Linear Slide Hand Brake with Pivot Lever Carriage Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plain bearing arrangements face challenges in securely fixing or releasing a carriage on a rail without applying additional forces or components, and often require complex or dangerous operations.

Innovation Solution

A plain bearing arrangement with a carriage and rail design featuring cylindrical guide sections, bearing elements, and a pivot lever that allows for simple hand-operated clamping and release, utilizing sliding elements and an elastic element to ensure secure fixation and easy operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a clamping element is mounted on the carriage in a recess in the rail body, then the carriage can be locked in a specific position, but the design freedom for the rail body is limited and operation is difficult and dangerous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarriage locking reliabilityVSAvoidclamping element operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A pivot lever is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the operator's hand and the clamping element. The lever extends beyond the carriage's range of motion, allowing the operator to apply force from outside the movement zone. This mediator transfers the locking force while keeping the operator's hand clear of the dangerous area, resolving both the reliability and ease of operation requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a clamping element with handle rotation is used, then the carriage can be clamped from outside the range of motion, but the operation is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to clamping elementVSAvoidclamping operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the handle to initiate clamping (conventional approach), the pivot lever is designed so that pushing it in one direction immediately engages the clamping action. The lever's geometry inverts the conventional rotation-based mechanism into a linear push-pull action, where the clamping force is applied directly during the pushing motion, significantly reducing operation time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If additional components are added to secure the carriage, then the carriage can be fixed reliably, but additional forces are applied to the bearing surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarriage fixationVSAvoidforce on bearing surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot lever is designed to pivot about an axis that is offset from the bearing element's centerline. This dynamic positioning allows the lever to apply clamping forces at an optimal angle and location, distributing the load more effectively. The lever's movement creates a mechanical advantage that secures the carriage reliably while minimizing additional forces on the bearing surfaces compared to static clamping mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables secure clamping and easy release of the carriage on the rail with minimal additional forces, preserving design freedom and allowing for efficient, safe, and accessible operation.

Implementation Method 1

The pivot lever has a short section 25 and a long section 26, which meet at the pivot axis. The long section 26 is provided with a handle 27, by means of which the pivot lever can be easily grasped and operated with one hand.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLeverage: Lever

Implementation Method 2

sliding elements and an elastic element to ensure secure fixation and easy operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP4323661B1Plain bearing arrangement and linear slide with hand brake
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 IGUS SE & CO KG
  • EP4323661B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4323661B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4323661B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a sliding bearing arrangement (1) comprising a rail (10) and a carriage (20), wherein: the rail (10) has a rail body (11) which extends in a longitudinal direction (X) and on which two cylindrical guide portions (12, 13) are provided which extend in the longitudinal direction (X) and are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction; the carriage (20) comprises a carriage body (21) which extends transversely along the rail body (11) and on which bearing elements (28) are provided which are each associated with one of the guide portions (13); the carriage (20) has a retaining portion (22) which is provided with a bearing (23) in which the pivot pin (23) of a pivot lever (24) is supported; the pivot lever (24) is pivotable about the pivot pin with a pivoting movement by at least 45° out of a first position into a second position; the pivot lever (24) has a pressing portion on one side of the pivot pin (23) and has an actuating portion on the other side of the pivot pin (23); in the first position, the pressing portion (25) presses with a pressing side (29) onto a surface of the first guide portion (12) and inhibits movement of the carriage and, in the second position, the pressing portion is released from the surface of the first guide portion (12).