Electric sliding rail
By designing an electric slide rail, a motor drives a power wheel and a transmission rack to achieve automatic opening and closing of the slide rail, solving the problem of traditional slide rails requiring continuous manual operation and improving user experience and intelligence.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHONGQING HAIER REFRIGERATION ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2021-07-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
AI Technical Summary
Traditional synchronous slide rails require continuous manual pulling/pushing force to open or close, resulting in a poor user experience, especially when both hands are busy.
Design an electric slide rail, including a track system, a power assembly, and a transmission system. The motor drives the power wheel to rotate, which in turn drives the transmission rack and synchronous belt to achieve automatic opening and closing of the slide rail, reducing jerking sensation.
It enables automatic opening and closing of the slide rails, improves user experience, reduces jerking during movement, and is suitable for scenarios such as refrigerator drawers, thus enhancing the level of intelligence.
Smart Images
Figure CN122107684A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of patent application No. 202110874916.X, filed on July 30, 2021, entitled "Electric Slide Rail". Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to the field of slide rail technology, and in particular to an electric slide rail. Background Technology
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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
[0006] One objective of this invention is to enable the slide rail to open and close automatically, thereby improving the user experience.
[0007] A further objective of this invention is to reduce the jerking sensation during the movement of the slide rail and improve its smoothness.
[0008] Specifically, the present invention provides an electric slide rail. The electric slide rail includes a track system, a power assembly, and a 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, and the transmission system is fixed to the middle track. The electric slide rail is configured such that the power assembly provides power, causing the transmission system to drive the track system to move.
[0009] 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.
[0010] Optionally, the transmission system is a transmission rack, and the transmission rack meshes with the drive wheel.
[0011] Optionally, the rotation of the drive wheel drives the transmission rack and pinion, which in turn moves the intermediate track.
[0012] Optionally, the electric slide rail also includes: a front synchronous pulley, a rear synchronous pulley, and a synchronous belt, wherein the front synchronous pulley and the rear synchronous pulley are fixed to the middle rail, and the synchronous belt is fixed to the upper rail and the lower rail respectively by upper fixing parts and lower fixing parts.
[0013] Optionally, as the middle track moves, the front and rear synchronous pulleys rotate accordingly under the action of the synchronous belt, causing the upper track to also shift.
[0014] 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 synchronous pulley of each electric slide rail.
[0015] Optionally, the rear 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.
[0016] Optionally, the powertrain also includes auxiliary devices configured to assist the motor in operation, and the auxiliary devices include a clutch and a reducer.
[0017] Optionally, the displacement and linear velocity of the upper track are twice that of the middle track.
[0018] The electric slide rail of this invention includes: a track system, a power assembly, and a 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, and the transmission system is fixed to the middle track. The electric slide rail is configured such that the power assembly provides power, enabling the transmission system to drive the track system. Through a novel power and transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human intervention, addressing the needs of various usage scenarios. It boasts a high degree of intelligence and effectively enhances the user experience.
[0019] Furthermore, the electric slide rail of the present invention also includes: a front synchronous pulley, a rear synchronous pulley, and a synchronous belt, wherein the front synchronous pulley and the rear synchronous pulley are both fixed to the middle rail, and the synchronous belt is fixed to the upper rail and the lower rail respectively through an upper fixing member and a lower fixing member; while the middle rail moves, the front synchronous pulley and the rear synchronous pulley rotate accordingly under the action of the synchronous belt, causing the upper rail to also move. During the movement of the slide rail, the upper rail and the lower rail move simultaneously and reach the stop point, without any impact or jerking sensation.
[0020] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electric slide rail 100 has a transmission rack positioned above the middle rail. Since the displacement of the upper rail is twice that of the middle rail, this position can achieve the maximum displacement of the entire track system with the minimum length of the transmission rack.
[0021] 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
[0022] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in a detailed manner 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: Figure 1 This is a front view of an electric slide rail according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 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 and transmission system, eliminates the need for continuous human input during the entire movement process, thus addressing the usage 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 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, and the transmission system is fixed to the middle track 112. The electric slide rail 100 is configured to provide power to the power assembly 120, so that the transmission system drives the track system 110 to move.
[0025] 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.
[0026] The electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment includes: a track system 110, a power assembly 120 and a 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 and the transmission system is fixed to the middle track 112.
