Electric sliding rail

Abstract

The application provides an electric slide rail. The electric slide rail comprises a track system, a power assembly and a synchronous transmission system. The track system comprises an upper track, a middle track and a lower track arranged from top to bottom. The power assembly is fixed to the lower track. The synchronous transmission system comprises a front transmission synchronous wheel, a rear transmission synchronous wheel, a transmission belt and a synchronous belt sleeved on the front transmission synchronous wheel and the rear transmission synchronous wheel. The electric slide rail is configured to be powered by the power assembly so that the track system is driven to move by the synchronous transmission system. The electric slide rail can solve the use requirements of different scenes, has high intelligent degree and effectively improves the use experience of users through a novel power and a synchronous transmission system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of slide rail technology, and in particular to an electric slide rail. Background Technology

[0002] Slide rails can withstand large loads while requiring minimal force to move them back and forth along a linear track. Leveraging these characteristics, an increasing number of refrigerator products are incorporating slide rail components, ranging from small internal storage parts (drawers, shelves, etc.) to large parts like the refrigerator door itself.

[0003] The traditional synchronous slide rail's opening and closing process generally follows this pattern: The upper rail is subjected to force and moves forward; under the fixing action of the upper rail belt, the upper rail's movement simultaneously drives the belt to move in the same direction as the upper rail; the belt drives the front and rear synchronous pulleys to rotate counter-clockwise; simultaneously, because the lower rail belt is fixed and the lower rail is a fixed mounting rail, the middle rail also moves in the same direction as the upper rail, at half the speed of the upper rail; the rear synchronous pulley is equipped with a synchronous shaft, which drives the other side of the slide rail to move synchronously. The slide rail's opening and closing process follows the same principle, but in the opposite direction. Existing synchronous slide rails lack a power source and transmission system; throughout the process, continuous pulling / pushing force is required for the guide rail to move until it is fully open or fully closed.

[0004] Because continuous pulling / pushing force is required for the guide rail to move until it is fully open or closed, this can cause inconvenience for users in certain scenarios. For example, when a user's hands are full of items and they need to open the refrigerator, or when an older user bends over to retrieve items, it is difficult for them to perform a sustained pulling motion to fully open or close the slide rail, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One objective of this invention is to enable the slide rail to open and close automatically, thereby improving the user experience.

[0006] A further objective of this invention is to reduce the jerking sensation during the movement of the slide rail and improve its smoothness.

[0007] Specifically, the present invention provides an electric slide rail. The electric slide rail includes: a track system, a power assembly, and a synchronous transmission system. The track system includes an upper track, a middle track, and a lower track arranged from top to bottom. The power assembly is fixed to the lower track. The synchronous transmission system includes: a front drive synchronous pulley, a rear drive synchronous pulley, and a drive belt and a synchronous belt sleeved on the front and rear drive synchronous pulleys. The electric slide rail is configured such that the power assembly provides power, causing the synchronous transmission system to drive the track system.

[0008] Optionally, the powertrain includes a motor and a drive wheel, the powertrain being configured such that when energized, the motor starts working and drives the drive wheel to rotate.

[0009] Optionally, the rotation of the drive wheel drives the transmission belt to move, and the front and rear synchronous pulleys also rotate accordingly.

[0010] Optionally, both the front drive synchronous pulley and the rear drive synchronous pulley are fixed to the middle rail, and the synchronous belt is fixed to the upper rail and the lower rail respectively through the upper fixing member and the lower fixing member.

[0011] Alternatively, the synchronous belt is positioned closer to the track system than the drive belt, and the synchronous belt and drive belt move synchronously.

[0012] Optionally, while the front drive synchronous pulley and the rear drive synchronous pulley are rotating, they drive the synchronous belt to move, and in turn drive the middle track and the upper track to start moving and displacing at the same time.

[0013] Optionally, a synchronous shaft is provided between the two electric slide rails, with both ends of the synchronous shaft fixed to the center of the rear drive synchronous pulley of each electric slide rail.

[0014] Optionally, the rear drive synchronous pulley of one electric slide rail drives the synchronous shaft to rotate, and under the action of the synchronous shaft, it drives the other electric slide rail to perform synchronous displacement movement.

[0015] Optionally, the powertrain also includes auxiliary devices configured to assist the motor in operation, and the auxiliary devices include a clutch and a reducer.

