Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Reciprocating
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-17
2002-11-05
Ramirez, Nestor (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Reciprocating
Reexamination Certificate
active
06476525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear actuator which makes it possible to linearly and reciprocatively move, along a guide rail, a slider assembled integrally with a ball screw shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
A linear actuator, which is based on the use of such a ball screw shaft, has been hitherto known. For example, both outer surfaces of a slider are movably supported in a major axis direction of both inner surfaces of a guide rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section by the aid of ball rolling members. A ball screw shaft, which is attached to the slider and which is meshed with a ball screw hole, is rotated, and thus the slider is allowed to make reciprocating movement (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-61587).
However, in the case of the conventional linear actuator, if the width of the slider is widened while maintaining a constant spacing distance between the both outer surfaces of the slider and the both inner surfaces of the guide rail, the following problem arises. That is, the width of the guide rail is enlarged as a matter of course. As a result, the linear actuator has a large size, and the weight is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A general object of the present invention is to provide a linear actuator which makes it possible to decrease the volume of a guide rail and reduce the weight by providing ball rolling members between both inner surfaces of a slider and both outer surfaces of a guide rail so that the widthwise dimension of the guide rail is set to be small.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a linear actuator which makes it possible to absorb any discrepancy of parallelism between the axis of a ball screw shaft and the axis of a ball rolling groove by providing and holding a ball screw nut floatably with respect to a slider to enable the ball screw nut to follow the operation form of the ball screw shaft.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5941130 (1999-08-01), Olgren et al.
patent: 6000491 (1999-12-01), Shimizu et al.
patent: 6-49963 (1994-12-01), None
patent: 7-61587 (1995-07-01), None
patent: 7-248006 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 10-318209 (1998-12-01), None
Copy of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/784,182 by Toshio Sato et al., filed Feb. 16, 2001.
Miyazaki Shogo
Sato Toshio
Ueno Yoshiteru
Guss Paul A.
Jones Judson H.
Ramirez Nestor
SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
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