Novel drawer synchronous slide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drawer slide structures experience uneven rolling friction due to inaccuracies in parts and assembly methods, leading to inconsistent drag resistance and instability in the opening and closing sequence, affecting the hand feel and smooth operation.

Innovation Solution

A drawer synchronous slide design featuring a synchronizing gear on the middle slide rail, with first and second synchronizing racks on the movable and fixed slide rails, respectively, where an elastic part presses the tooth-shaped parts onto the gear, and limiting gears maintain a stable center distance, ensuring smooth and stable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gear and rack matching structure is used to maintain proportional relationship of movement, then synchronization is improved, but when the center distance becomes smaller, friction force increases, wear becomes serious, and noise and runout occur at a fixed frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization stabilityVSAvoidfriction force and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the center distance between the gear and rack to be automatically adjusted during operation. The gear is mounted on a movable support that can shift position, enabling the system to adapt to varying load conditions and maintain optimal meshing clearance, thereby reducing friction and wear while preserving synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of center distance from a fixed value to a variable that can be adjusted according to operating conditions. By providing adjustable spacing between the gear and rack, the system can optimize the meshing parameters to minimize friction and wear while maintaining synchronized motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the center distance between gear and rack becomes larger, then friction and wear are reduced, but the gear and rack are separated, weakening meshing strength, causing unstable movement, or transmission failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction and wearVSAvoidmeshing strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The movable support structure allows the gear's position relative to the rack to dynamically adjust. Under normal operating conditions, the gear maintains optimal engagement with the rack for sufficient strength. When swing or positional variations occur, the support allows automatic adjustment to prevent separation while maintaining meshing contact, thus preserving both strength and reducing excessive friction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable support acts as an intermediary element between the gear and the fixed rack. This intermediate structure absorbs positional variations and swing movements, maintaining consistent meshing engagement between the gear and rack while allowing for adjustments that prevent both excessive friction and separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the movable slide rail swings relative to the fixed or middle slide rail, then swing amount occurs, but the center distance increases or decreases, causing instability in the drawing action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswing accommodationVSAvoiddrawing action stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic positioning system where the gear's support structure can move to compensate for swing in the movable slide rail. This dynamic adjustment maintains a relatively constant center distance between the gear and rack despite swing movements, thereby stabilizing the drawing action while accommodating the necessary adaptability for swing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable support structure provides a feedback mechanism that responds to swing movements of the movable slide rail. As the rail swings and changes the effective center distance, the support automatically adjusts the gear's position to compensate, creating a self-correcting system that maintains stability in the drawing action while adapting to swing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 elastic adaptation of the tooth-shaped parts to center distance changes enhances stability and smoothness in the drawer's movement, reducing wear and noise, and maintaining synchronization between the slide rails.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic part is arranged on the first synchronizing rack, the tooth-shaped part of the first synchronizing rack is elastically pressed towards the synchronizing gear under the action of elastic stress of the elastic part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic stress: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4079192B1Novel drawer synchronous slide
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 GUANGDONG UNIHOPPER PRECISION TECH CORPERATION LIMMITED
  • EP4079192B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4079192B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4079192B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drawer synchronous slide includes a fixed slide rail (1), a middle slide rail (2), and a movable slide rail (3) connected to each other slidably, wherein a synchronizing gear (8) is arranged on the middle slide rail (2), a first synchronizing rack (6) and a second synchronizing rack (7) arranged horizontally and oppositely are respectively fixed onto the movable slide rail (3) and the fixed slide rail (1), left and right sides of the synchronizing gear (2) are respectively meshed and work in conjunction with a tooth-shaped part of the first synchronizing rack (6) and a tooth-shaped part of the second synchronizing rack (7), an elastic part (61) is arranged on the first synchronizing rack (6), the tooth-shaped part of the first synchronizing rack(6) is elastically pressed towards the synchronizing gear (8) under the action of elastic stress of the elastic part (61); at least one limiting gear (81) for working in conjunction with each of the first synchronizing rack (6) and the second synchronizing rack (7) in an abutting manner is arranged on the synchronizing gear (8).