[0016] Optionally, the synchronous drive system also includes a pair of auxiliary pulleys fixed to the lower rail, configured to ensure that the required length of the drive belt remains constant.

[0017] The electric slide rail of this invention includes: a track system, a power assembly, and a synchronous transmission system. The track system comprises an upper track, a middle track, and a lower track arranged from top to bottom. The power assembly is fixed to the lower track. The synchronous transmission system includes: a front drive synchronous pulley, a rear drive synchronous pulley, and a transmission belt and a synchronous belt sleeved on the front and rear drive synchronous pulleys. The electric slide rail is configured to provide power to the power assembly, enabling the synchronous transmission system to drive the track system. Through a novel power system and its synchronous transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human input, addressing the needs of various usage scenarios. It boasts a high degree of intelligence and effectively enhances the user experience.

[0018] Furthermore, the electric slide rail of the present invention, with its front and rear synchronous pulleys and corresponding transmission and synchronization belts, forms a completely new synchronous transmission system. The diameter and tooth parameters of its transmission and synchronization components are identical, and its angular and linear velocities are consistent, ensuring synchronized movement of the transmission and synchronization belts. This guarantees smoothness during movement and prevents tooth skipping. Under the action of the synchronous transmission system, the upper and lower tracks move simultaneously and reach their endpoints during slide rail movement, without any impact or jerking. The pair of auxiliary pulleys on the lower track ensure that the required length of the transmission belt in the entire synchronous transmission system remains constant, preventing tooth skipping and the transmission belt from being stretched or bent due to changes in required length, effectively improving operational reliability.

[0019] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in detail by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or portions. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a front view of an electric slide rail according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0022] Figure 2 This is a top view of an electric slide rail according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] This embodiment provides an electric slide rail that, through a novel power source and its synchronous transmission system, enables the slide rail to move without continuous human input, thus addressing the needs of various scenarios. Figure 1 This is a front view of an electric slide rail 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a top view of an electric slide rail 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment generally includes: a track system 110, a power assembly 120, and a synchronous transmission system.

[0024] The track system 110 includes an upper track 111, a middle track 112, and a lower track 113 arranged from top to bottom. The power assembly 120 is fixed to the lower track 113. The synchronous transmission system includes a front drive synchronous pulley 141, a rear drive synchronous pulley 142, and a transmission belt 130 and a synchronous belt 143 sleeved on the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142. The electric slide rail 100 is configured to provide power to the power assembly 120, so that the synchronous transmission system drives the track system 110 to move.

[0025] In other words, in this embodiment, both the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142 allow the two belts to work in tandem. In other words, both the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142 in this embodiment are provided with two belt grooves. In a preferred embodiment, the drive belt 130 is a rack and pinion belt, and the belt grooves are provided with teeth adapted to the rack and pinion belt.

[0026] In one specific embodiment, the powertrain 120 may include a motor 121 and a drive wheel 122, wherein the powertrain 120 is configured such that when energized, the motor 121 starts to operate, driving the drive wheel 122 to rotate. In a preferred embodiment, the powertrain 120 may further include an auxiliary device configured to assist the motor 121 in operating, and the auxiliary device includes a clutch and a reducer.

[0027] The electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment includes a track system 110, a power assembly 120, and a synchronous transmission system. The track system 110 includes an upper track 111, a middle track 112, and a lower track 113 arranged from top to bottom. The power assembly 120 is fixed to the lower track 113. The synchronous transmission system includes a front drive synchronous pulley 141, a rear drive synchronous pulley 142, and a drive belt 130 and a synchronous belt 143 sleeved on the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142. The electric slide rail 100 is configured such that the power assembly 120 provides power, enabling the synchronous transmission system to drive the track system 110. Through a novel power source and its synchronous transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human input, thus addressing the needs of various usage scenarios.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the rotation of the drive wheel 122 drives the transmission belt 130 to move, and the front transmission synchronous pulley 141 and the rear transmission synchronous pulley 142 also rotate accordingly. Both the front transmission synchronous pulley 141 and the rear transmission synchronous pulley 142 are fixed to the middle track 112, and the synchronous belt 143 is fixed to the upper track 111 and the lower track 113 respectively via an upper fixing member 144 and a lower fixing member (not shown in the figure, obscured).

[0029] The synchronous belt 143 is closer to the track system 110 than the drive belt 130, and the synchronous belt 143 and the drive belt 130 move synchronously. As the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142 rotate, they drive the synchronous belt 143 to move, which in turn drives the middle track 112 and the upper track 111 to start moving and displacing at the same time.

