Drawer Slide Carriage Layout for Compact Three-Plane Load Support
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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 leading to deformation, as only 70% of the ball width is utilized, resulting in suboptimal load transfer and stability.
Innovation Solution
The drawer slide features at least three cylindrical rolling elements arranged in separate running planes with horizontally extending axes, providing a stable and compact design that distributes forces over a larger area and offers a three-point support for better load absorption and lateral stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If spherical rolling elements are used in drawer slides, then the design is simple and easy to manufacture, but only 70% of the ball width is utilized leading to increased weight and wasted space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the shape parameter from spherical to cylindrical rolling elements, and arranges them in multiple superimposed running planes. This parameter change increases the usable width from 70% to nearly 100% and distributes the load across multiple planes, reducing weight while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard cylindrical roller configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single running plane to multiple superimposed running planes (at least three planes spaced apart in the vertical direction). This dimensional change allows more rolling elements to be packed into the same horizontal space, increasing utilization and reducing weight without complicating the manufacturing process.
2Device complexity
If spherical rolling elements are used in drawer slides, then the structure is simple, but the contact surface is merely a point contact leading to high surface pressure and ball deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the contact geometry from point contact (spherical) to line contact (cylindrical) by using cylindrical rolling elements. This parameter change increases the contact surface area, distributes the load over a larger area, reduces surface pressure, and prevents deformation, thereby improving reliability while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple superimposed running planes to distribute the load across different vertical levels. This dimensional distribution prevents concentration of stress on a single contact point, reducing surface pressure and deformation risk while maintaining structural simplicity through the modular carriage design.
3Volume of moving object
If rolling elements are arranged in a single running plane, then the structure is compact, but lateral tilting moments cannot be effectively absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges rolling elements in at least three superimposed running planes spaced apart in the vertical direction, creating a three-dimensional load distribution structure. This dimensional arrangement provides a three-point support system that effectively absorbs lateral tilting moments while maintaining compact horizontal dimensions, achieving both compactness and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the rolling elements into multiple groups operating in separate running planes, with each plane contributing to load bearing and stability. This segmentation allows the structure to handle lateral tilting moments through the combined action of rolling elements at different vertical levels, maintaining compact volume while enhancing stability.
4Reliability
If multiple rolling elements are arranged in separate running planes, then load distribution is improved and deformation risk reduced, but the carriage design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple rolling elements operating in separate running planes into a single integrated carriage assembly. This combining approach distributes loads across multiple planes for improved reliability and reduced deformation risk, while the unified carriage structure prevents excessive complexity by providing a coordinated framework for all rolling elements.
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 reduces the risk of deformation, enhances load distribution, and provides improved stability by absorbing lateral tilting moments effectively, even in space-constrained environments.
Implementation Method 1
Drawer slides utilize carriages to transfer the drawer's load, enabling low-friction and precise translation of the guide rails relative to each other. These carriages (or carriage cages) feature rolling elements (for example, in the form of cylinders, balls, or cones) that move along designated raceways on the guide rails
Implementation Method 2
each of which has a cylindrical shape and which are mounted to be rotatable about a horizontal axis in a mounting position of the drawer extension guide
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 (24, 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 three rolling elements (24, 25, 26), each of which has a cylindrical form and, in a mounting position of the drawer pull-out guide (4), is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation. In the mounting position of the drawer pull-out guide (4), the at least three rolling elements (24, 25, 26) of the carriage (22) are situated on at least three running planes (A, B, C) lying one above the other.