Linear motion assemblies and bearings for use in linear motion assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101712-A1
Application number	US-201514882676-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seat track assembly including a first rail and a second rail spaced apart by a distance and extending parallel with respect to one another, wherein at least one of the first and second rails having a first receiver, a second receiver, the first and second receivers longitudinally translatable with respect to each other, and a sliding member disposed therebetween, wherein the sliding member defines an aperture extending at least partially therethrough.

First claim

1 . A sliding member comprising:
an elongated tube comprising a body including a low friction material, wherein the elongated tube includes an inner surface defining an aperture, wherein:
a spring is disposed within the aperture and adapted to provide an outwardly biasing force against the low friction material,
wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of apertures each extending at least partially through the elongated tube,
a substrate is disposed within the aperture, or
a combination thereof.

2 . The sliding member according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding member is adapted to be disposed between a first member and a second member, and wherein at least one of the first and second members is adapted to longitudinally translate with respect to the sliding member.

3 . The sliding member according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least one axial end of the substrate is exposed from the low friction material; or the low friction material comprises a gap extending along at least a portion of an axial length of the sliding member; or a void is disposed between a portion of the substrate and the low friction material; or a combination thereof.

4 . The sliding member according to claim 3 , wherein the void has a first volume, V 1 , as measured prior to installation in an assembly, and a second volume, V 2 , as measured after installation, and wherein V 1 is greater than V 2 .

5 . The sliding member according to claim 1 , wherein the low friction material comprises a rolled sheet of low friction material.

6 . The sliding member according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends along the entire length of the elongated tube.

7 . The sliding member according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a support member having an opening, wherein the sliding member is disposed in the opening of the support member.

8 . A linear motion assembly comprising:
a first member; a second member; and a sliding member disposed between the first and second members, wherein at least one of the first and second members is adapted to longitudinally translate with respect to the sliding member, and wherein the sliding member comprises:
an elongated tube comprising a body including low friction material, and wherein the elongated tube defines an aperture extending along a longitudinal length thereof, or
a substrate having an elongated shape and a low friction material disposed around the substrate, wherein:
at least one of the axial ends of the substrate is exposed from the low friction material,
the low friction material comprises a gap extending along at least a portion of an axial length of the sliding member,
a void is disposed between a portion of the substrate and the low friction material, or
a combination thereof.

9 . The linear motion assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the aperture extends along the entire length of the elongated tube.

10 . The linear motion assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of apertures each extending at least partially into the elongated tube.

11 . The linear motion assembly according to claim 10 , wherein all of the plurality of apertures have a same shape as one another.

12 . The linear motion assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the void has a first volume, V 1 , as measured prior to installation in an assembly, and a second volume, V 2 , as measured after installation, and wherein V 1 is greater than V 2 .

13 . A seat track assembly comprising:
a first receiver adapted to be coupled to a seat; a second receiver adapted to be coupled to a surface, the first and second receivers being longitudinally translatable with respect to each other; and a sliding member disposed between the first and second receivers, wherein the sliding member comprises:
a low friction material including an aperture extending along a longitudinal length of the sliding member, or
a substrate having an elongated shape and a low friction material disposed around the substrate.

14 . The seat track assembly according to claim 13 , wherein:
the sliding member further comprises a spring disposed within the aperture and adapted to provide an outwardly biasing force against the low friction material, the aperture comprises a plurality of apertures each extending at least partially through the sliding member, or a combination thereof.

15 . The seat track assembly according to claim 13 , wherein a void is disposed between a portion of the substrate and the low friction material, wherein the void has a first volume, V 1 , as measured prior to installation in the assembly, and a second volume, V 2 , as measured after installation, and wherein V 1 is greater than V 2 .

16 . The seat track assembly according to claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the axial ends of the substrate is exposed.

17 . The seat track assembly according to claim 13 , wherein a maximum force to affect longitudinal translation of the first and second receivers with respect to each other has a standard deviation of no greater than 30 N at a misalignment specification of 0.6 mm.

18 . The seat track assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a support member having an opening, wherein the sliding member is disposed in the opening of the support member.

19 . The seat track assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the low friction material comprises a rolled sheet of low friction material.

20 . The seat track assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the rolled sheet of low friction material comprises a gap extending along at least a portion of an axial length of the sliding member.

Assignees

• Saint Gobain Performance Plast

Inventors

• Hagan Timothy J
• Speicher Jens
• Plioska Lukas
• Jindra Alexander
• Sanchez Abe
• Echikson Chloe

Classifications

• B60N2/0722 Primary

  Constructive details · CPC title

• F16C33/203

  Multilayer structures, e.g. sleeves comprising a plastic lining · CPC title

• B60N2/07

  Slide construction · CPC title

• B60N2/0705

  omega-shaped · CPC title

• B60N2205/20

  Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash · CPC title