Compact slide assemblies
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for compact slide assemblies with improved mounting arrangements that can be easily attached to server racks without tools, capable of supporting significant loads while maintaining a small cross-sectional size, and accommodating various server rack depths.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a telescopic slide assembly with double wall portions for increased strength and load-carrying capacity, featuring a mounting arrangement with movable brackets and pin assemblies that allow tool-less attachment to server racks, enabling length adjustment to fit different rack depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cross-sectional size of the slide assembly is reduced, then space utilization is improved, but the load-carrying capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The slide assembly employs a telescopic design with nested slide segments (outer slide segment, intermediate slide segment, inner slide segment) that fit within each other. This nesting arrangement allows the slide assembly to maintain a compact cross-sectional profile while providing sufficient structural depth to support substantial loads through the distributed bearing surfaces across multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-wall thickness design to a multi-layered wall structure in the bearing surfaces. The upper and lower portions of each slide segment comprise two layers of material, creating an effective wall thickness greater than the side wall portion. This dimensional change in the bearing surfaces increases load-carrying capacity without proportionally increasing the overall cross-sectional dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mounting arrangements are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but tool-less mounting and adaptability to various rack depths are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting arrangement incorporates movable brackets with pin assemblies that can transition between retracted and extended positions. The pins are biased to a first position and movable to a second position, enabling the mounting arrangement to adapt to different rack configurations. This dynamic capability allows tool-less mounting while accommodating various server rack depths without requiring multiple fixed-length mounting solutions.
3Strength
If the wall thickness is increased throughout the slide assembly, then strength is improved, but the cross-sectional size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide assembly implements differential wall thickness distribution: the upper and lower portions (which bear the load) comprise two layers of material providing enhanced effective wall thickness, while the side wall portion maintains a thinner single-layer construction. This local quality differentiation ensures that material is concentrated where it is most needed for load-bearing functions, maintaining structural strength while minimizing overall cross-sectional dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
Slide assemblies that include at least an inner slide segment and an outer slide segment. Many of the slide assemblies also include an intermediate slide segment interposed between the inner slide segment and the outer slide segment. The outer slide segment is constructed from a bent piece of material having a substantially uniform wall thickness. The outer slide segment is formed to have a wall portion, an upper portion and a lower portion. Each of the upper portion and lower portion include two layers of the piece of material. A mounting assembly for a slide assembly includes at least one bracket having a first pin and a second pin movable relative to the first pin. The second pin can surround and slide upon the first pin and can be biased to a first position and movable to a second position relative to the first pin.