Adjustable Locking Member for Slide Assembly Installation Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing installation support units for slide assemblies are non-adjustable, leading to instability and potential damage during transportation due to misalignment of press-nuts and bolts, especially when the locking mechanism of the rack system varies or has tolerances.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable installation support unit with a locking member having a protrusion and head portion, where the protrusion's diameter is smaller than the elongate hole, allowing transverse adjustment and secure connection to the rack system, ensuring stability during transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-adjustable press-nut is used in the installation support unit, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the bolt cannot be successfully connected when offset from the press-nut, leading to instability during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed to be movable relative to the support member along the elongate hole, transitioning from a fixed position to an adjustable position. This dynamic capability allows the locking member to accommodate misalignment between the bolt and press-nut, ensuring successful connection while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member can change its positional parameter along the elongate hole to adjust its location relative to the bolt. This parameter adjustment enables the locking member to compensate for offsets and tolerances in the rack system, ensuring reliable connection without increasing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the locking member is made adjustable to accommodate rack system variations, then connection reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct components: the locking member, the support member with elongate hole, and the head portion with protrusion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving adjustability through simple geometric relationships rather than complex integrated mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate hole serves multiple functions: it guides the protrusion during assembly, allows transverse adjustment of the locking member, and provides a constraint boundary for the adjustment range. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, maintaining simplicity while achieving adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the protrusion diameter is made smaller than the elongate hole width, then transverse adjustment is enabled, but the locking member becomes less stable in position
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member has different geometric characteristics at different locations: the protrusion portion has a smaller diameter for movement through the elongate hole, while the head portion has a larger diameter that provides stability and clamping action. This local quality differentiation allows the same component to achieve both ease of adjustment and positional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the elongate hole for adjustment, while the transverse dimension provides stability through the head portion's clamping action against the support member and end board. This dimensional separation allows independent optimization of adjustment ease and stability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An installation support unit includes a base board (10), a support member (14), two installation members (16, 18) and a locking member (20). An end board (12) extends from the base board (10) and has a bent portion. The support member (14) has a face board (24) and an elongate hole (28). Each of the installation members (16, 18) is connected to the support member (14) which is fixed to the end board (12). The locking member (20) is movably connected to the support member (14) and the end board (12), and includes a head portion (30), a protrusion (32) and a threaded hole (34) defmed through the head portion (30) and the protrusion (32). The diameter of the protrusion (32) is smaller than the transverse width of the elongate hole (28). The protrusion (32) extends through the elongate hole (28), and the height of the head portion (30) is longer than the longitudinal distance of the elongate hole (28). The head portion (30) is movably clamped between the support member (14) and the end board (12).