Floating nut and carriage assembly

摘要

A linear guide including a guide rail, a carriage, a drive screw and a connection arrangement is provided. The guide rail defines a linear travel path. The carriage is mounted to the guide rail for motion along the linear travel path. The drive screw is operably mounted to the guide rail. The connection arrangement couples the drive screw to the carriage to convert rotary motion of the drive screw to linear actuation of the carriage along the linear travel path. The connection arrangement provides a single degree of linear freedom between the drive screw and the carriage in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the linear travel path. The single degree of linear freedom permits relative motion between the screw and the carriage to relieve internal binding between the relative components.

主权项

1. A linear guide comprising:
a guide rail defining a linear travel path; a carriage mounted to the guide rail for motion along the linear travel path; a drive screw operably mounted to the guide rail; and a connection arrangement coupling the drive screw to the carriage to convert rotary motion of the drive screw in a first rotational direction to linear actuation of the carriage along the linear travel path in a first linear direction and to convert rotary motion of the drive screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to linear actuation of the carriage along the linear travel path in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction, the connection arrangement providing a single degree of linear freedom between the drive screw and the carriage in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the linear travel path.