Bearings – Linear bearing – Recirculating
Patent
1993-03-11
1993-11-30
Hannon, Thomas R.
Bearings
Linear bearing
Recirculating
384 45, F16C 2904
Patent
active
052659631
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a side cover fixing structure in a linear motion bearing for fixing side covers on the bearing body.
BACKGROUND ART
The linear motion bearing is widely used as industrial machine elements such as a table saddle for a machine tool, a slide face of a machining center or a carriage of a conveyor.
The linear motion bearing of the prior art is constructed, as shown in FIG. 6, to include: a track bed 10; a bearing body 20 of a metal placed on the track bed 10; a pair of side covers 30 and 30 of a synthetic resin fixed in abutment on the two end faces of the bearing body 20; a number of balls 40 interposed between the bearing body 20 and the track bed 10; and a not-shown retainer for preventing the balls 40 from coming out when the bearing body 20 is removed from the track bed 10.
In the linear motion bearing thus constructed, the side covers 30 are fixed by using screws 80 on the two end faces of the bearing body 20. Specifically, the side covers 30 of synthetic resin are formed with through holes 35 in their predetermined positions. Moreover, the metallic bearing body 20 is formed with tapped holes 25 in its corresponding positions. The screws are extended through the through holes 35 of the side covers 30 and fastened in the tapped holes 25 of the bearing body 20.
In recent years, the linear motion bearing described above is used in OA equipment or electric appliances, too. In these examples of use, the linear motion bearing is generally small-sized and compact.
The tapping operations of the holes 25 in the bearing body 20 becomes the more difficult together with the screw fastening operations as the linear motion bearing has the smaller size.
An object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems of the prior art and to provide a side cover fixing structure capable of fixing the side covers simply and inexpensively on the body of a small-sized linear motion bearing.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a side cover fixing structure for a linear motion bearing, which structure comprises: a bearing body; a pair of side covers to be fixed in abutment on the two end faces of said bearing body and each having at least two retaining portions; and at least two connecting plates of an elastic member each having at its two ends hook portions to be retained by the retaining portions of said side covers, whereby said connecting plates fix said bearing body and said paired side covers integrally by having their two end hook portions retained by the corresponding retaining portions of said side covers.
In this technical means, the paired side covers are arranged in abutment against the two end faces of the bearing body. Each side cover is equipped with retaining portions in at least two portions, e.g., at the two side portions. Moreover, the connecting plates made of an elastic member have their two end hook portions so fitted on the retaining portions of the paired side covers as to cross the bearing body. As a result, the paired side covers are fixed on the two end faces of the bearing body by using at least two connecting plates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a linear motion bearing having a side cover fixing structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the side cover fixing structure of FIG. 1 when the same is assembled;
FIG. 3 is a section showing a portion of the side cover fixing structure of FIG. 1 and taken along line III--III;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an essential portion of another embodiment of the side cover fixing structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an essential portion of still another embodiment of the side cover fixing structure according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the side cover fixing structure of the linear motion bearing of the prior art.
DESIGNATIONS OF R
REFERENCES:
patent: 4637739 (1987-01-01), Hattori
patent: 4674893 (1987-06-01), Teramachi
patent: 5087130 (1992-02-01), Tsukada
patent: 5102235 (1992-04-01), Mugglestone
Hannon Thomas R.
THK Co. Ltd.
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