Rolling guide apparatus

• US 6,761,482 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: THK Company Limited
• Original Assignee: THK Company Limited
• Inventors: Ueno, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US10/283,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20040086209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 384/43, 384/44, 384/45, 384/49
• US Class Current: 384/45
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2206/58 based on ceramic nitrides
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/0602 Details of the bearing body or carriage or parts thereof, e.g. methods for manufacturing or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/064 with two rows of balls, one on each side of the rail
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/62 Selection of substances

Abstract

A rolling guide apparatus includes a race shaft on which a rolling element rolling surface is formed in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a sliding table having an endless circulation passage. The endless circulation passage includes a load rolling surface corresponding to the rolling element rolling surface. Plural rolling elements are housed in the endless circulation passage. The sliding table has a sliding table main unit and side covers attached to respective ends of the sliding table main unit. The sliding table main unit has a load rolling surface section having the load rolling surface, and a main body section. The load rolling surface section is made from engineering ceramic. The main body section is made from machinable ceramic.

Claims

1. A rolling guide apparatus comprising:

a race shaft having a rolling element rolling surface formed in a longitudinal direction thereof;

a sliding table having an endless circulation passage including a load rolling surface corresponding to the rolling element rolling surface, the sliding table being movable relatively to the race shaft; and

a plurality of rolling elements being housed in the endless circulation passage so as to circulate in accordance with relative movement of the race shaft and the sliding table,

wherein the sliding table comprises;

a sliding table main unit having the load rolling surface and a rolling element return passage substantially parallel to the load rolling surface; and

side covers each having a changing direction passage for connecting ends of the load rolling surface and the rolling element return passage, the side covers being attached to respective ends of the sliding table main unit, and

wherein the sliding table main unit comprises;

a load rolling surface section made from engineering ceramic and having the load rolling surface; and

a main body section made from machinable ceramic.

2. The rolling guide apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a race housing groove being formed in the main body section; and

a bearing race serving as the load rolling surface section, the bearing race being fitted into the race housing groove.

3. The rolling guide apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the race housing groove and the bearing race have semi-circular cross-sectional profiles which complement each other, the bearing race is rotatable with respect to the race housing groove.