Push element guidance system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide systems for furniture and household appliances face challenges in achieving high mechanical load capacity and economical production, with a need for improved synchronization and stability in the movement of guide rails and carriages.

Innovation Solution

A pusher element guide system with a body rail, middle rail, and pusher element rail, featuring synchronization means with rotatable synchronization elements on the middle rail, such as friction wheels or deflection rollers, and a hollow profile design that allows for synchronized movement of elements, including carriages with running cages and connecting elements, to enhance mechanical stability and ease of production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional guide systems with separate structural units are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the mechanical load capacity and movement synchronization are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical load capacityVSAvoidguide system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple guide rails (body rail, middle rail, pusher element rail) and synchronization elements into an integrated guide system structure. The synchronization elements are directly mounted on the middle rail, creating a unified structure that simultaneously provides guidance and synchronization functions, thereby improving mechanical load capacity without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The middle rail serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural support element, a mounting base for synchronization elements, and a component that directly participates in the telescopic movement mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, improving load capacity while controlling overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If synchronization elements are added to ensure synchronized movement, then movement synchronization improves, but production cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement synchronizationVSAvoidproduction economy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization elements are positioned at specific locations on the middle rail where they are most needed for maintaining synchronized movement. Rather than distributing synchronization mechanisms throughout the entire guide system, the patent places them locally at critical points, optimizing synchronization effectiveness while minimizing the number of additional components required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The middle rail acts as an intermediary structure that carries and positions the synchronization elements. By using the existing middle rail as the mounting platform for synchronization elements, the patent avoids needing separate complex synchronization mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If more rail elements are added for better guidance, then guidance precision improves, but the number of components and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance precisionVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system is divided into distinct functional segments: the body rail for structural support, the middle rail for synchronization element mounting, and the pusher element rail for direct pusher element guidance. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with optimized precision requirements, improving overall guidance precision while maintaining production efficiency through modular assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 improved mechanical load capacity and economical production by ensuring synchronized and stable movement of guide rails and carriages, enhancing the overall performance and durability of the guide system.

Implementation Method 1

The synchronization elements are arranged opposite one another and spaced apart from one another on both sides of the middle rail, the synchronization elements being on opposite end faces of the middle rail or are formed on opposite outer sides of the middle rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3491968B1Push element guidance system
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 GRASS GMBH
  • EP3491968B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3491968B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3491968B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A sliding element guide system, in particular a linear guide system, for a piece of furniture or for a household appliance, e.g. for a kitchen appliance, wherein the sliding element guide system comprises a cabinet rail, a center rail and a sliding element rail, wherein the sliding element guide system has a carriage so that the cabinet rail, the center rail and the sliding element rail are movably mounted relative to each other, wherein the sliding element guide system comprises synchronizing means to synchronize movements of elements of the sliding element guide system, wherein the synchronizing means comprise a synchronizing element.The push-element guide system is characterized by the fact that two identical synchronization elements are present on the center rail, wherein the synchronization elements are arranged rotatably on the center rail, wherein the synchronization elements are arranged opposite each other and spaced apart from each other on both sides of the center rail, wherein the synchronization elements are formed on opposite end faces of the center rail or on opposite outer sides of the center rail.