Side-Locking Drawer Rail with Sloping Teeth for Accurate Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side-locking sliding rail assemblies with auto-opening mechanisms face issues such as damage to the locating rod due to large gaps in the guide-in channel, dimensional tolerance, and insufficient damping oil, leading to functional failures and reduced lifespan, especially when handling heavy loads.
Innovation Solution
A side-locking sliding rail assembly with a second compression spring that forces the pawl of the locating rod into engagement with sloping teeth, preventing the drawer from being pushed open by the elastic potential energy of the first compression spring, and featuring a small tooth pitch design to prevent component damage, while the second compression spring maintains the locating rod's position to ensure positive auto-opening functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locating rod is forced into one of the grooves in the guide-in channel, then the drawer can be temporarily secured in position, but the locating rod can be damaged easily due to a large gap between adjacent grooves, shortening the lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the guide-in channel by replacing spaced grooves with a continuous curved channel featuring multiple sloping teeth. This parameter change eliminates the large gaps between discrete grooves, preventing impact damage to the locating rod while maintaining the ability to temporarily secure the drawer at various positions along the curved path.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous curved guide-in channel is segmented into multiple sloping teeth, each capable of engaging with the locating rod to provide temporary positioning. This segmentation allows the drawer to be secured at multiple discrete positions along the curve while maintaining a continuous guiding path, resolving the contradiction between positioning capability and component durability.
2Ease of operation
If the drawer is not completely closed, then the spring member pushes the drawer open, but the locating rod can fall downwards and shift position due to large dimensional tolerance of the pivot pin or insufficient damping oil, leading to auto-opening functional failure
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide-in channel with sloping teeth provides beforehand cushioning by guiding the locating rod along a controlled path and allowing it to engage with teeth at appropriate positions. This prevents the locating rod from falling downward or shifting due to pivot pin tolerance or insufficient damping oil, ensuring reliable auto-opening function even under varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guide-in channel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the pivot pin and the locating rod position. It provides a controlled path that mediates the effects of dimensional tolerance and damping oil insufficiency, preventing direct impact or uncontrolled movement that would lead to functional failure.
3Productivity
If the rear end of the intermediate rail strikes against the front side of the hook block with excessive pushing force, then the drawer can be closed, but the hook block can deflect or tilt, causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide-in channel provides beforehand cushioning by guiding the locating rod to engage with sloping teeth before the intermediate rail reaches the hook block. This gradual engagement absorbs excessive pushing force and prevents direct impact between the rail and hook block, protecting the hook block from deflection or damage while maintaining closing speed.
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 the drawer from being pushed open by the first compression spring's restoring force, ensures accurate closure, and prolongs the lifespan of components by preventing damage and maintaining the auto-opening mechanism's functionality even with dimensional tolerances and insufficient damping oil.
Implementation Method 1
engagement of a pawl of a locating rod of a locating member with one of a series of sloping teeth if the drawer is not accurately closed, and thus, the user can gently apply a pressure to push the drawer back to the close position avoiding rebound of the auto-opening mechanism carrier plate
Implementation Method 2
A side-locking sliding rail assembly with a second compression spring that forces the pawl of the locating rod into engagement with sloping teeth, preventing the drawer from being pushed open by the elastic potential energy of the first compression spring
Implementation Method 3
the drawer will be pushed open by the spring member
Implementation Method 4
at least one first compression spring
Data Source
AI summary
A side-locking sliding rail assembly for a drawer consisting of a fixed rail, a movable rail, an intermediate rail, a sliding device, a locating member, a hook block, an actuation member, at least one first compression spring, a second compression spring and an auto-opening mechanism carrier plate. The drawer can be temporarily secured in a position, subject to engagement of a pawl of a locating rod of the locating member with one of a series of sloping teeth along the auto-opening mechanism carrier plate, if the drawer is not accurately fully closed. Thereafter, the user can apply a pressure to push the drawer backward to the fully closed position avoiding rebound toward the open position. The arrangement of a second compression spring prevents tilting of the locating member, so that the locating rod will not be permitted to move forward when in the guide-in channel.