Drawer Slide Carriage with Cylindrical Rollers for Lower Surface Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer slide designs with spherical rolling elements suffer from inefficient use of space, increased weight, and high surface pressure due to point contact, leading to deformation and reduced stability.
Innovation Solution
The use of cylindrical rolling elements with horizontally rotating axes, arranged in the same plane and laterally offset from each other, to improve load transmission and reduce the risk of deformation by distributing forces over a larger area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If spherical rolling elements are used, then the drawer slide can support loads, but only about 70% of the useful width of the balls is used due to their spherical surface, leading to wasted space and increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the rolling elements from spherical to cylindrical shape. This parameter change allows the full width of the rolling element to be utilized effectively, eliminating the 30% waste associated with spherical surfaces while maintaining load-bearing capability.
2Force
If spherical rolling elements are used, then the drawer slide can support loads, but the contact surface to the rail profiles is only point-shaped, leading to high surface pressure and undesired deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inverse of spheroidality by using cylindrical (flat-ended) rolling elements instead of spherical ones. The cylindrical shape with flat ends provides a larger contact surface area with the rail profiles, distributing the load over a greater area and reducing surface pressure and deformation risk.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cylindrical rollers with vertical axis of rotation are used, then the guide rails can be supported, but they are not designed as load-transmitting rolling elements and cannot effectively absorb lateral tilting moments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the orientation of cylindrical rollers by positioning them at different lateral offsets from the centerline. This asymmetric arrangement, combined with horizontal axis rotation, enables the rollers to effectively resist and absorb lateral tilting moments while maintaining support stability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If rolling elements with different widths and/or different sizes are used, then the carriage can be equipped to handle various loads, but the production of the carriage becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes universality by using rolling elements of uniform width and size throughout the carriage. This standardized approach simplifies manufacturing and assembly while the lateral offset arrangement provides the necessary adaptability for handling various load conditions.
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 configuration enhances the absorption of lateral tilting moments, simplifies carriage production, and reduces the risk of flattening by distributing loads across multiple rolling elements, resulting in a stable and compact design.
Implementation Method 1
carriages with load-transmitting rolling elements, the at least one carriage being displaceably mounted between the first guide rail and the at least one second guide rail
Implementation Method 2
cylindrical rolling elements with horizontally rotating axes
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a drawer pull-out guide (4) comprising, - a first guide rail (9) and at least one second guide rail (10) which are slideably mounted in relation to one another, - at least one carriage (22) comprising load-transmitting rolling elements (24a, 24b, 25, 26), the at least one carriage (22) being slideably mounted between the first guide rail (9) and the at least one second guide rail (10), the at least one carriage (22) having at least two rolling elements that are rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (24a, 24b) and laterally offset relative to one another when viewed from above on a plane (P) running perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (L) of the guide rails (9, 10), and each of the at least two rolling elements (24a, 24b) of the at least one carriage (22) having a cylindrical form and, in a mounting position of the drawer pull-out guide (4), being rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation. The axes of rotation of the at least two rolling elements (24a, 24b) are situated on the same running plane (A) and the at least two rolling elements (24a, 24b) have identical diameters.