Lubricant-Containing Roller Cage for Furniture Pull-Out Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pull-out guides for furniture are not optimally lubricated, leading to issues such as foreign object and dirt penetration, uneven grease application, and material wastage, which affects running quality and function.
Innovation Solution
A pull-out guide with a rolling element cage made of a lubricant-containing material that diffuses lubricant to the contact surfaces of rolling elements, ensuring targeted and continuous lubrication, using processes like pressure impregnation and porous bodies to store and release lubricant as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grease is applied during manufacture, then lubrication is provided, but material wastage occurs and lubrication is removed unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant is incorporated into the rolling element cage material during manufacturing, preparing the lubrication system in advance. The lubricant is already present in the material structure before the pull-out guide is assembled and used, ensuring immediate and consistent lubrication from the first use without waste from excessive application.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling element cage material itself serves as the lubricant reservoir and delivery system. The material containing lubricant automatically provides lubrication to the rolling elements through diffusion and contact during normal operation, eliminating the need for external grease application and preventing unintentional removal of lubrication.
2Reliability
If excess grease is applied, then lubrication coverage is increased, but running quality deteriorates and material is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant is distributed locally where it is needed - within the rolling element cage material that directly contacts the rolling elements. This localized lubrication approach ensures adequate lubrication coverage at the critical contact points without excess grease affecting running quality on non-contact surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubrication system transitions from a bulk grease application to a controlled diffusion-based lubricant release. The lubricant concentration and release rate are controlled by the material properties of the rolling element cage, providing precise lubrication parameters that maintain running quality while ensuring adequate coverage.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pull-out guide is not sealed, then manufacturing is simpler, but foreign objects and dirt cause impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant within the rolling element cage material serves a dual function: lubricating the rolling elements and creating a protective barrier against foreign objects and dirt. The lubricant continuously supplied to the contact surfaces forms a protective film that prevents contamination without requiring additional sealing components.
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 solution provides optimal lubrication for the rolling elements, reducing material wastage and ensuring consistent performance across varying temperatures, from freezers to ovens, with low-viscosity lubricants like oils, and maintaining lubrication over the guide's service life.
Implementation Method 1
the rolling bodies slide along the lubricant-containing material with a contact surface... the lubricant contained in the material diffuses to the surface and in this respect a small proportion of the lubricant is transferred to the rolling elements with each movement of the rolling elements
Implementation Method 2
The stored oil can flow through capillaries or specially designed channels. Like a sponge, the body can absorb lubricant and then gradually release it again when the pull-out guide is actuated.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a pull-out guide (1) for furniture, comprising a guide rail (2) that can be installed on a furniture body and at least one sliding rail (3, 4) that is supported on the guide rail (2) through rolling elements (5) such that said sliding rail can be moved, wherein the rolling elements (5) are supported in a rolling element cage (6, 10, 20, 30) that is made at least partially of a material containing a lubricant. Thus, the lubricant can be precisely metered over a long period of time. Furthermore, the rolling element cage is formed in a production method at least partially by a porous body that is impregnated with a lubricant.