Sliding supports

The present invention relates to sliding supports and particularly sliding supports having two elongate members of channel section and an intermediate member positioned between the elongate members. The invention provides a sliding support with improved manufacturability and load bearing capability by providing an intermediate member of alternative cross-section.

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to sliding supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Description of Related Art

It is known to provide sliding supports for use in furniture or domestic appliances, such as ovens and dishwashers. Such sliding supports having two (or more) elongate members, typically of shallow channel section, which slide one within the other, one of the members being secured to a slidable drawer or rack, and the other to a frame in which the drawer or rack is supported. Sliding engagement between the members is typically provided by ball bearings retained by a retaining member located between the two elongate members.

It is also known to provide sliding supports having two elongate channel section members offset relative to one another, and an intermediate member positioned between the two elongate members. Sliding engagement between the members is provided by ball bearings positioned between the elongate members and the intermediate member and retained by retaining members located within the channel section elongate members. Such a sliding support as manufactured by the present applicant, Accuride International Limited, is shown inFIG. 1. The arrangement ofFIG. 1provides a unit which is compact for its strength. However, it is desirable to provide a unit with an increased load bearing capability.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved compact sliding support which offers increased load bearing capability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a sliding support comprising:

a first elongate slide member of channel section defining a first web and first and second flanges,

a second elongate slide member of channel section defining a second web and third and fourth flanges,

an intermediate member positioned between the first and second slide members,

first locating means positioned between the first slide member and the intermediate member to locate and align the first slide member and the intermediate member for sliding without contact therebetween, and

second locating means positioned between the second slide member and the intermediate member to locate and align the second slide member and the intermediate member for sliding without contact therebetween, wherein

the first and second flanges are offset relative to the third and fourth flanges in a direction parallel to the first and second webs, and

the intermediate member has a cross-section comprising a third channel section connected to a fourth channel section by a connecting member arranged at an angle to the first and second webs.

The sliding support of the present invention is a compact unit which, consequently, has a reduced material requirement and is thus a cost-effective design.

By incorporating a connecting member which is arranged at an angle to the first and second webs, some flexing is allowed in the intermediate member. The present inventors found that such flexing increases the load bearing capacity of the support over similarly sized prior art supports. The improved intermediate member also adds stability to the support. This design of member also makes manufacture easier and more consistent than for known prior art.

The sliding support is for supporting any element or body required to be linearly movably mounted relative to another body.

The offsetting of the first and second slide members relative to one another benefits the mounting of the sliding bodies relative to one another.

The cross-section of the intermediate member may be unhanded. Consequently, left-handed and right-handed sliding supports can be manufactured using the same intermediate member and slide members. Consequently, the cost-efficiency of manufacturing the sliding supports is optimised.

The third channel section may define a third web and fifth and sixth flanges, and the fourth channel section may define a fourth web and seventh and eighth flanges, and the fifth flange may be connected to the seventh flange by the connecting member.

The connecting member may comprise a fifth web which connects the fifth and seventh flanges together at their open ends.

The angle between the connecting member and the first and second webs may be in the range of 70 to 80 degrees. Alternatively, the angle between the connecting member and the first and second webs may be in the range of 60 to 85 degrees. Alternatively, the angle between the connecting member and the first and second webs may be in the range of 30 to 85 degrees. The angle may take any value provided that the connecting member is not parallel to the first and second webs.

The first and second locating means may each comprise a multiplicity of ball bearings and a retainer for retaining the ball bearings in two parallel rows, one row on each side of each of the first and second slide members, between the first and second slide members and the intermediate member, to locate slidingly the intermediate member within the first and second slide members.

In particular, a first row of ball bearings may be positioned between the first and sixth flanges, a second row of ball bearings may be positioned between the second and seventh flanges, a third row of ball bearings may be positioned between the third and fifth flanges, and a fourth row of ball bearings may be positioned between the fourth and eighth flanges.

The cross-sectional profile of each of the first to eighth flanges may be shaped to provide half of a ball engaging channel such that the rows of ball bearings are retained between the respective first and second slide members and the intermediate member in a plurality of ball channels. Preferably, the ball bearings are retained in four separate ball channels.

