Cooling Divider Slider With Ball Rollers for Low-Friction Repositioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing divider assemblies in storage containers, particularly those used in cooling devices, face high friction between the slider and guiding rail, making it difficult for users to move the dividers smoothly.

Innovation Solution

The divider assembly incorporates ball-shaped rollers on slider arms that roll on opposing surfaces of the guiding rail, reducing friction and allowing the slider to move smoothly, with optional features like flexible protrusions and cut-out portions for support and cost reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a slider and guiding rail assembly is used to enable divider movement in storage containers, then the divider can be repositioned to create flexible usage volumes, but high friction between the slider and guiding rail makes it difficult for users to move the divider

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedivider repositionabilityVSAvoiddivider movability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Ball-shaped rollers are introduced as intermediary elements between the slider and guiding rail. These rollers reduce direct contact friction by converting sliding friction into rolling friction, enabling smooth divider movement while maintaining the repositionability feature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional sliding mechanical contact between slider and guiding rail with a rolling contact system using ball-shaped rollers. This substitution fundamentally changes the friction mechanism from sliding to rolling, dramatically improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design significantly reduces the force required to move the divider, enabling smoother operation and balancing the center of gravity, while maintaining secure attachment and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

each slider arm having at least one ball-shaped roller, the ball-shaped rollers rolling on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the guiding rail when the slider is moved in the sliding direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11674744B2Divider assembly with a slider for a cooling device and cooling device having a divider assembly

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A divider assembly to be mounted in a storage container for dividing the storage container during use, includes a guiding rail having a first surface and a second surface facing each other and extending in a sliding direction, a slider slidably movable in the guiding rail, and a divider attached to the slider and movable with the slider in the storage container for dividing the storage container into sections. The slider includes at least two slider arms extending in opposite directions. Each slider arm has at least one ball-shaped roller. The ball-shaped rollers roll on at least one of the first surface or second surface of the guiding rail when the divider assembly moves in the sliding direction. A cooling device including the divider assembly is also provided.