passage interconnecting the fluid inlet port and at least one bearing track, the at least one bearing track having a load bearing portion, a return portion and a pair of turnaround portions interconnecting the load bearing portion and the return portion; and a plurality of rolling elements positioned along the bearing track, the rolling elements being adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the support rail and being positioned between the rail race and the carriage race to define a leakage gap therebetween, the leakage gap being of a dimension to generate hydrostatic pressure within the at least one bearing track when a source of hydrostatic fluid is provided therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A linear motion bearing assembly comprising:
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a carriage having at least one bearing track, a fluid inlet port and a fluid supply passage interconnecting the fluid inlet port and the at least one bearing track, the at least one bearing track having a load bearing portion, a return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing portion and the return portion; a support rail for supporting the carriage; a plurality of rolling elements positioned along the at least one bearing track; and a pressurized hydrostatic fluid supply connected to the fluid inlet port for supplying hydrostatic fluid to the at least one bearing track, wherein the hydrostatic fluid is a water based emulsion.
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8. A linear motion bearing assembly comprising:
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a carriage having at least one bearing track, a fluid inlet port and a fluid supply passage interconnecting the fluid inlet port and the at least one bearing track, the at least one bearing track having a load bearing portion, a return portion and a pair of turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing portion and the return portion; a support rail for supporting the carriage; a plurality of rolling elements positioned along the at least one bearing track; and a pressurized hydrostatic fluid supply connected to the fluid inlet port for supplying hydrostatic fluid to the at least one bearing track, wherein the rolling elements provide a mechanical advantage to the bearing assembly and the hydrostatic fluid supply provides a hydrostatic advantage to the bearing assembly. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification