Sliding Storage Bin Dual Track Assembly to Reduce Rocking and Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motor vehicle sliding storage bins with single track systems experience rocking and friction during opening/closing, leading to perceived lower vehicle quality and potential material strain due to uneven support and high bending moments, especially when accommodating large or heavy objects.
Innovation Solution
A dual track assembly with vertically and laterally offset rails and tracks provides additional support points, reducing friction, rocking, and bending moments by distributing effort more evenly, allowing for smoother operation and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single track assembly is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability and smoothness of operation deteriorate due to rocking and friction
Solution Approach 1:
The single track assembly is segmented into two separate track assemblies, each with its own rail and track components. This segmentation distributes the support points and reduces the rocking motion and friction associated with a single track system, thereby improving bin stability while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The second track assembly is positioned at a different vertical height (offset in the z-axis direction) from the first track assembly. This dimensional offset creates a more stable geometric configuration that reduces rocking motion and improves overall bin stability during opening and closing operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single track assembly is used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to material strain and potential fracture
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function is segmented across two track assemblies instead of one, distributing the bending moments and material strain across multiple components. This segmentation improves reliability by preventing single-point failure while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized, repeatable track assembly design.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical offset between the two track assemblies changes the mechanical parameters of the system, specifically reducing the bending moments and strain concentrations in individual track components. This parameter change improves reliability by reducing stress on critical material points while allowing for cost-effective manufacturing.
3Ease of manufacture
If larger draft angles are used for molded tracks, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the stability deteriorates due to increased movement and friction
Solution Approach 1:
By offsetting the second track assembly vertically from the first, the system creates a more stable geometric configuration that reduces bin movement and rocking. This dimensional arrangement improves stability while allowing the use of smaller, more cost-effective draft angles in the molded track components.
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding storage compartment assembly for a motor vehicle includes a storage bin slidably received in a storage bin holder by a dual track assembly defined by opposed sets of rails and opposed sets of cooperating tracks. Each of the opposed sets of rails and opposed sets of cooperating tracks are vertically and laterally offset one from another. Each of the opposed sets of rails and each of the opposed sets of cooperating tracks may be vertically offset one from another in a vehicle z-axis direction and laterally offset from one another in a vehicle x-axis direction. The opposed sets of cooperating tracks may be disposed on opposed side walls of the storage bin holder and the opposed sets of rails may be disposed on opposed side walls of the storage bin, or vice-versa. Console assemblies including the sliding storage compartment assembly are described.