Slide Rail Assembly Synchronization Using Elastic Contact Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide rail assemblies, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,782A, suffer from resilient fingers that can bend, warp, or break over repeated use, leading to failure in synchronizing the displacement of inner and middle rails, resulting in the middle rail not being pulled out together with the inner rail.
Innovation Solution
A slide rail assembly comprising a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a synchronization device, and a contact feature, where the synchronization device is made of elastic materials and includes a first and second portion with corresponding sections and an extending section, allowing the third rail and second rail to synchronously displace relative to the first rail through elastic deformation, ensuring synchronized movement in both directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If open-ended resilient fingers are used to enable the middle rail to be pulled out with the inner rail, then the slide rail can achieve synchronized displacement, but the resilient fingers can bend, warp or break over repeated use, leading to failure in synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional resilient fingers to elastic material with specific properties (elastic modulus between 0.001 and 0.1 MPa). This parameter change maintains the synchronized displacement function while significantly improving durability by preventing bending, warping, and breaking under repeated loading cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite elastic material structures including the elastic member with first and second elastic portions, potentially combined with other materials in the slide rail assembly. This composite approach optimizes both the flexibility needed for synchronization and the strength required for durability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the resilient fingers are designed to be open-ended with a gap, then the structure allows for flexibility, but the ends can bend, warp or break over repeated opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies the elastic modulus of the elastic material to be between 0.001 and 0.1 MPa, which provides sufficient flexibility for the fingers to enable synchronized displacement while maintaining structural strength to resist bending, warping, and breaking under repeated operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the elastic member with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to deform elastically during operation and return to its original shape. The first and second elastic portions can dynamically adjust to loading conditions while maintaining overall structural integrity through the controlled elastic properties
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 enables reliable and efficient synchronous displacement of the third rail and second rail relative to the first rail, enhancing the structural strength and durability of the slide rail assembly by using elastic materials and a specific configuration of the synchronization device, thus preventing the issues of bending or breaking encountered in prior art.
Implementation Method 1
the synchronization device is made of elastic materials and includes a first and second portion with corresponding sections and an extending section, allowing the third rail and second rail to synchronously displace relative to the first rail through elastic deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a synchronization device and a contact feature. The second rail is displaceable relative to the first rail. The third rail is displaceable relative to the second rail. The synchronization device is arranged on one of the second rail and the third rail. The contact feature is arranged on the other of the second rail and the third rail. The third rail and the second rail can synchronously displace relative to the first rail through the collaboration between the synchronization device and the contact feature.