Pull-Out Guide With Nested Rotary Damper for Compact Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pull-out guides for drawers and sliding components face challenges in providing precise, cushioned guidance while maintaining a compact structure, often resulting in vibrations and noise, especially in space-restricted applications like vehicles and furniture.

Innovation Solution

A compact pull-out guide with a braking device integrated between the running rail and guide rail, featuring a toothed rack and rotary damper, which slows down the movement and minimizes impact noise and vibrations, and includes a locking mechanism for stable end-positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rotary damper protrudes laterally from the running rail, then damping function is provided, but the installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping functionVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The braking device is nested within the running rail structure. The toothed rack is integrated into the running rail, and the gear wheel with rotary damper is positioned inside the running rail, allowing the damping function to be provided without lateral protrusion, thus maintaining compact installation space while ensuring reliable damping operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the guide has too much play, then ease of assembly is improved, but vibration and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidvibration and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The play between guide elements is optimized to a specific parameter range that prevents excessive vibration and noise while maintaining ease of assembly. The guide elements are designed with controlled clearance that provides sufficient tolerance for assembly but limits the amplitude of vibrations and noise generation during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the running rail moves quickly to end positions, then productivity is improved, but impact noise and vibrations increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement speedVSAvoidimpact noise and vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The braking device with rotary damper provides beforehand cushioning by continuously damping the movement of the running rail throughout its travel path. The damping force increases as the running rail approaches the end positions, preventing sudden impacts and reducing noise and vibrations before they occur, while still allowing efficient movement during the main travel distance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Area of stationary object

If a braking device is integrated between running rail and guide rail, then compact structure is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure compactnessVSAvoidbraking device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The braking device components are merged with the existing running rail and guide rail structures. The toothed rack is integrated into the running rail, the gear wheel is mounted on the running rail, and the rotary damper is positioned within the running rail assembly. This merging approach achieves compact structure while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing existing structural elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution ensures precise, cushioned guidance with reduced noise and vibrations, extended service life, and adaptable braking forces, suitable for various applications including furniture and vehicle interiors.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of guide elements in the form of spherical rolling elements (4) are provided for a displaceable mounting of the running rail (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a braking device is provided by means of which the movement of the running rail (3) relative to the guide rail (2) can be braked

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2802239B2Pull-out guide
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 DRUCK & SPRITZGUSSWERK HETTICH
  • EP2802239B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2802239B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2802239B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a pull-out guide (1) comprising a fixable guide rail (2), a slide rail (3) which is movably mounted on the guide rail (2), and a brake device which comprises a toothed rack (6) and a rotation damper (8) that is engaged with the toothed rack (6) and can be actuated by a movement of the slide rail (3) relative to the guide rail (2). The brake device is arranged between the slide rail (3) and the guide rail (2). As a result, a compact pull-out guide (1) which also allows a uniformly damped movement, is provided.