Linear Guide Rail Support to Prevent Roller Flattening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide devices for linearly movable components, such as drawer slides and pull-out guides, face challenges in handling and roller flattening due to the need for users to overcome forces when lifting the drawer rail, which can impede opening and closing processes.
Innovation Solution
A guide device with a support device that only activates when a predetermined force is exceeded, providing support to the rolling elements or rollers in end positions, thus minimizing flattening and ensuring smooth movement by creating a gap between the support element and the guide device in the unloaded state, and using a starting bevel and ramp to facilitate gentle support activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a support device is continuously engaged to support the rolling elements, then roller flattening is reduced, but handling difficulty increases due to lifting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is designed with dynamic activation - the support roller is positioned to contact the guide rail only when a predetermined force is exceeded during end position movement. This dynamic engagement allows the system to provide support when needed (preventing roller flattening) while remaining inactive during normal operation (maintaining easy handling). The support roller transitions from a non-contacting to contacting state based on loading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the support device from continuously engaged to conditionally engaged based on force magnitude. By setting a threshold force value, the support device activates only when the applied force exceeds this threshold, thereby preventing roller flattening under heavy loads while avoiding interference with light handling operations.
2Reliability
If the support device activates early to prevent roller flattening, then roller protection is improved, but operation smoothness deteriorates due to premature support engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller is pre-positioned at a specific distance from the guide rail surface, creating a predetermined activation condition. This preliminary positioning ensures that the support device activates at the optimal moment - when the support element approaches the end position and sufficient force is generated - rather than too early or too late, thus maintaining both roller protection and movement smoothness.
3Reliability
If the support roller contacts the guide rail continuously, then roller flattening is minimized, but the support becomes noticeable and interferes with user operation
Solution Approach 1:
The support device operates periodically rather than continuously - the support roller contacts the guide rail only during specific phases of operation when the support element is moving toward the end position and sufficient force is applied. During other phases, the support roller remains disengaged, creating a periodic support pattern that protects rollers without interfering with normal handling.
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 ensures easy handling and reduces roller flattening, maintaining a harmonious joint pattern in furniture even after prolonged use, with the support device activating only under significant loading to prevent deformation and provide smooth operation.
Implementation Method 1
when a predetermined force is exceeded in one of the end positions
Implementation Method 2
a support device (20, 111) is provided between a guide rail (2, 102) and a support element (5, 103), the support element only being supported by the support device when a predetermined force is exceeded
Implementation Method 3
the support element, the guide rail and/or a component connected to the support element or the guide rail has a starting bevel and a ramp. As a result, when the support device is activated by a high load on the support element, smooth movement of the guide rail can be ensured, which is moved gently over a starting slope
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3A
AI summary
The invention relates to a guiding device for linearly movable components, comprising a guiding rail (2, 2', 2", 102, 120), along which at least one carrying element (5, 5', 5", 50, 103) is movably supported by means of rollers (54) or rolling elements, wherein the carrying element (5, 5', 5", 50, 103) can be linearly moved between two end positions and a supporting apparatus (21, 23, 56, 111, 123) is provided between the carrying element (5, 5', 5", 50, 103) and the guiding rail (2, 2', 2", 102, 120) in at least one end position, wherein the carrying element (5, 5', 5", 50, 103) is not supported by the supporting apparatus (21, 23, 56, 111, 123) until a predetermined force is exceeded in one of the end positions. Thus, deformation of the rolling elements or rollers in a stationary end position can be reduced.