Self-closing device and drawer runner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-closing mechanisms for pull-out slides lack sufficient damping forces to slow down the closing movement and have design limitations that make them complex and difficult to maintain, such as requiring complete disassembly for spring replacement.
Innovation Solution
A compact self-closing mechanism with a spiral spring that surrounds the damper housing, allowing for easy spring replacement and providing sufficient pretensioning forces, featuring a pivotably mounted driver and a fluid damper for high damping capabilities, integrated within a C-shaped guide rail system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a spring is arranged inside a damper housing, then the design becomes compact, but the spring cannot be replaced without completely dismantling the damper
Solution Approach 1:
The spring and damper are separated into independent components. The spring is arranged outside the damper housing, allowing it to be replaced independently without dismantling the damper. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy maintenance while maintaining compact overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is extracted from the damper housing and positioned separately. This allows the spring to be accessed and replaced independently, eliminating the need to completely dismantle the damper for spring replacement, thus improving ease of repair.
2Force
If a self-closing mechanism is provided at the end of a guide rail, then closing force is provided, but no damping forces can be applied to slow down the closing movement
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism and damper are combined into a single self-closing mechanism assembly. The spring provides the closing force while the damper simultaneously provides damping forces to slow down the closing movement, eliminating impact noise. This merging resolves the contradiction by integrating both force generation and damping functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper acts as an intermediary between the spring's closing force and the rail movement. It mediates the force transmission by providing controlled resistance, slowing down the closing movement and preventing impact noise while maintaining the closing function.
3Force
If a compression spring is used, then sufficient pretensioning forces can be provided, but lateral breaking out requires guide means
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a compression spring that requires guide means to prevent lateral breaking out, the invention uses a tension spring. The tension spring is arranged to be pulled rather than compressed, which eliminates lateral breaking out and removes the need for guide means, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining sufficient pretensioning force.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring type is changed from compression to tension. This parameter change fundamentally alters the spring's behavior: tension springs do not exhibit lateral breaking out, eliminating the need for guide means and reducing overall device complexity while still providing adequate pretensioning forces.
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 provides a simple, compact, and effective self-closing mechanism that applies sufficient forces to slow down the rail's closing movement, is easy to maintain, and optimizes installation space, ensuring quiet operation and reliable function.
Implementation Method 1
a spiral spring (9) that surrounds the damper housing (80)
Implementation Method 2
a fluid damper (8) for high damping capabilities
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a self-closing device (5), in particular for drawer runners (1), comprising a housing (6), in which a guide (61) is provided for a linearly moveable slider (7) and a guide path (63) is provided for a catch (11) connected to the slider (7), wherein the catch (11) can be coupled to an activator (10) and a damper (8) having a damper housing (80) and a piston rod (81) is provided between the housing (6) and the slider (7), wherein a spring (9) is arranged around the damper (8), by means of which the slider (7) is pretensioned on the housing (6) in a closing position. The invention also relates to a drawer runner (1) having a self-closing device (5).