The ball retainer is preferably formed of polymeric material (for example material sold under the registered trade mark Nylon 66).

The shape of the intermediate member is a positive influence on the strength of the sliding support in operation. The amount of distortion (wind out) of the balltracks when the sliding support is tested to destruction is significantly less than expected: the sliding supports are able to withstand more weight than anticipated. Moreover, on cycle testing the amount of permanent deformation is less than expected.

In an alternative configuration, the first and second locating means may each comprise a plastics strip, preferably of self-lubricating plastics material, arranged between the respective slide member and the intermediate member, to locate slidingly the intermediate member within the first and second slide members.

The first and second slide members and the intermediate member may be made of steel, such as mild or stainless steel (or other suitable material).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned above,FIG. 1shows a sectional view of a prior art sliding support generally indicated at101.

The prior art sliding support101includes a first elongate slide member10of channel section defining a first web12and first and second flanges14,16. The support100also includes a second elongate slide member20of channel section defining a second web22and third and fourth flanges24,26. An intermediate member30is positioned between the first and second slide members10,20. Two parallel rows of ball bearings40are positioned between the first slide member10and the intermediate member30to locate and align the first slide member10and the intermediate member30for sliding without contact therebetween. Two further parallel rows of ball bearings42are positioned between the second slide member20and the intermediate member30to locate and align the second slide member20and the intermediate member30for sliding without contact therebetween. The first and second flanges14,16are offset relative to the third and fourth flanges24,26in a direction parallel to the first and second webs12,22. The intermediate member30has a section comprising a third channel section32connected to a fourth channel section34by a connecting member36arranged parallel to the first and second webs12,22.

According to an embodiment of the present invention as shown inFIG. 2, there is provided a sliding support200comprising a first elongate slide member110of channel section defining a first web112and first and second flanges114,116. The sliding support200also includes a second elongate slide member120of channel section defining a second web122and third and fourth flanges124,126. An intermediate member130is positioned between the first and second slide members110,120. Two parallel rows of ball bearings140are positioned between the first slide member110and the intermediate member130to locate and align the first slide member110and the intermediate member130for sliding without contact therebetween. Two further parallel rows of ball bearings142are positioned between the second slide member120and the intermediate member130to locate and align the second slide member120and the intermediate member130for sliding without contact therebetween. The first and second flanges114,116are offset relative to the third and fourth flanges124,126in a direction parallel to the first and second webs112,122. The intermediate member130has a cross-section comprising a third channel section132connected to a fourth channel section134by a connecting member preferably a fifth web136arranged at an angle to the first and second webs112,122.

The third channel section132is defined by a third web151and fifth and sixth flanges152,153and the fourth channel134section is defined by a fourth web154and seventh and eighth flanges155,156. The fifth flange152is connected to the seventh flange155by the connecting member136.

The angle between the connecting member136and the first and second webs112,122is in the range of 70 to 80 degrees. However, the angle may take any value provided that the connecting member136is not parallel to the first and second webs112,122.

Four rows of ball bearings are retained in parallel rows by two retainers143, one row on each side of each of the first and second slide members110,120, between the first and second slide members110,120and the intermediate member130, to locate slidingly the intermediate member130within the first and second slide members110,120.

The retainers143each have a base, extending parallel to the webs of the first and second slide members110,120, and side webs which both carry a series of holes of a size to be engaged by and retain the ball bearings140,141.

In particular, a first row of ball bearings140is positioned between the first and sixth flanges114,153, a second row of ball bearings140is positioned between the second and seventh flanges116,155, a third row of ball bearings141is positioned between the third and fifth flanges124,152, and a fourth row of ball bearings141is positioned between the fourth and eighth flanges126,156.

The cross-sectional profile of each of the first to eighth flanges114,116,124,126,152,153,154,155is curved to provide half of a ball engaging channel such that the rows of ball bearings140,141are retained between the respective first and second slide members110,120and the intermediate member130in a plurality of ball channels.

In use, the first slide member110is fixedly mounted to a first body (not shown). The second slide member120is fixedly mounted to a second body (not shown) in relation to which the first body is to be slidable linearly.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment described in detail has been described by way of example only, and that alterations or modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.