Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-23
2001-11-06
Fenstermacher, David (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Mechanical movements
Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
C074S089420
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311575
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to ball screw drives and more particularly to slip-fittably connecting a ball nut to a moving member for movement of the moving member by the ball nut without a fixed connection.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the art relating to linear ball screw drives to fixedly connect the ball nut to a moving member in order to move the moving member by the actuation of a ball screw that drives the ball nut. With such an arrangement, the rigid connection between the ball nut and moving member can cause excessive wear on the ball screw and premature failure of the ball nut.
In closure panel hemming operations large loads are applied by linear ball screw drives drawing upper and lower dies together to edge hem preformed metal panels. In such operations, there is a need to maximize ball screw life and reduce the failure rate of ball nuts used to move the dies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device for slip-fittably connecting together a ball nut and a moving member moved by the ball nut. The device includes a first connecting member fixedly attached to the ball nut. The first connecting member has first registration elements disposed radially opposite relative to the ball nut. A second connecting member is fixedly attached to the moving member. The second connecting member has cooperative second registration elements disposed radially opposite relative to the ball nut which cooperate with the first radially opposite registration elements.
The first and second registration elements are slip-fittably connectable together and provide indexed registration within predetermined tolerances in the axial, radial and circumferential directions relative to the ball nut.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first radially opposite registration elements are defined by radially extending wings. Each radially extending wing includes an upper and a lower load block for axial indexing and also an anti-rotate block for circumferential and radial indexing. Preferably, the upper and lower load blocks each have a crowned loading surface.
The cooperative second radially opposite registration elements each include opposed wear plates for capturing the upper and lower load blocks between opposed surfaces of the wear plates of each registration element, thereby indexing the axial movement. Radially opposed wear plates of opposite registration elements capture the anti-rotate blocks between inwardly facing edges, thus indexing radial and circumferential movement.
A method for connecting together a ball nut and a moving member moved by the ball nut, comprises the steps of:
fixedly attaching a first connecting member including first registration elements disposed radially opposite relative to the ball nut;
fixedly attaching to the moving member a second connecting member including cooperative second registration elements disposed radially opposite relative to the ball nut; and
slip-fittably connecting together the first and second registration elements to provide indexed registration within predetermined tolerances in the axial, radial and circumferential directions relative to the ball nut.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3486393 (1969-12-01), Maxwell
patent: 3934483 (1976-01-01), Lüthi
patent: 4633732 (1987-01-01), Nishikawa et al.
patent: 5172601 (1992-12-01), Siegrist et al.
patent: 5473958 (1995-12-01), Jeck et al.
Fenstermacher David
Fildes & Outland, P.C.
Tesco Engineering, Inc.
LandOfFree
Device for connecting together a ball nut and moving member does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for connecting together a ball nut and moving member, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for connecting together a ball nut and moving member will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603689