Drawer Pull-Out Guide Rail With Load-Compensating Web Section

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drawer pull-out guides experience premature and uneven wear due to the tilting of the pull-out rail relative to the carcass rail under heavy loads, leading to misalignment of the rolling elements and reduced functionality.

Innovation Solution

The carcass rail features a first and second web section, allowing it to tilt or bend about a longitudinal axis when loaded, maintaining the parallel alignment of the rolling elements and the catwalk, and incorporating a force accumulator like a mechanical spring or elastically flexible material to restore the zero position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the pull-out rail is heavily loaded, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the pull-out rail tilts relative to the carcass rail causing misalignment of rolling elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The carcass rail is designed with a tiltable web section that can dynamically adjust its angle relative to the fastening section. When the pull-out rail is loaded, the web section tilts to compensate for the load-induced deformation, maintaining the alignment between the carcass rail and pull-out rail. This dynamic adjustment prevents misalignment of the rolling elements while supporting heavy loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameter of the carcass rail by introducing a tiltable web section with a specific angle range. This parameter change allows the rail to adapt its configuration based on loading conditions, ensuring that the catwalk remains properly aligned with the rolling elements even under heavy loads, thus preventing premature wear and maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the pull-out rail is rigidly fixed to prevent tilting, then the alignment is maintained, but the structure becomes more complex and less adaptable to loading conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carcass rail is segmented into distinct sections: a fastening section and a web section that can tilt relative to each other. This segmentation allows the web section to independently adjust its angle to compensate for loading effects, maintaining alignment without requiring complex rigid fixation mechanisms throughout the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tiltable web section of the carcass rail automatically adjusts its angle in response to loading conditions on the pull-out rail. This self-adjusting mechanism maintains proper alignment between the carcass rail and pull-out rail without requiring external control systems or complex actuators, thereby preserving simplicity while ensuring precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution ensures even loading and reduced wear on the rolling elements, maintaining the functionality of the drawer slide despite heavy loads by keeping the rolling elements and catwalks aligned, thereby preventing premature wear and breakage.

Implementation Method 1

the second web section is caused by loading the pull-out rail about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the drawer extension guide in the direction of the crossbar can be tilted or bent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The force accumulator can be formed either by a mechanical spring element, by an elastically flexible plastic material and/or by the body rail's inherent elasticity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3531870B1Drawer pull-out guide
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3531870B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3531870B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3531870B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Drawer pull-out guide (4) comprising: - a basic-structure rail (5), which can be fastened on a basic furniture structure (2), - at least one fastening portion (12a), via which the basic-structure rail (5) can be fastened on the basic furniture structure (2), wherein the at least one fastening portion (12a) has a vertical limb (13), which is intended for butting against the basic furniture structure (2), and a transverse limb (14), which projects from the vertical limb (13), wherein the transverse limb (14) of the fastening portion (12a) is connected to a crosspiece (18) of the basic-structure rail (5), said crosspiece running in a longitudinal direction (L) of the basic structure rail (5), - at least one pull-out rail (7), which is mounted such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the basic-structure rail (5), - at least one rolling body (21a, 21b, 21c), which is arranged between the basic-structure rail (5) and the pull-out rail (7) and can be supported on a running crosspiece (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) of the basic-structure rail (5) and/or of the at least one pull-out rail (7), wherein the crosspiece (18) of the basic-structure rail (5) has a first crosspiece portion (18a) and at least a second crosspiece portion (18b), wherein the first crosspiece portion (18a) is connected to the transverse limb (14) of the fastening portion (12a), and wherein the second crosspiece portion (18b) can be tilted or bent in the direction of the transverse limb (14), about an axis running in the longitudinal direction (L), as a result of the pull-out rail (7) being subjected to loading, and it is therefore possible to compensate, at least to some extent, for a change in the relative position between the running crosspiece (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) and rolling body (21a, 21b, 21c) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (L) as a result of the pull-out rail (7) being subjected to loading.