Drawer Rail Rack-and-Pinion Engagement to Prevent Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail systems for drawers often experience jamming due to a positively locking connection between the rack and pinion, leading to unwanted blocking of the drawer during normal use.
Innovation Solution
A limiting device is introduced to control the depth of engagement between the pinion and the rack, ensuring the teeth of the pinion only partially engage, reducing the risk of jamming and allowing for smooth displacement with minimal noise. This is achieved through a runner wheel and a resiliently mounted rack that can yield in case of jamming, maintaining the locking connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pinion teeth fully engage into the rack tooth gaps, then the positive locking connection is strong, but the rail system jams and blocks the drawer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial engagement by designing the pinion and rack such that the pinion teeth only partially engage into the rack tooth gaps, rather than full engagement. This is achieved through specific geometric design of the tooth profiles and engagement depth, maintaining sufficient locking force while preventing jamming by allowing slight play or incomplete engagement.
2Reliability
If the pinion teeth deeply engage into the rack, then the locking connection is secure, but the displacement produces noise
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing partial engagement where pinion teeth only partially enter the rack tooth gaps, the patent reduces the impact and friction forces that generate noise during displacement, while still maintaining adequate locking connection for reliable operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the rack and pinion are rigidly connected, then the synchronization is precise, but the system cannot yield during jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics by allowing the rack to move limitedly in the heightwise direction relative to the rail. This dynamic capability enables the system to yield and adapt during jamming situations, preventing complete blocking while maintaining synchronization through the flexible connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the engagement parameter by implementing partial engagement of the teeth, adjusting the depth of engagement to optimize both synchronization precision and jamming resistance. This parameter modification allows the system to maintain reliable operation without the rigidity-induced jamming problem.
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 effectively prevents jamming and tilting, ensuring smooth operation and reducing noise, while maintaining the positive locking connection between the pinion and rack, thus enhancing the running properties of the rail system.
Implementation Method 1
The rack (9) is mounted limitedly heightwisely movably in relation to the rail (6, 7) to which it is fastened... The rack can therefore be elastically preloaded towards the pinion (8), either by inherent elasticity or also by the force of a spring.
Implementation Method 2
the limiting device has a runner wheel which runs on a running surface of a part arranged in the longitudinal direction of the rail system
Data Source
AI summary
A rail system for drawers includes a body rail to be fastened to a furniture body and at least one drawer rail that can be moved relative to the body rail, and includes at least one gear rack/gear wheel arrangement, characterized in that a limiting device is provided, which limits the immersion depth of the gear wheel relative to the gear rack, the teeth of the gear wheel meshing only partially in the corresponding tooth spaces of the gear rack.