Modular Drawer Guide Assembly with Rollers to Reduce Friction and Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drawer guides in ovens are prone to wear, damage, and high friction, leading to increased force requirements for drawer movement and limited modularity, with maintenance being time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A modular drawer assembly with front and rear guides featuring sliding surfaces and receiving channels, incorporating removable rollers for reduced friction and enhanced smoothness, allowing multiple operational configurations and improved durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional drawer guides are used, then the drawer sliding function is provided, but wear, damage, and failure occur due to increased part-on-part contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawer guide durabilityVSAvoidpart-on-part contact wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a roller as an intermediary element between the drawer guide parts. Instead of direct part-on-part contact, the roller mediates the interaction by rolling along the sliding surface, significantly reducing wear and friction while maintaining the drawer sliding function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the conventional sliding mechanical contact with a rolling mechanism. By substituting direct friction-based sliding with roller-based rolling motion, the system reduces wear, damage, and failure while maintaining the essential drawer guidance function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Force

If conventional drawer guides are used, then the drawer sliding function is provided, but a higher friction level increases the force required to withdraw the drawer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce required to withdraw drawerVSAvoidfriction between parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roller acts as a mediator that reduces friction between the drawer and guide. By introducing this intermediate rolling element, the direct high-friction contact is eliminated, thereby reducing the force required to withdraw the drawer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the high-friction sliding mechanical system with a low-friction rolling system. This mechanical substitution dramatically reduces the friction level and consequently the force needed to move the drawer in and out.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional drawer guides with a single operational configuration are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but modularity and customization are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational configuration flexibilityVSAvoidguide structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer guide is segmented into separate modular components including the mounting bracket, sliding surface, and roller assembly. This segmentation allows different configurations to be assembled by combining these standardized modules in various arrangements, providing adaptability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the drawer guide components with universal features that can serve multiple functions and configurations. The standardized sliding surfaces and mounting interfaces allow the same basic components to be used in different operational configurations, enhancing versatility while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of repair

If conventional drawer guides are used, then the basic drawer support function is provided, but maintenance is tedious and time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance time and effortVSAvoiddrawer guide wear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The roller serves as a replaceable intermediary component that protects the main guide structure from wear. When wear occurs, only the roller needs to be replaced rather than the entire guide assembly, significantly reducing maintenance time and effort while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables easy replacement of worn rollers as consumable components. The rollers can be discarded when worn and replaced with new ones, while the main guide structure is recovered and reused, making maintenance simple and time-efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS11684156B1Modular drawer guides for sliding drawers

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A drawer assembly for an appliance includes a front drawer guide fixed to a frame of the appliance including a front slide, the front slide defining a first sliding surface and a first receiving channel, a drawer body in slidable contact with the front drawer guide, and a rear drawer guide coupled to the drawer body, the rear drawer guide including a hook and a rear slide provided over the hook along the vertical direction, the rear slide defining a second sliding surface and a second receiving channel.