Two-Part Drawer Guide Rolling Element to Prevent Flattening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling elements in carriage cages for drawer slides wear out quickly, become flattened, and experience spalling due to static load, leading to reduced strength and increased wear, which affects the smooth operation of drawer guides.
Innovation Solution
A two-part rolling element design with a core part and a jacket part made of different materials or types of plastic, where the ball pressure hardness of the jacket part is greater than the core part, preventing spalling and allowing for optimal load dissipation without unnecessary wear, and featuring a compact solid cylinder core for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If one-piece rolling elements are used in carriage cages, then manufacturing is simpler, but they wear out quickly, become flattened, and experience spalling
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling element is divided into two separate parts: a core part and a jacket part. The core part provides structural support and load-bearing capacity, while the jacket part with higher ball pressure hardness resists wear and prevents spalling. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling element uses a composite structure combining two different materials with distinct properties. The core part is made of a material optimized for load bearing, while the jacket part is made of a material with higher ball pressure hardness for wear resistance. This composite approach enables the rolling element to simultaneously achieve long service life and resistance to flattening and spalling.
2Reliability
If rolling elements have high hardness to resist wear, then wear resistance improves, but they become more prone to flattening and spalling under static load
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the rolling element have different material properties tailored to their specific functional requirements. The core part has properties optimized for load bearing and resistance to flattening, while the jacket part has higher hardness specifically at the contact surface for wear resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and strength under static load.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling element employs a composite material structure where the core part and jacket part are made of materials with different mechanical properties. The core part provides toughness and resistance to flattening, while the jacket part provides surface hardness for wear resistance. This composite material approach allows the rolling element to simultaneously achieve both wear resistance and strength under static load.
3Ease of manufacture
If rolling elements are made with uniform material properties, then manufacturing is easier, but load dissipation is suboptimal causing increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling element is segmented into a core part and a jacket part, each with material properties optimized for specific functions. The core part is designed for efficient load dissipation through its material properties, while the jacket part is designed for wear resistance. This segmentation enables optimal load dissipation without compromising manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling element has non-uniform material properties distributed locally according to functional requirements. The core part has material properties optimized for load dissipation, while the jacket part has properties optimized for wear resistance. This local quality differentiation improves load dissipation efficiency while maintaining manufacturing practicality through modular construction.
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 two-part design significantly reduces flattening, enhances load support, increases elasticity, and extends the service life of the rolling elements, resulting in a smoother and more durable drawer guide operation compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
the ball pressure hardness of the jacket part being greater than that of the core part
Implementation Method 2
there should be a certain elasticity of the rolling elements
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
Rolling body (1) of a moving carriage cage (2) for drawer guides (3), wherein the rolling body (1) has an internal core part (4) and a separate casing part (5) surrounding the core part (4), wherein the core part (4) is preferably composed of a first plastic, and the casing part (5) is preferably composed of a second plastic, wherein the plastics of the core part (4) and of the casing part (5) have different indentation hardnesses.