Slide rail assembly and sliding assistance device thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding assistance devices for slide rail assemblies do not effectively manage the smooth movement and positioning of rails, particularly when transitioning between retracted and extended states, leading to potential damage from excessive bending at the joining portions during buffering.
Innovation Solution
The sliding assistance device features a base with flexible portions and protruding sections that compress to produce a buffering effect, protecting the joining portions from damage and ensuring smooth rail movement by using sliding assistance members like balls or wheels between the rails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a sliding assistance device with rigid structure is used, then the structural strength is maintained, but the joining portions are damaged due to excessive bending during buffering
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed with flexible portions that can bend and deform during buffering operations. These flexible portions absorb impact forces through controlled deformation, preventing excessive stress from reaching the joining portions. The flexible base maintains structural integrity while accommodating the buffering movements between retracted and extended states.
Solution Approach 2:
The base transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible structure with specific flexibility parameters. By controlling the flexibility of the base portions, the system can absorb buffering forces through elastic deformation, reducing peak stresses on joining portions while maintaining sufficient structural strength for normal operation.
2Ease of operation
If a flexible base is used to absorb buffering forces, then the smoothness of rail movement is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed with different local properties: flexible portions for absorbing buffering forces and maintaining smooth rail movement, while protruding sections maintain sufficient rigidity for structural support. This localized differentiation allows the base to exhibit both flexibility where needed and strength where required, resolving the contradiction between smooth operation and structural integrity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the base is designed to be compressible for buffering, then the joining portions are protected from damage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into distinct functional portions: flexible portions for buffering and protruding sections for structural support. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The flexible portions can be simple geometric shapes designed to bend, and the protruding sections can be standardized structural elements, minimizing overall complexity while achieving the buffering protection function.
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 enhances the smoothness of rail movement and prevents damage to the joining portions by compressing flexible sections to absorb forces, maintaining the structural integrity of the sliding assistance device during the transition between rail states.
Implementation Method 1
The base includes a first flexible portion bent from the first end portion, and a first buffer space is defined between the first flexible portion and the first end portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A sliding assistance device (16) includes a base (40) and at least one sliding assistance member (42) mounted at the base (40). The base (40) includes an end portion (44a) and a flexible portion (46) bent from the end portion (44a). A space (S1) is defined between the flexible portion (46) and the end portion (44a). One of the flexible portion (46) and the end portion (44a) has a protruding section (48). The flexible portion (46) and the end portion (44a) are configured to contact each other through the protruding section (48) according to the space (S1) when a force (F) is applied to the flexible portion (46) of the base (40).