Single Roller Slide-Out Mechanism for RVs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide-out systems for motorized or towable vehicles are heavy, bulky, and costly due to their design requiring dual rollers and wide sliding members, which increases material usage and weight, making them inefficient in terms of space and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A slide-out system utilizing a single support roller and rail gear positioned asymmetrically under the inner rail, combined with a retaining slide and low-friction pads, to reduce the width and material requirements of the rails, allowing for a more cost-effective and lighter design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If dual rollers and wide sliding members are used to support the slide-out room, then structural stability is improved, but weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes one roller from the traditional dual-roller configuration, extracting only the essential support function while eliminating redundant components. This reduction directly decreases weight and material usage while maintaining adequate structural stability through the retained single roller and optimized sliding member design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the single roller and sliding member components, concentrating support functions at specific locations rather than distributing them symmetrically. This asymmetric arrangement allows for narrower sliding members and reduced material usage while maintaining structural stability where it is most needed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If dual rollers and wide sliding members are used to support the slide-out room, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting one roller from the dual-roller system, the patent reduces the number of components that require manufacturing, assembly, and quality control. This directly lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining essential structural stability through the optimized single-roller configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric design allows for more efficient manufacturing by concentrating support functions in specific areas, reducing the overall size and complexity of sliding members. This leads to lower material costs, reduced manufacturing time, and simplified assembly processes.
3Force
If dual rollers and wide sliding members are used, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts unnecessary rolling support functions, retaining only the essential single roller that provides adequate load-bearing capacity. This reduction allows for narrower sliding members that occupy less space within the vehicle interior while still supporting the slide-out room effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
By positioning the single roller asymmetrically at optimal locations, the patent concentrates load-bearing capacity where it is most needed rather than distributing it uniformly. This asymmetric support arrangement maintains adequate load-bearing capacity while minimizing the width of sliding members and maximizing space efficiency.
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 results in narrower, lighter, and less expensive slide-out systems that maintain structural integrity while minimizing material usage and production costs, offering improved installation and shipping benefits.
Implementation Method 1
a single support roller and a retaining slide, while a rail gear drives a gear rack on the inner rail
Implementation Method 2
a rail gear drives a gear rack on the inner rail to cause extension or retraction
Implementation Method 3
Additional support is provided by a retaining slide attached to the inner rail that slides against retaining lip on the outer rail
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a slide-out system comprising an inner rail that slides into and out of an inner rail. The inner rail is supported within the outer rail by a single support roller and a retaining slide, while a rail gear drives a gear rack on the inner rail to cause extension or retraction. This arrangement allows the rails of the slide-out system to be narrower than those used in many popular flush-floor slide-out systems in use today.