[0030] The synchronous transmission system also includes a pair of auxiliary pulleys 145, fixed to the lower rail 113, configured to ensure that the required length of the transmission belt 130 remains constant. As a pair of rollers located on the lower rail 113, the auxiliary pulleys 145 ensure tight engagement between the transmission belt 130 and the drive pulley 122, and more importantly, ensure that the total length of the transmission belt 130 remains constant during movement. It should be noted that the transmission belt 130 is fitted over the inner side of the auxiliary pulley 145 in front of the drive pulley 122 from below the front synchronous pulley 141, and then over the inner side of the auxiliary pulley 145 behind the drive pulley 122 from below the drive pulley 122.

[0031] In this embodiment, the electrification system features a newly designed front drive synchronous pulley 141 and rear drive synchronous pulley 142, which simultaneously have both "synchronization" and "transmission" functions. This completely replaces the traditional "synchronization pulley" in the original position of the slide rail, which only has the single function of "synchronization". It works in sync with the drive belt 130 and the synchronous belt 143.

[0032] In summary, the entire working process of the electric slide rail 100 in this embodiment is as follows: The motor 121 is powered on and starts working, driving the power wheel 122 to rotate. Simultaneously, the rotation of the power wheel 122 drives the transmission belt 130 to move, and the front transmission synchronous pulley 141 and the rear transmission synchronous pulley 142 also rotate accordingly. While the front transmission synchronous pulley 141 and the rear transmission synchronous pulley 142 are rotating, they drive the synchronous belt 143 to move, thereby driving the middle track 112 and the upper track 111 to begin moving and displacing simultaneously.

[0033] In one specific embodiment, the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment can be applied to items such as drawers, with two electric slide rails 100 arranged on both sides of the bottom of the drawer. In a preferred embodiment, a synchronous shaft is provided between the two electric slide rails 100, and the two ends of the synchronous shaft are respectively fixed to the center of the rear drive synchronous pulley 142 of each electric slide rail 100. The rear drive synchronous pulley 142 of one electric slide rail 100 drives the synchronous shaft to rotate, and under the action of the synchronous shaft, it drives the other electric slide rail 100 to perform synchronous displacement movement.

[0034] In other words, the electric slide rail 100 in this embodiment has a synchronous transmission system. Therefore, only one side of the electric slide rail 100 needs to be equipped with the power assembly 120 and its synchronous transmission system to realize the electric opening and closing of the slide rail. Moreover, under the action of the synchronous transmission system, during the movement of the electric slide rail 100, the upper rail 111 and the lower rail 113 move simultaneously and reach their destination points without any impact or jerking. In this embodiment, the pair of auxiliary wheels 145 of the lower rail 113 can ensure that the required length of the transmission belt 130 in the entire synchronous transmission system remains constant, avoiding tooth skipping and the transmission belt 130 being stretched or bent due to changes in the required length.

[0035] The electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment includes a track system 110, a power assembly 120, and a synchronous transmission system. The track system 110 includes an upper track 111, a middle track 112, and a lower track 113 arranged from top to bottom. The power assembly 120 is fixed to the lower track 113. The synchronous transmission system includes a front drive synchronous pulley 141, a rear drive synchronous pulley 142, and a drive belt 130 and a synchronous belt 143 sleeved on the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142. The electric slide rail 100 is configured such that the power assembly 120 provides power, enabling the synchronous transmission system to drive the track system 110. Through a novel power source and its synchronous transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human input, thus addressing the needs of various usage scenarios.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electric slide rail 100, the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142, and the corresponding drive belts 130 and 143 form a newly designed synchronous transmission system. The diameter and tooth parameters of the transmission and synchronization parts are completely identical, and their angular and linear velocities are consistent, ensuring that the drive belts 130 and 143 move synchronously. This guarantees smoothness during movement and prevents tooth skipping. Under the action of the synchronous transmission system, during the slide rail movement, the upper rail 111 and the lower rail 113 simultaneously move and reach their stopping points without any impact or jerking. The pair of auxiliary pulleys 145 on the lower rail 113 ensure that the required length of the drive belt 130 in the entire synchronous transmission system remains constant, preventing tooth skipping and the drive belt 130 from being stretched or bent due to changes in required length, effectively improving operational reliability.