[0027] The electric slide rail 100 is configured with a power unit 120 to provide power, enabling the transmission system to drive the track system 110. Through a novel power source and transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human intervention, thus addressing the needs of various usage scenarios.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the transmission system is a rack and pinion 130, which meshes with the drive wheel 122. The rack and pinion 130 is positioned above the middle track 112. Since the displacement and linear velocity of the upper track 111 are twice that of the middle track 112, this position allows for the maximum displacement of the entire track system 110 with the minimum length of the rack and pinion 130. Minimizing the length of the rack and pinion 130 effectively saves cost and space.
[0029] It should be noted that while the power wheel 122 rotates, it drives the transmission rack 130, which in turn moves the middle rail 112. In a preferred embodiment, the electric slide rail 100 may further include: a front synchronous pulley 141, a rear synchronous pulley 142, and a synchronous belt 143, wherein the front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 are both fixed to the middle rail 112, and the synchronous belt 143 is fixed to the upper rail 111 and the lower rail 113 respectively through an upper fixing member 144 and a lower fixing member (not shown in the figure).
[0030] As the middle track 112 moves, the front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 rotate accordingly under the action of the synchronous belt 143, causing the upper track 111 to also move. In a specific embodiment, 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.
[0031] 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 synchronous pulley 142 of each electric slide rail 100. The rear 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.
[0032] In other words, the electric slide rail 100 in this embodiment has a synchronization system. Therefore, only one side of the electric slide rail 100 needs to be equipped with a power assembly 120 and its transmission system to realize the electric opening and closing of the slide rail. Moreover, under the action of the synchronization system, during the movement of the electric slide rail 100, the upper rail 111 and the lower rail 113 move simultaneously and reach the end point without any impact or jerking.
[0033] By installing the powertrain 120 and its transmission system on only one side of the electric slide rail 100, production costs can be effectively reduced, assembly efficiency improved, and the overall space occupied by the electric slide rail 100 reduced. When used in the case of sealed drawers in refrigerators, this avoids occupying storage containers.
[0034] The electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment includes a track system 110, a power assembly 120, and a 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, and the transmission system is fixed to the middle track 112. The electric slide rail 100 is configured such that the power assembly 120 provides power, causing the transmission system to drive the track system 110 to move. Through a novel power and transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human intervention, thus addressing the usage needs of different scenarios.
[0035] Furthermore, the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment also includes: a front synchronous pulley 141, a rear synchronous pulley 142, and a synchronous belt 143. The front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 are both 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. While the middle track 112 moves, the front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 rotate accordingly under the action of the synchronous belt 143, causing the upper track 111 to also shift. During the slide rail movement, the upper track 111 and the lower track 113 shift simultaneously and reach their stopping points without any impact or jerking.
[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electric slide rail 100 has a transmission rack 130 positioned above the middle track 112. Since the displacement of the upper track 111 is twice that of the middle track 112, this position can achieve the maximum displacement of the entire track system 110 with the minimum length of the transmission rack 130.
[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, in this embodiment, the power assembly 120 is fixed to the lower rail 113 for component integration and to facilitate subsequent installation. In some other embodiments, the power assembly 120 may also be mounted on a fixed surface near the lower rail 113. A transmission gear may be added between the power wheel 122 and the transmission rack 130; there may be one or more transmission gears, to reduce the diameter of the power wheel 122 and increase the power output of the power wheel 122.
[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transmission rack 130 is fixedly located on the middle track 112. In some other embodiments, the transmission rack 130 may also be fixed on the upper track 111. In this embodiment, the transmission rack 130 is located on the same side as the synchronous belt 143. In some other embodiments, the transmission rack 130 may also be located on the other side of the synchronous belt 143.
[0039] It is important to emphasize that 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.
[0040] The electric slide rail 100 in this embodiment provides continuous power output for the slide rail movement by designing a brand-new power and transmission system, thereby solving the problem that the existing slide rail movement process requires continuous manual pulling / pushing force. It can be used with different control opening and closing modes, such as buttons, voice, touch, tapping, or manual application of short-term pushing and pulling force, to meet the needs of different scenarios.
[0041] 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 begins to work, driving the power wheel 122 to rotate. Simultaneously, the rotation of the power wheel 122 drives the transmission rack 130, which in turn moves the middle track 112. While the middle track 112 moves, under the action of the synchronous belt 143, the front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 rotate accordingly, causing the upper track 111 to also move. The rear 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.
