Vehicle Slide Rail Lock Spring Uplift Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing slide rail devices for vehicles experience noise issues due to the lock spring's supported portion springing upward when transitioning from an unlocked to a locked state, causing a rattle sound and potentially leading to operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an upward-downward movement restriction support portion with an uplift prevention projection on the upper rail, which holds the lock spring's supported portion in place, preventing upward movement and noise by using a pair of lock spring support portions that restrict movements in both forward-rearward and upward-downward directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock spring's supported portion is held by an open holding portion without upward movement restriction, then the lock spring can freely engage and disengage from lock grooves, but the supported portion springs upward when transitioning to locked state causing noise and potential operational disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The lock spring support portion is divided into two distinct functional segments: the open holding portion that allows horizontal engagement/disengagement movement, and the upward-downward movement restriction support portion that prevents vertical springing. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between operational freedom and noise prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The upward-downward movement restriction support portion acts as an intermediary element between the open holding portion and the supported portion of the lock spring. It mediates the conflict by providing vertical movement restriction while allowing the open holding portion to maintain its horizontal engagement function, thus preventing noise without disrupting the locking mechanism's operation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the lock spring support portion restricts upward movement of the supported portion, then noise is prevented, but the lock spring may not be able to engage and disengage properly from lock grooves
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is segmented into directional freedom components: the open holding portion provides horizontal movement freedom for engagement/disengagement, while the upward-downward movement restriction support portion provides vertical movement restriction. This directional segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing movement in the needed direction while restricting movement in the harmful direction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the lock spring support portion have different movement restriction qualities: the open holding portion has high horizontal movement freedom but vertical restriction, while the upward-downward movement restriction support portion has high vertical restriction but allows horizontal movement. This local quality differentiation enables the system to achieve both noise prevention and operational ease.
3Device complexity
If the supported portion is allowed to move upward freely, then the lock mechanism structure is simple, but the supported portion may become incapable of returning to the lock spring support portion causing operational disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into two functional parts with distinct roles: the open holding portion that provides initial support and allows horizontal movement, and the upward-downward movement restriction support portion that ensures vertical position control. This segmentation adds minimal complexity while guaranteeing reliable return capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The upward-downward movement restriction support portion provides preliminary prevention against the harmful upward springing action before it can occur. By preemptively restricting vertical movement, it prevents the supported portion from becoming incapable of returning, thus ensuring reliability without excessive structural complexity.
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
This configuration effectively prevents the lock spring's supported portion from springing upward, thereby eliminating the rattle sound and ensuring smooth operation of the slide rail device.
Implementation Method 1
a lock spring which is provided with lock portions capable of being engaged with and disengaged from the lock grooves and a supported portion which is supported by the lock spring support portion, in which the lock spring is biased in a direction to bring the lock portions into engagement with the lock grooves and is configured to be capable of bringing the lock portions into engagement with and disengagement from the lock grooves by moving the lock portions in the upward and downward directions with the supported portion as a support point
Data Source
AI summary
In a slide rail device for use in a vehicle , a lock spring support portion of an upper rail includes an upward-downward movement restriction support portion. The upward-downward movement restriction support portion includes an open holding portion which is open at a top thereof and holds a supported portion of a lock spring and an uplift prevention projection which is formed projecting into the open holding portion so as to overlap the supported portion of the lock spring, which is held by the open holding portion, in the upward and downward directions.