Single Damper for Multi-Drawer Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pull-out locking devices for drawers are costly and inefficient in damping the retraction movement, as they require multiple dampers for each drawer, which increases the overall cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A pull-out locking device where a single damper is used to dampen the retraction movement of all drawers by interacting with the uppermost locking unit, utilizing a damper connected to the uppermost locking unit and a rocker arm, and incorporating a self-closing mechanism with an insertion spring to automatically lower the locking units, thus reducing costs and simplifying the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple dampers are used for each drawer to dampen retraction movement, then the damping effect is sufficient, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single damper is designed to serve multiple drawers simultaneously. The damper is positioned to interact with the locking unit system that controls all drawers, allowing one damper to provide damping force for the retraction of any pulled-out drawer through the interconnected locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping function for multiple drawers is merged into a single damper unit. The locking units of different drawers are mechanically connected through the locking pin and blocking unit system, enabling the force from one damper to be distributed across multiple drawers through the shared locking mechanism.
2Device complexity
If a single damper is used for all drawers, then cost and complexity are reduced, but the damping effect may be insufficient for each individual drawer
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is pre-positioned and pre-loaded during the drawer extension process. As the locking unit rises when a drawer is pulled out, the damper is compressed in advance, storing potential energy that will be released during the retraction phase to provide the necessary damping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism provides feedback between drawers through the interconnected locking units. When one drawer is pulled out and its locking unit rises, it blocks the locking pins of other drawers through the coupling mechanism, creating a system where the state of one drawer directly affects the others and enables the single damper to control all.
3Ease of operation
If locking units are mechanically coupled to prevent simultaneous drawer extraction, then alternate operation is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is segmented into modular locking units, each associated with a specific drawer. Each locking unit can independently rise and fall to control its associated drawer while being mechanically linked to others through the locking pin, allowing simple individual operations with coordinated system-wide effect.
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 effectively dampens the retraction movement of all drawers with a single damper, reducing costs and complexity while ensuring alternate operation of drawers, where one drawer's pull-out blocks others from being pulled out, and provides a self-closing mechanism for automatic locking.
Implementation Method 1
the uppermost of the locking units is connected to a damper which dampens a lowering of this uppermost locking unit from its raised to its lowered position
Implementation Method 2
an insertion spring is provided, which acts on the top locking unit in its raised position downwards
Implementation Method 3
the associated locking bolt, which is also moved in the pull-out direction, actuates the pushing element of the top locking unit assigned to the top drawer and raises it from its lowered to its raised position
Implementation Method 4
When the top drawer is pushed in, the locking bolt runs against the second pusher element, if the pushing-in takes place at a correspondingly high speed, and pulls the top locking unit downwards against the damping force exerted by the damper
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pull-out locking device for at least two drawers (1) that can be alternately pulled out of a furniture body (2) in a pull-out direction (6) and inserted opposite the pull-out direction (6) comprises a locking pin (7) for each of the drawers (1) that is moved along by the drawer (1) and a locking unit (9) for each of the drawers (1) that is movably guided in the vertical direction relative to the furniture body (2) and that has a first pushing element (11), against which the locking pin (7), which is moved along by said drawer (1), moves when the drawer (1) is pulled out and in the process lifts the locking unit (9) and with the locking unit all locking units (9) that might lie above said locking unit (9) from a lowered position to a raised position. The topmost of the locking units (9) is connected to a damper (26). If a drawer (1), above which at least one further drawer (1) lies, is pulled out, each of the locking units (9) raised together when said drawer (1) is pulled out is coupled to the next higher locking unit (9) by means of a bar part (20). Each of the locking units (9) has a second pushing element (12), by means of which the locking unit (9) comprising said second pushing element (12) and together with said locking unit the locking units (9) possibly lying above said locking unit are pulled downward against the damping force of the damper (26) when the locking pin (7) that is moved along with the associated drawer moves against said second pushing element (12) when said drawer (1) is pushed in.