Slide mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer guides face challenges in achieving high load capacity, large pull-out distance, and reliable locking mechanisms, especially when subjected to excessive loads that cause deformation or deflection, leading to asynchronous actuation of self-closing and damping devices.
Innovation Solution
A pull-out guide design featuring an outer rail, an inner rail mounted on rolling elements, and optionally a middle rail, with a pivotably fixed control element that ensures reliable actuation of the self-closing device even under deformation, allowing for symmetrical and synchronous operation of self-closing and damping devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control element is immovably fixed to the inner rail, then the structure is simple, but the actuation becomes unreliable when the inner rail deforms under excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is made pivotably attachable to the inner rail instead of being fixed immovably. This dynamic attachment allows the control element to adjust its position relative to the inner rail when deformation occurs, maintaining reliable actuation of the self-closing device even under excessive load conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If one drawer runner of a pair is reversed and mounted upside down to achieve symmetrical mounting, then the mounting is symmetrical, but asymmetrical deflections and deformations occur under high load
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting one drawer runner upside down to achieve symmetrical appearance, the invention uses two identical drawer runners mounted in the same orientation. The pivotable control element compensates for any asymmetrical deflections that occur under load, ensuring synchronous actuation without requiring asymmetrical mounting arrangements
3Length of moving object
If the inner rail is designed for large pull-out distance, then the functionality is improved, but the rail becomes more prone to deformation under excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable control element provides a dynamic compensation mechanism that allows the system to maintain reliable actuation even when the inner rail deforms under excessive load. The control element can pivot to accommodate the deformation while still engaging the driver to actuate the self-closing device
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 design enhances load capacity, extends pull-out distance, and ensures reliable locking and damping performance by maintaining consistent actuation of self-closing and damping mechanisms, even under high loads and potential deformations.
Implementation Method 1
The inner rail (106) is mounted on rolling bodies (101), in particular mounted in a displaceable manner on the outer rail (102)
Data Source
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AI summary
To create a drawer slide that allows for a high load-bearing capacity and/or a large extension stroke as well as reliable locking in a retracted state, it is proposed that the drawer slide for guiding a drawer that can be extended from a cabinet in one extension direction comprises an outer rail and an inner rail mounted on rolling elements, wherein the drawer slide includes a self-closing device for retracting the drawer slide from an at least partially extended state, wherein the drawer slide includes a control element arranged on the inner rail and a driver arranged on an energy storage device of the self-closing device, wherein the control element and the driver are detachably coupled to each other, and wherein the control element is pivotably fixed to the inner rail.