US6174084B1 — Linear motion bearing assembly with load compensa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 78 words

A linear motion bearing assembly including a carriage, a rail, and a bearing assembly, comprising: deflectable structure formed in at least one of said carriage, rail and bearing assembly, said deflectable structure configured to deflect under a predetermined force to affect load bearing characteristics of said linear motion bearing assembly; and pressure transducer structure disposed adjacent to and configured for engaging said deflectable structure to apply said predetermined force on the deflectable structure in response to external stimuli.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 78 words

A linear motion bearing assembly including a carriage, a rail, and a bearing assembly, comprising: deflectable structure formed in at least one of said carriage, rail and bearing assembly, said deflectable structure configured to deflect under a predetermined force to affect load bearing characteristics of said linear motion bearing assembly; and pressure transducer structure disposed adjacent to and configured for engaging said deflectable structure to apply said predetermined force on the deflectable structure in response to external stimuli.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , said deflectable structure including portions of said rail defining a cavity along a longitudinal length of said rail, said pressure transducer structure being disposed within said cavity.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 2 , said portions of said rail including a pair of walls defining said cavity therebetween, said pressure transducer structure being disposed on one of said walls within said cavity and said pressure transducer structure engageable with the remaining wall.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 3 , said portions of said rail comprising horizontal arms, each of said arms defining at least one groove along the longitudinal length of said rail, said groove defining at least a portion of a load bearing track.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said rail includes a pair of walls defining a cavity therebetween, said deflectable structure comprising one of said walls, said pressure transducer structure being disposed within said cavity.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , said pressure transducer structure comprising piezoelectric structure.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 6 , said piezoelectric structure including at least one piezoelectric chip.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 6 , said piezoelectric structure including two piezoelectric chips, one of said chips configured to sense said external stimuli and a second of said chips configured to apply said predetermined force on said deflectable structure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , said carriage including a sidewall depending therefrom, said deflectable structure comprising said sidewall.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , said carriage including a pair of depending legs, said deflectable structure comprising at least one of said legs.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein one of said legs define a cavity for receipt of said pressure transducer structure, said pressure transducer structure configured for engaging the remaining depending leg for applying said predetermined force.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 10 , one of said legs defining a cavity, at least a portion of said pressure transducer structure being disposed within said cavity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 10 , each of said legs including a cavity, said pressure transducer structure being disposed in each cavity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 10 , said pressure transducer structure comprising piezoelectric structure.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 14 , said piezoelectric structure including at least one piezoelectric chip.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 43 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 14 , said piezoelectric structure including two piezoelectric chips, one of said chips configured to sense said external stimuli and a second of said chips configured to apply said predetermined force on deflectable portion.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 62 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , said bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer having an outer portion, said outer portion defining at least one load bearing plate aperture therein, said deflectable structure including a load bearing plate being positioned in each of load bearing plate apertures, said pressure transducer structure being disposed on said load bearing plate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 17 , said carriage including a pair of depending legs, each of said depending legs defining a cavity for receipt of s aid pressure transducer structure disposed therein.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 17 , wherein said carriage defines a plurality of cavities, each of said cavities having pressure transducer structure disposed therein for applying said predetermined force to said deflectable structure.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 19 , wherein each of said cavities are configured to threadably receive preload structure configured to apply at least a portion of said predetermined force to said deflectable structure.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

A linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 17 , said pressure transducer structure comprising piezoelectric structure.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

A linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 21 , said piezoelectric structure including at least one piezoelectric chip.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 44 words

A linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 21 , said piezoelectric structure including two piezoelectric chips, one of said chips configured to sense said external stimuli and a second of said chips configured to apply said predetermined force on said deflectable structure.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , said pressure transducer being operated by a computerized numerical controller.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 52 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said carriage defines a groove along a longitudinal length thereof, said deflectable structure being disposed within said groove, said carriage further defining at least one cavity having pressure transducer structure configured to apply said predetermined force to said deflectable structure.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 25 , wherein said deflectable structure includes a longitudinally extending wedge, said wedge having longitudinally extending inserts disposed thereon, said inserts configured to engage said rail.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 35 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said carriage defines abutment structure along a longitudinal length thereof, said deflectable structure including longitudinally extending inserts disposed to engage said abutment structure.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 90 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said carriage has opposing sides, said deflectable structure including at least one load bearing insert being positionable on an opposing side of said carriage and defining a portion of at least one load bearing track between said carriage and said rail, said carriage defining at least one transverse cavity, at least a portion of said pressure transducer structure being disposed within said transverse cavity and being configured and oriented to apply said predetermined force to said deflectable structure.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 49 words

The linear motion bearing assembly as recited in claim 28 , wherein said deflectable structure further includes at least one load bearing insert being positionable on an inner surface of said rail and defining a portion of at least one load bearing track between said carriage and said rail.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 124 words

A linear motion bearing assembly including a carriage and a bearing assembly, comprising: an elongated rail having opposing sides, each of said opposing sides including a pair of horizontal arms, each of said arms having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a cavity between said arms, said outer surface defining a pair of substantially parallel grooves, said grooves defining a portion of load bearing tracks, said arms being configured to deflect under a predetermined force to affect load bearing characteristics of said linear motion bearing assembly; and a plurality of piezoelectric chips disposed within each of said cavities and configured for engaging said respective inner surfaces to apply said predetermined force on said arms in response to external stimuli.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 124 words

A linear motion bearing assembly including a carriage and a bearing assembly, comprising: an elongated rail having opposing sides, each of said opposing sides including a pair of horizontal arms, each of said arms having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a cavity between said arms, said outer surface defining a pair of substantially parallel grooves, said grooves defining a portion of load bearing tracks, said arms being configured to deflect under a predetermined force to affect load bearing characteristics of said linear motion bearing assembly; and a plurality of piezoelectric chips disposed within each of said cavities and configured for engaging said respective inner surfaces to apply said predetermined force on said arms in response to external stimuli.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 96 words

A machine table assembly including a machine table supported by a pair of linear motion bearing assemblies, the machine table assembly comprising; deflectable structure including at least a portion of the machine table, said deflectable structure configured to deflect under a predetermined force to affect load bearing characteristics of said machine table assembly; and pressure transducer structure disposed on at least one of said linear motion bearing assemblies, said pressure transducer structure disposed adjacent to and configured for engaging said deflectable structure to apply said predetermined force on the deflectable structure in response to external stimuli.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 96 words

A machine table assembly including a machine table supported by a pair of linear motion bearing assemblies, the machine table assembly comprising; deflectable structure including at least a portion of the machine table, said deflectable structure configured to deflect under a predetermined force to affect load bearing characteristics of said machine table assembly; and pressure transducer structure disposed on at least one of said linear motion bearing assemblies, said pressure transducer structure disposed adjacent to and configured for engaging said deflectable structure to apply said predetermined force on the deflectable structure in response to external stimuli.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 60 words

The machine table assembly as recited in claim 31 , wherein each of said linear motion bearing assemblies includes a carriage having a top portion and a side portion, said pressure transducer structure includes a vertical piezoelectric stack disposed within a cavity defined within said top portion and a horizontal stack disposed within a cavity defined within said side portion.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 44 words

The machine table assembly as recited in claim 31 , said machine table assembly further comprising a displacement sensor and a load sensor, said sensors configured to cooperate with a reference bar to orient said machine table relative to said linear motion bearing assemblies.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-01-16	2004-07-17	2005-01-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-01-16	2008-07-17	2009-01-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-01-16	2012-07-17	2013-01-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Linear motion bearing assembly with load compensation

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