Slide Rail Lock Structure With Cam-Driven Slot Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slide lock structures for slide rail devices face challenges in achieving both a simple structure and a reliable locked state with high mechanical strength.

Innovation Solution

A slide lock structure featuring a linear rail with slots and a slider, including a casing with lock members, biasing members, and an operating member with cam surfaces, allowing for engagement and disengagement of projections into slots to achieve a secure locked state with high mechanical strength using a simple and compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional slide lock structure with an engagement claw and rack teeth is used, then the structure is relatively simple, but the mechanical strength and reliability of the locked state are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocked state reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lock member is segmented into multiple engagement projections that can independently engage with slots in the linear rail. This segmentation allows the locking force to be distributed across multiple contact points, significantly increasing the mechanical strength and reliability of the locked state without requiring a fundamentally more complex overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cam surface is designed as a curved inclined surface that converts rotational motion of the operating member into linear motion of the lock member. This curved geometry provides mechanical advantage, allowing smooth and reliable engagement/disengagement of the lock member with the slots while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If multiple components are used to achieve reliable locking, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lock member integrates multiple engagement projections and cam surfaces into a single component that works in conjunction with the operating member. This merging of functions into fewer components maintains high mechanical strength through multiple engagement points while simplifying the assembly process and reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a simple lock structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the locked state reliability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidlocked state reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lock member is designed to be movable relative to the casing, transitioning between locked and unlocked positions through rotation of the operating member. This dynamic design allows a simple structure to achieve reliable locking by utilizing motion and force transformation through the cam surface, rather than requiring a complex fixed structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 reliable locked state with high mechanical strength while maintaining a simple structure, facilitating assembly and operation, and can be used in both manual and electric slide rail devices.

Implementation Method 1

a first biasing member (68) urging the first lock member and the second lock member toward the engaged position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a cooperating cam surface (94) slidably engaging the cam surface such that the first lock member and the second lock member are moved to the disengaged position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS11833935B2Slide lock structure for slide rail device

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 TS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a slide lock structure for a slide rail device which can produce a reliable locked state with a high and reliable mechanical strength by using a simple structure. The slide lock structure includes a casing, a pair of lock members provided on the casing, and each provided with a cam surface formed on an outer side thereof, and engagement projections projecting laterally outward so as to be laterally movable between an engaged position in which the engagement projections are received in the slots, and a disengaged position in which the engagement projections are dislodged from the slots, a compression coil spring urging the lock members toward the engaged position, and an operating member provided on the casing in a movable manner, and provided with a cooperating cam surface slidably engaging the cam surface such that the lock members are moved to the disengaged position against a biasing force of the compression coil spring as the operating member is moved vertically.