Pull-Out Guide Lubricant Cage for Controlled Raceway Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture pull-out guides suffer from inefficient lubrication due to uncontrolled distribution of lubricant, leading to premature lubrication failure, excess lubricant accumulation, and hygiene issues, as the excess lubricant is not effectively utilized and can leak, impairing performance and usability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating lubricant chambers with guide vanes and a scraper edge in the cage to collect and redistribute excess lubricant back to the lubrication points, allowing for efficient reuse and maintaining lubricating properties, and using a method where the cage is designed to tilt and deform to ensure consistent lubricant distribution across the raceways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lubricant is introduced into the furniture pull-out guide, then the lubrication of the raceways is improved, but the excess lubricant is displaced in an uncontrolled manner and accumulates, leading to premature lubrication failure and potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into multiple compartments including lubricant chambers with guide vanes and scraper edges. This segmentation allows controlled distribution of lubricant to specific raceway areas, preventing uncontrolled displacement and accumulation while ensuring reliable lubrication where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide vanes and scraper edges act as intermediary elements between the lubricant reservoir and the raceways. These intermediaries control the flow and distribution of lubricant, ensuring it reaches the intended locations without uncontrolled displacement or accumulation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a larger quantity of lubricant is introduced into the drawer slides, then the lubrication duration is extended, but the excess lubricant has a negative effect on the start-up and running properties and can leak out
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant is pre-positioned in specific chambers and reservoirs within the cage structure before the pull-out guide begins operation. This preliminary placement ensures lubricant is available when needed without requiring excess lubricant that would harm start-up and running properties.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cage have different lubricant storage capacities and distribution mechanisms tailored to their specific needs. The guide vanes and scraper edges create localized lubrication zones, ensuring each area receives the appropriate amount of lubricant without excess that would degrade performance.
3Area of stationary object
If the excess lubricant is displaced by the rolling elements, then the lubrication coverage is increased, but the displaced lubricant accumulates unused on the tracks and dirt can accumulate, impairing running properties
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vanes and scraper edges extract excess lubricant from the raceway surfaces and redirect it back to the lubricant chambers. This prevents lubricant from accumulating unused on the tracks where it would attract dirt and impair running properties, while maintaining adequate lubrication coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper edges create a feedback mechanism where excess lubricant is continuously collected and returned to the lubrication system. This feedback loop prevents lubricant accumulation on tracks, eliminates the conditions for dirt accumulation, and maintains optimal lubrication coverage without harmful side effects.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 6~10
AI summary
The guide (1) has a guide rail (2) fixed at a wall of a furniture body. A displaceable rail (3) is held at the guide rail by multiple rolling elements (5) e.g. balls. A retainer (4) engaged with the guide rail has multiple recesses in which the rolling elements are arranged, and multiple lubricant chambers for storing lubricant. The lubricant chambers are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the retainer between the recesses. Multiple guide vanes (6) are arranged in the lubricant chambers. An independent claim is also included for a method for distribution of lubricant to a furniture pull-out guide.