INA introduces low noise version of monorail guidance system
INA's established 'KUVE' four-row ball monorail guidance system now
includes a low-noise variant, the KUVE-B KT, featuring a novel rolling
element separation arrangement. A plastic spacer accommodates a total of
four rolling elements, two each from the rows of balls under tensile and
compressive load. Called 'Quad Spacers', these are claimed to be superior
to chain-based separators as they avoid the bending and tensile stresses
that can have a critical effect in the return zone. Quad Spacers prevent
contact between the balls under any circumstances, eliminating collision
noises and ensuring smoother guidance of the balls throughout the ball
track.
The new low-noise system adopts the contact geometry of the original KUVE
design, with the four rows of balls in an 'O' arrangement, at a contact
angle of 45o and running under two-point contact. The ball recirculation
system has a reduced number of components, so there are fewer transition
points, which further reduces noise emissions.