Self lubricating linear guide bushings for reciprocating canning and bottling machinery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12297864-B2
Application number	US-202217881953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2022
Priority date	Aug 12, 2021
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

A linear guide mechanism includes a housing having an inside housing surface that defines a bore extending through the housing coaxial with a longitudinal axis. A shaft is disposed at least partially in the bore and is reciprocatably and linearly moveable in the bore along the longitudinal axis. The shaft has an exterior shaft surface. A self-lubricating liner is disposed in the bore between the inside housing surface and the exterior shaft surface. The self-lubricating liner has an inside liner surface that is in sliding engagement with the exterior shaft surface of the shaft. The self-lubricating liner has an exterior liner surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linear guide mechanism for a reciprocating container forming apparatus, the linear guide mechanism comprising:
a housing having an inside housing surface that defines a bore extending through the housing coaxial with a longitudinal axis;
a shaft disposed at least partially in the bore and being reciprocatably and linearly moveable in the bore along the longitudinal axis, the shaft having an exterior shaft surface;
a bushing disposed in the bore, the bushing having an exterior bushing surface and an inside bushing surface, the exterior bushing surface being secured to the inside housing surface; and
two self-lubricating liners each having an inside liner surface that is in sliding engagement with the exterior shaft surface of the shaft and an exterior liner surface that is secured to the inside bushing surface such that the two self-lubricating liners are spaced apart from one another by the bushing.

2. The linear guide mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the two self-lubricating liners have an annular configuration.

3. The linear guide mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the bushing has an annular configuration.

4. The linear guide mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the two self-lubricating liners are configured to withstand temperatures of up to 148.89 degrees Celsius.

5. The linear guide mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the two self-lubricating liners comprise polytetrafluoroethylene mono-filament fibers interwoven with support fibers encapsulated in a resin.

6. The linear guide mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the support fibers are selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof.

7. The linear guide mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of polyester, epoxy, phenolic, urethane, polyimide, polyamide, acrylics, cyanoacrylates, silicones, polysulfides, anaerobics, and elastomeric adhesives.

8. The linear guide mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the bushing comprises at least one of an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, a bronze alloy, a beryllium alloy, and a magnesium alloy.

9. The linear guide mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the bushing comprises a lattice or honeycomb structure.

10. The linear guide mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the lattice or honeycomb structure is manufactured by a 3D printing process.

11. A linear guide mechanism for a reciprocating container forming apparatus, the linear guide mechanism comprising:
a housing having an inside housing surface that defines a bore extending through the housing coaxial with a longitudinal axis;
a shaft disposed at least partially in the bore and being reciprocatably and linearly moveable in the bore along the longitudinal axis, the shaft having an exterior shaft surface;
a self-lubricating liner disposed in the bore between the inside housing surface and the exterior shaft surface, the self-lubricating liner having an inside liner surface that is in sliding engagement with the exterior shaft surface of the shaft and the self-lubricating liner having an exterior liner surface; and
a bushing disposed in the bore, the bushing having an exterior bushing surface and an inside bushing surface, the exterior bushing surface being secured to the inside housing surface, wherein the exterior liner surface is secured to the inside bushing surface, wherein the bushing comprises a groove extending axially along the inside bushing surface and radially outward towards the exterior bushing surface, the groove radially terminating between the inside bushing surface and the exterior bushing surface.

12. The linear guide mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the groove extends into the self-lubricating liner.

13. The linear guide mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the groove is configured to receive an anti-rotation device.

14. The linear guide mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the groove is configured to convey a fluid therein.

15. A linear guide mechanism for a reciprocating container forming apparatus, the linear guide mechanism comprising:
a housing having an inside housing surface that defines a bore extending through the housing coaxial with a longitudinal axis;
a shaft disposed at least partially in the bore and being reciprocatably and linearly moveable in the bore along the longitudinal axis, the shaft having an exterior shaft surface;
two bushings disposed in the bore, each of the two bushings having an exterior bushing surface secured to the inside housing surface such that the two bushings are spaced from one another, and each of the two bushings having an inside bushing surface; and
a self-lubricating liner disposed in each of the two bushings, each self-lubricating liner having an inside liner surface that is in sliding engagement with the exterior shaft surface of the shaft and an exterior liner surface that is secured to the inside bushing surface of one of the two bushings, wherein the two bushings each comprise a groove extending axially along the inside bushing surface and radially outward towards the exterior bushing surface, the groove radially terminating between the inside bushing surface and the exterior bushing surface.

16. The linear guide mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the self-lubricating liner and/or the two bushings have an annular configuration.

17. The linear guide mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the self-lubricating liner comprises polytetrafluoroethylene mono-filament fibers interwoven with support fibers encapsulated in a resin.

18. The linear guide mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the support fibers are selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof, and/or wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of polyester, epoxy, phenolic, urethane, polyimide, polyamide, acrylics, cyanoacrylates, silicones, polysulfides, anaerobics, and elastomeric adhesives.

19. The linear guide mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the two bushing comprise at least one of an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, a bronze alloy, a beryllium alloy, and a magnesium alloy.

20. The linear guide mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the two bushings comprise a lattice or honeycomb structure.

Assignees

• Roller Bearing Co America Inc

Inventors

• McGuire Jarrod
• Meeks Ryan
• Haywood Brad
• Gu Yishen

Classifications

• F16C33/205

  with two layers · CPC title

• F16C33/28

  with embedded reinforcements shaped as frames or meshed materials · CPC title

• F16C2208/32

  Polytetrafluorethylene [PTFE] (F16C2208/58 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16C33/08

  Attachment of brasses, bushes or linings to the bearing housing · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title