[0037] It should be noted that in some other embodiments, some structures, devices, and method steps may be substituted, or a complete technical solution may be substituted. For example, the transmission belt 130 in this embodiment is not limited to a rack and pinion belt structure, but can also use a non-rack and pinion belt. The surface of the transmission belt 130 can be smooth, textured, etc., and it uses friction to drive the front and rear automatic synchronous pulleys to rotate, or even uses a wire or nylon rope linear drive method.

[0038] The pair of auxiliary pulleys 145 on the lower track 113 are not limited to rotatable roller structures; any non-rotating structure with a smooth surface and low friction can also be used. For example, cylinders, spheres, etc. The purpose of the auxiliary pulleys 145 is to ensure that the external dimensions of the drive belt 130 remain constant.

[0039] In this embodiment, the powertrain 120 is fixed to the lower rail 113 for component integration and ease of subsequent installation. In other embodiments, it can also be mounted on a fixed surface near the lower rail 113. In this embodiment, the drive belt 130 and the synchronization belt 143 are located on the same side of the track system 110. In other embodiments, the drive belt 130 and the synchronization belt 143 can be located on opposite sides of the track system 110.

[0040] It is important to emphasize that the traditional synchronous slide rail's opening and closing process generally follows this pattern: The upper rail 111 is subjected to force, causing it to move forward. With the belt securing the upper rail 111, the movement of the upper rail simultaneously drives the belt to move in the same direction as the upper rail. The belt drives the front and rear synchronous pulleys to rotate counter-clockwise. Simultaneously, because the lower rail 113 is fixed by its belt and is a fixed mounting rail, the middle rail 112 also moves in the same direction as the upper rail, at half the speed of the upper rail. The rear synchronous pulley is equipped with a synchronous shaft, which drives the other side of the slide rail to move synchronously. The slide rail's opening and closing process follows the same principle, but in the opposite direction. Existing synchronous slide rails lack a power source and transmission system; throughout the process, continuous pulling / pushing force is required for the guide rail to move until it is fully open or fully closed.

[0041] The electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment, through the design of a novel power and synchronous transmission system, can provide continuous power output for the slide rail movement, thereby solving the problem that existing slide rails require continuous manual pulling / pushing force during movement. It can be used with different control opening and closing modes, such as buttons, voice, touch, tapping, or brief manual pushing / pulling forces, to meet the needs of different scenarios. Applying the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment can improve the overall intelligence level of home appliances such as refrigerators, contributing to the upgrade to smart home appliances and greatly enhancing the user experience.

[0042] As mentioned above, the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment can be applied to items such as drawers, with two electric slide rails 100 provided on both sides of the bottom of the drawer. The drawer can be further applied to a refrigerator. A refrigerator generally includes: a cabinet, a door, and a sealed drawer.

[0043] The refrigerator body internally defines storage space and a cooling compartment. The storage space includes multiple storage areas. The number and structure of the storage spaces can be configured according to needs. Depending on their purpose, the storage spaces can be configured as refrigeration, freezing, variable temperature, or preservation spaces. Each storage space can be divided into multiple storage areas by partitions, utilizing shelves or drawers for storage. At least one storage space in the refrigerator is equipped with a sealed drawer, and the bottom sides of the sealed drawer are fixed with electric slide rails 100 via reinforcing irons. Furthermore, only one side of the electric slide rail 100 requires the installation of a powertrain 120 and a synchronous transmission system; the other side does not require installation to achieve synchronous displacement movement.

[0044] The door can be installed on the front surface of the cabinet to operably open and close the storage space. Doors are correspondingly arranged to storage spaces; that is, each storage space corresponds to one or more doors. The number of storage spaces and doors, as well as the function of the storage spaces, can be selected according to specific circumstances. The door can be pivotally installed on the front surface of the cabinet or can be a drawer-type opening mechanism. The drawer-type storage space can be equipped with the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment, which ensures smooth opening and closing of the drawer and reduces noise.

[0045] The evaporator is located in the cooling chamber and configured to provide cooling to the storage space. The amount of cooling provided by the evaporator varies depending on the type of storage space, resulting in different temperatures within each type of space. For example, the temperature in a refrigerated compartment is generally between 2°C and 10°C, preferably between 4°C and 7°C. The temperature range in a frozen compartment is generally between -22°C and -14°C. Different types of items have different optimal storage temperatures, and therefore, different suitable storage spaces. For example, fruits and vegetables are suitable for storage in refrigerated or crisper compartments, while meat is suitable for freezing.

