Slide Rail Assembly with Switchable Damping for Impact Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slide rail assemblies lack versatility in damping mechanisms to meet diverse market requirements, and there is a need for improved damping control during rail movement.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail assembly with a damping device and an auxiliary member that switches states to control damping effect, allowing direct interaction with the damping device to provide or cease damping as needed, enhancing user feedback and ease of movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a damping device is mounted on the first rail to provide damping effect during rail movement, then the impact during movement is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and mounting structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact during rail movementVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary member integrates multiple functions: it acts as both a movement controller and a damping engagement mechanism. By combining the damping engagement feature and the state switching functionality into a single component that interacts with the damping device, the overall structure complexity is reduced while maintaining effective impact reduction during rail movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary member automatically engages or disengages with the damping device based on the movement state of the second rail, without requiring external control systems. The damping device serves itself by providing damping effect whenever the auxiliary member is in the first state, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the auxiliary member continuously engages with the damping device during rail movement, then the damping effect is consistently provided, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased resistance during full-range movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact during movementVSAvoidease of movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary member dynamically switches between two states based on the movement requirements of the second rail. During positioning phases, it engages with the damping device to provide damping effect; during full-range movement phases, it disengages to allow smooth operation. This dynamic state switching optimizes both impact reduction and ease of operation throughout the movement cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The damping effect is applied periodically rather than continuously, with the auxiliary member switching between engaged and disengaged states according to the movement phase. This periodic engagement provides damping when needed (during positioning) while maintaining ease of operation during transit phases, resolving the contradiction between impact reduction and operational smoothness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the damping device is designed to provide strong damping effect, then the impact reduction is improved, but the device complexity increases due to more complex damping mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact during movementVSAvoiddamping mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary member serves as an intermediary between the second rail and the damping device. It transmits the movement state information and controls the engagement/disengagement of the damping effect, allowing a simple damping mechanism to provide effective impact reduction without requiring complex control systems or sophisticated damping structures.

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

The solution provides direct and obvious damping control, reducing impact during rail movement and preventing jamming, while allowing smooth operation and user awareness of rail position.

Implementation Method 1

the damping device provides damping effect to the second rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4552531B1Slide rail assembly
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP4552531B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4552531B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4552531B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slide rail assembly (20) includes a first rail (22), a second rail (24), a damping device (26) and an auxiliary member (30). The first rail (22) is arranged with a predetermined feature (28) . The damping device (26) is arranged on the first rail (22). The auxiliary member (30) is arranged on the second rail (24) . During a process of the second rail (24) being moved relative to the first rail (22) along a direction, the auxiliary member (30) is configured to abut against the damping device (26) such that the damping device (26) provides damping effect. When the second rail (24) is further moved relative to the first rail (22) along the direction, the predetermined feature (28) is configured to abut against the auxiliary member (30) to drive the auxiliary member (30) to be detached from the damping device (26).