[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 transmission system; the other side does not require installation, enabling 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 following describes a specific embodiment: When the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment is installed in the sealed drawer of a refrigerator, the user's command to open the sealed drawer can be received. Based on this command, the motor 121 can be energized and started working, driving the drive wheel 122 to rotate. Simultaneously, the rotation of the drive wheel 122 drives the transmission rack 130, which in turn moves the middle track 112. While the middle track 112 moves, under the action of the synchronous belt 143, the front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 rotate accordingly, causing the upper track 111 to also move. The rear 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. In other words, applying the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment can improve the overall intelligence level of refrigerators and other home appliances, helping to achieve smart home appliance upgrades and greatly enhancing the user experience.
[0048] The electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment includes a track system 110, a power assembly 120, and a 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, and the transmission system is fixed to the middle track 112. The electric slide rail 100 is configured such that the power assembly 120 provides power, causing the transmission system to drive the track system 110 to move. Through a novel power and transmission system, the entire movement of the slide rail does not require continuous human intervention, thus addressing the usage needs of different scenarios.
[0049] Furthermore, the electric slide rail 100 of this embodiment also includes: a front synchronous pulley 141, a rear synchronous pulley 142, and a synchronous belt 143. The front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 are both 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. While the middle track 112 moves, the front synchronous pulley 141 and the rear synchronous pulley 142 rotate accordingly under the action of the synchronous belt 143, causing the upper track 111 to also shift. During the slide rail movement, the upper track 111 and the lower track 113 shift simultaneously and reach their stopping points without any impact or jerking.
[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electric slide rail 100 has a transmission rack 130 positioned above the middle track 112. Since the displacement of the upper track 111 is twice that of the middle track 112, this position can achieve the maximum displacement of the entire track system 110 with the minimum length of the transmission rack 130.
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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.
[0053] 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.
[0054] 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 transmission rack, 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 transmission rack is fixed to the central track. The electric slide rail is configured to provide power to the powertrain, so that the transmission rack drives the track system to move; The powertrain includes a motor and a drive wheel. The motor drives the drive wheel to rotate. The transmission rack meshes with the drive wheel, and the drive wheel meshes below the transmission rack. As the drive wheel rotates, it drives the transmission rack and the central track to move accordingly.
2. The electric slide rail according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Front synchronizer pulley, rear synchronizer pulley, and synchronizer belt. Both the front and rear synchronous pulleys are fixed to the middle track. The synchronous belt is fixed to the upper rail and the lower rail by an upper fixing member and a lower fixing member, respectively; The transmission rack is located within the space enclosed by the synchronous belt.
3. The electric slide rail according to claim 2, characterized in that, The diameter of the front synchronous pulley is smaller than the diameter of the rear synchronous pulley, and the diameter of the power pulley is larger than the diameter of the rear synchronous pulley.
4. The electric slide rail according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission rack is located on the same side as the synchronous belt; and the rotation axis of the power wheel is parallel to the rotation axis of the front synchronous pulley and is located below the rotation axis of the front synchronous pulley.
5. The electric slide rail according to claim 2, characterized in that, 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 synchronous wheel of each electric slide rail.
6. The electric slide rail according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rotation axis of the drive wheel, the rotation axis of the front synchronous wheel, and the rotation axis of the rear synchronous wheel are respectively arranged in parallel, and the rotation axis of the drive wheel is located between the rotation axis of the front synchronous wheel and the rotation axis of the rear synchronous wheel.
7. The electric slide rail according to claim 2, characterized in that, As the middle track moves, the front and rear synchronous pulleys rotate accordingly under the action of the synchronous belt, causing the upper track to also shift. The displacement of the upper track is twice that of the middle track.
8. The electric slide rail according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor is located below the lower track.
9. The electric slide rail according to claim 1, characterized in that, The powertrain also includes: an auxiliary device configured to assist the motor in operation, and The auxiliary device includes a clutch and a reducer.
10. A refrigerator, comprising: The cabinet comprises a box body, a door, and a sealed drawer. The box body defines a storage space inside, and the door is located on the front surface of the box body to operably open and close the storage space. The sealed drawer is located within the storage space. The sealed drawer is characterized in that the bottom sides of the sealed drawer are fixedly provided with electric slide rails as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 via slide rail reinforcing irons.