Slide Rail Ball Retainer Positioning to Prevent Chassis Collision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slide rail assemblies with ball retainers face issues where mounting members on the chassis can collide with the ends of the ball retainers due to installation errors or weight-induced deformation, leading to hindered sliding and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail assembly design featuring a ball assembly with a projecting block on the second rail that includes an inclined surface and a pushing surface to guide and keep the lateral portion of the ball retainer close to the first rail, preventing collision and deformation, allowing smooth sliding between the rails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If mounting members are used to secure the chassis to the slide rails, then the chassis can be firmly mounted on the rack, but the mounting members may collide with the ball retainer ends due to installation errors or deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting strengthVSAvoidsliding reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a buffer member as an intermediary element positioned between the mounting member and the ball retainer. This buffer member absorbs collision forces and prevents direct contact between the mounting member and the ball retainer, thereby resolving the contradiction between secure mounting and reliable sliding operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer member is pre-installed in position to provide cushioning protection before any collision can occur. This beforehand cushioning prevents the harmful effect of collision between the mounting member and ball retainer, ensuring that even if installation errors or deformation occur, the sliding reliability is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If the ball retainer is positioned close to the mounting member to enable smooth sliding, then sliding is facilitated, but the ball retainer is vulnerable to collision and deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliding smoothnessVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer member serves as a protective intermediary that allows the ball retainer to maintain its optimal position for smooth sliding while preventing harmful collisions with the mounting member. The buffer member absorbs impact forces without interfering with the normal sliding operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By pre-positioning the buffer member between the mounting member and ball retainer, the system provides beforehand cushioning that protects the ball retainer from collision while maintaining the close positioning necessary for smooth sliding operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Quantity of substance

If the chassis weight is increased to support more electronic components, then data storage capacity is improved, but the ball retainer may deform under the increased weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidball retainer stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer member provides beforehand cushioning support that compensates for the increased weight of the chassis and its electronic components. This prevents the ball retainer from deforming under the heavier load while maintaining the structural integrity of the slide rail assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer member acts as a mediator that distributes and absorbs the additional weight-induced forces, protecting the ball retainer from deformation while allowing the chassis to support greater storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents collision between the mounting member and the ball retainer, ensuring smooth sliding and protecting the ball retainer from deformation, thus maintaining the functionality of the slide rail assembly.

Implementation Method 1

a ball assembly which is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, so that the first rail and the second rail can slide relative to each other via the balls

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 2

The sidewall of the second rail further includes a projecting block for pushing the lateral portion of the ball retainer and thereby keeping the lateral portion of the ball retainer close to the sidewall of the first rail

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS9247814B2Slide rail assembly

Publication Date: 2016.02.02 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD

AI summary

A slide rail assembly for mounting a lateral side of a chassis to a rack includes first and second rails and a ball assembly. A sidewall of the second rail has a mounting portion to be mounted to a mounting member on the lateral side of the chassis. The ball assembly, movably mounted between the rails to facilitate relative sliding thereof, includes a ball retainer whose lateral portion corresponds in position to the space between a sidewall of the first rail and the sidewall of the second rail. The sidewall of the second rail includes a projecting block for pushing the lateral portion of the ball retainer, keeping the lateral portion close to the sidewall of the first rail.