Slide assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide assemblies face limitations in accommodating assembly tolerance between a cabinet and a drawer, particularly when using rollers or ball bearings, leading to restricted load capacity and compatibility issues with soft-closing designs, and can be compromised by quality flaws or excessive tolerance, resulting in awkward operation.
Innovation Solution
A slide assembly comprising a first and second rail with a positioning device featuring a support member and fixing member, allowing transverse movement to compensate for installation tolerance, along with ball bearing retainers for smooth sliding, and a resilient member to maintain the support member's pre-set position, enhancing structural strength and preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If ball bearings are used as sliding media to bear high load, then load capacity is improved, but assembly tolerance between drawer and cabinet cannot be compensated leading to awkward operation
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to be movable relative to the first and second rails within a limited distance, allowing the slide assembly to dynamically adjust and compensate for assembly tolerance between the drawer and cabinet, ensuring smooth operation while maintaining high load capacity through ball bearings
2Ease of manufacture
If floating member is used to accommodate large assembly tolerance, then ease of installation is improved, but reliability deteriorates as floating member may drop from fixed member due to quality flaws or excessive tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is pre-designed with limited movement capability and is securely connected to the fixing member, providing beforehand protection against the floating member dropping out due to quality flaws or excessive tolerance, thereby maintaining structural reliability while allowing ease of installation
3Adaptability or versatility
If support member is allowed to move limited distance to compensate displacement, then assembly tolerance compensation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide assembly is segmented into distinct components (first rail, second rail, support member, fixing member) with the support member providing localized movement capability, achieving assembly tolerance compensation without requiring complex overall structural design
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 compensates for assembly tolerance, ensuring smooth operation and preventing the support member from dropping or deforming, thus facilitating reliable sliding movement and compatibility with soft-closing designs.
Implementation Method 1
a ball bearing retainer is disposed between the first and second rails and has a plurality of ball bearings retained thereby so as to facilitate sliding movement of the second rail relative to the first rail
Implementation Method 2
a resilient member is disposed between the support member and the at least one of the first elongate body and the second elongate body so as to provide a force to keep the support member at a pre-set position
Data Source
AI summary
A slide assembly includes a first rail, a second rail and at least one positioning device. The first rail has a first elongate body. The second rail is longitudinally slidable relative to the first rail and has a second elongate body. At least one of the first elongate body and the second elongate body has an installation hole. The at least one positioning device has a support member and a fixing member. The support member transversely extends through the installation hole so as to be transversely and movably connected to the at least one of the first elongate body and the second elongate body. The fixing member is fixed to a portion of the support member.