Angled Cage Carriage Design for Linear Guide Load Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide systems for furniture and appliances face challenges in achieving high mechanical load capacity while maintaining economical production, particularly in the design of carriages for linear guide systems.

Innovation Solution

The carriage features a running cage with a cage center element and lateral cage side elements, where the extension planes of the cage side and center elements form an angle less than 90 degrees, allowing for perpendicular mounting on a rail, and includes articulation via film hinges and attachment means for improved stability and manufacturing ease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the carriage is designed with traditional perpendicular cage elements, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the mechanical load capacity and stability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical load capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by designing the cage side elements at an angle different from 90 degrees relative to the cage center element. This asymmetric angular configuration optimizes the distribution of mechanical loads during the push-out movement, thereby enhancing the mechanical load capacity and stability of the carriage while maintaining manufacturability through standard angular fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Stability of the object's composition

If the cage side elements are articulated to the cage center element, then the stability and adaptability of the carriage are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarriage stabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs film hinges as articulated connections between the cage side elements and the cage center element. These thin film hinges provide flexible articulation that allows the cage structure to adapt to mechanical loads and movements while maintaining overall structural stability, thereby improving carriage stability without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the angle between cage side element and cage center element is less than 90 degrees, then the carriage mounting perpendicularity to the rail is achieved, but the basic geometric shape deviates from standard forms increasing production complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting perpendicularityVSAvoidgeometric precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by specifically setting the angle between the cage side element and cage center element to be less than 90 degrees. This angular parameter modification enables the carriage to be mounted perpendicular to the guide rail, optimizing operational alignment and ease of installation while the angle itself serves as a standardized geometric parameter for manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3491969B1Carriage for a guide system, method for producing a carriage
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 GRASS GMBH
  • EP3491969B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3491969B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3491969B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A carriage for a guide system, wherein the carriage comprises a running cage, the running cage having a central cage element and two lateral cage side elements, the cage side elements being connected to the central cage element in a mutually opposite and spaced-apart manner, wherein a plane of extension of a cage side element is angled relative to a plane of extension of the central cage element. The carriage is characterized in that the planes of extension of the cage side element and the central cage element form an angle of less than 90°.