[0046] A sealed drawer may include a drawer body and a drawer frame. The drawer body has a front opening and is fixed to the inner liner of the refrigerator body. The drawer frame is slidably installed within the drawer body, allowing it to be operably pulled out and inserted inward from the front opening of the drawer body. It should be noted that the inner liner and drawer body can be integrally molded or molded separately and then assembled. The refrigerator body may also include a shell and an insulation layer. The shell is located outside the inner liner. The insulation layer is located between the shell and the inner liner to insulate the refrigerator from external heat.

[0047] The electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment includes a track system 110, a power assembly 120, and a synchronous transmission system. The track system 110 includes an upper track 111, a middle track 112, and a lower track 113 arranged from top to bottom. The power assembly 120 is fixed to the lower track 113. The synchronous transmission system includes a front drive synchronous pulley 141, a rear drive synchronous pulley 142, and a drive belt 130 and a synchronous belt 143 sleeved on the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142. The electric slide rail 100 is configured such that the power assembly 120 provides power, enabling the synchronous transmission system to drive the track system 110. Through a novel power source and its synchronous transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human input, thus addressing the needs of various usage scenarios.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electric slide rail 100, the front drive synchronous pulley 141 and the rear drive synchronous pulley 142, and the corresponding drive belts 130 and 143 form a newly designed synchronous transmission system. The diameter and tooth parameters of the transmission and synchronization parts are completely identical, and their angular and linear velocities are consistent, ensuring that the drive belts 130 and 143 move synchronously. This guarantees smoothness during movement and prevents tooth skipping. Under the action of the synchronous transmission system, during the slide rail movement, the upper rail 111 and the lower rail 113 simultaneously move and reach their stopping points without any impact or jerking. The pair of auxiliary pulleys 145 on the lower rail 113 ensure that the required length of the drive belt 130 in the entire synchronous transmission system remains constant, preventing tooth skipping and the drive belt 130 from being stretched or bent due to changes in required length, effectively improving operational reliability.

[0049] In the description of this embodiment, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0050] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," and "coupling," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0051] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0052] Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that although numerous exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications conforming to the principles of the present invention can be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be understood and construed as covering all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. An electric slide rail, comprising: Track system, powertrain and synchronous drive system, The track system includes an upper track, a middle track, and a lower track arranged from top to bottom. The powertrain is fixed to the lower rail. The synchronous transmission system includes: a front drive synchronous pulley, a rear drive synchronous pulley, and a drive belt and a synchronous belt sleeved on the front drive synchronous pulley and the rear drive synchronous pulley. The electric slide rail is configured to provide power to the powertrain, so that the synchronous transmission system drives the track system to move; The powertrain includes a motor and a drive wheel, and the powertrain is configured such that when energized, the motor starts to work and drives the drive wheel to rotate; As the power wheel rotates, it drives the transmission belt to move, and the front transmission synchronous pulley and the rear transmission synchronous pulley also rotate accordingly. Both the front drive synchronous pulley and the rear drive synchronous pulley are fixed to the middle rail, and the synchronous belt is fixed to the upper rail and the lower rail respectively through the upper fixing member and the lower fixing member.

2. The electric slide rail according to claim 1, wherein, The synchronous belt is closer to the track system than the drive belt, and The synchronous belt and the transmission belt move synchronously to ensure smoothness during the movement.

3. The electric slide rail according to claim 2, wherein, As the front and rear synchronous pulleys rotate, they drive the synchronous belt to move, which in turn drives the middle and upper tracks to begin moving and displacing at the same time.

4. The electric slide rail according to claim 3, wherein, A synchronous shaft is provided between the two electric slide rails, and the two ends of the synchronous shaft are respectively fixed to the center of the rear drive synchronous pulley of each electric slide rail.

5. The electric slide rail according to claim 4, wherein, The rear drive synchronous pulley of one of the electric slide rails drives the synchronous shaft to rotate, and under the action of the synchronous shaft, it drives the other electric slide rail to perform synchronous displacement movement.

6. The electric slide rail according to claim 1, wherein, The powertrain also includes: an auxiliary device configured to assist the motor in operation, and The auxiliary device includes a clutch and a reducer.

7. The electric slide rail according to claim 1, wherein, The synchronous transmission system further includes a pair of auxiliary wheels, which are fixed to the lower track and configured to ensure that the required length of the transmission belt remains constant.

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