Capillary Disk Lubrication for Compact Furniture Fittings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional furniture fittings with necking or collar formations increase the overall height, making them less compact and affecting their service life due to inadequate lubrication in pivot bearings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a capillary disk with a radially reducing gap width in the pivot bearing to facilitate lubricant distribution via capillary force, eliminating the need for neck or collar formations and enhancing the bearing's lubrication, thus increasing the service life and compactness of the furniture fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a necking or collar formation is used to create a pivot bearing, then the pivot bearing has an enlarged support surface for mounting the second component, but the height of the furniture fitting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary disc is designed with a porous structure featuring radially extending capillary channels that enable lubricant distribution throughout the pivot bearing. This porous structure provides the necessary support surface area for mounting the second component while maintaining a compact height, eliminating the need for traditional necking or collar formations that increase overall dimensions.
2Device complexity
If a traditional pivot bearing without capillary lubrication is used, then the structure is simpler, but the service life is reduced due to inadequate lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary disc is designed to automatically distribute lubricant through its porous structure with radially extending capillary channels. The lubricant is drawn into the pivot bearing through capillary action without requiring external pumping or complex delivery systems. This self-service lubrication mechanism extends the service life of the furniture fitting while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the gap width between the first wall and second wall is uniform, then manufacturing is easier, but the lubricant distribution in the pivot bearing is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary disc features radially extending capillary channels with varying dimensions and distributions tailored to specific local requirements within the pivot bearing. The channel geometry is optimized for lubricant flow at different radial positions, ensuring adequate lubrication throughout the entire bearing surface. This localized optimization of channel properties achieves effective lubrication while maintaining manufacturability through standardized disc production.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The capillary disk ensures effective lubrication distribution within the pivot bearing, extending the service life and allowing for a more compact design by eliminating the need for thick lever packages, while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the furniture fitting.
Implementation Method 1
the gap width decreases at least in sections radially in the direction of the bearing axis, so that a lubricant filled into the gap can be conveyed by capillary force radially in the direction of the bearing axis and/or along the bearing axis
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A furniture fitting (4) for movably mounting at least one furniture part (3) on a furniture carcass (2), wherein the furniture fitting (4) has at least one first component (5a) and at least one second component (5b), wherein the two components (5a, 5b) are connected to one another via at least one pivot bearing (21) having a bearing axis (23), and wherein the at least one first component (5a) has at least one first wall (26a, 26b), characterized in that the at least one pivot bearing (21) has at least one capillary disc (24a, 24b) having at least one second wall (27a, 27b), wherein the second wall (27a, 27b) is spaced apart from the first wall (26a, 26b) of the first component (5a) by a, preferably annular, gap (28a, 28b) having a gap width (ΔΧ), wherein the gap width (ΔΧ) decreases radially, at least in certain portions, in the direction of the bearing axis (23), with the result that a lubricant (30) introduced into the gap (28a, 28b) is able to be conveyed radially in the direction of the bearing axis (23) and/or along the bearing axis (23) by a capillary force.