Drawer Closing Gear Mechanism for Smooth Self-Closing Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-closing drawer slides often cause jerky movements and noise due to a consistent increase in spring force as the latching member moves from a closed to an open position, leading to abrupt transitions and potential shifting of drawer contents.
Innovation Solution
A closing device that employs a mechanical advantage mechanism, using a biasing member and gear system to alter the biasing force applied to the latching member, reducing the rate of force increase and incorporating a damper for smoother operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring with consistent force increase is used in the latching member mechanism, then the drawer can be reliably closed and held in position, but the operation becomes jerky and noisy with abrupt force transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force parameter by introducing a damper that modifies the spring force delivery. Instead of a linear spring providing consistent force increase, the damper creates a non-linear force profile that peaks before the latching member reaches the armed position, then gradually decreases. This parameter change transforms the abrupt force transition into a controlled, progressive force application that maintains reliability while eliminating jerky operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper provides beforehand cushioning by dissipating energy and controlling the force delivery timing. The damper is configured to provide maximum damping force before the latching member reaches the armed position, then gradually reduce force as the member approaches the armed position. This prior cushioning prevents the abrupt force transition that causes jerky operation and noise, while still ensuring reliable drawer closing and positioning.
2Device complexity
If the spring force increases linearly with latching member displacement, then the mechanism is simple to design, but it causes abrupt transitions and jerky motion that unsettles users and shifts drawer contents
Solution Approach 1:
The damper provides beforehand cushioning by dissipating energy and controlling the force delivery timing. The damper is configured to provide maximum damping force before the latching member reaches the armed position, then gradually reduce force as the member approaches the armed position. This prior cushioning prevents the abrupt force transition that causes jerky operation and noise, while still ensuring reliable drawer closing and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force parameter by introducing a damper that modifies the spring force delivery. Instead of a linear spring providing consistent force increase, the damper creates a non-linear force profile that peaks before the latching member reaches the armed position, then gradually decreases. This parameter change transforms the abrupt force transition into a controlled, progressive force application that maintains reliability while eliminating jerky operation.
3Force
If a high spring force is applied at the latching member engagement point, then the drawer can be effectively pulled closed against resistance, but it transmits high forces to the user and causes undesirable noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force parameter by introducing a damper that modifies the spring force delivery. Instead of a linear spring providing consistent force increase, the damper creates a non-linear force profile that peaks before the latching member reaches the armed position, then gradually decreases. This parameter change transforms the abrupt force transition into a controlled, progressive force application that maintains reliability while eliminating jerky operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper provides beforehand cushioning by dissipating energy and controlling the force delivery timing. The damper is configured to provide maximum damping force before the latching member reaches the armed position, then gradually reduce force as the member approaches the armed position. This prior cushioning prevents the abrupt force transition that causes jerky operation and noise, while still ensuring reliable drawer closing and positioning.
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 solution provides a smoother and quieter closing experience by reducing the rate of spring force increase, minimizing jerky movements, and preventing drawer content shifting, while maintaining sufficient biasing force to keep the drawer closed.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member having a first end coupled to the base and a second end coupled to the gear, and wherein the biasing member generates a biasing force as it is lengthened
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a damper for smoother operation
Data Source
AI summary
A closing device that includes a latching member that when moved a given distance utilizes a gear to effect a mechanical advantage that results in an end of a biasing member being moved less than the given distance. The biasing member is used in moving a first drawer slide member to a closed position relative to a second drawer slide member, and use of the gear and the resulting mechanical advantage provide a smoother transition when the first drawer slide member is engaged or disengaged from the closing device.