Height-Adjustable Table Braking for Energy-Recovering Descent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrically height-adjustable tables require significant energy to overcome frictional forces for downward and upward movements, leading to inefficiency and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a braking mechanism that prevents downward motion without self-locking, allowing energy recovery during downward movements and storage in an energy accumulator for use during upward movements, reducing the energy required by the electrical drive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If self-locking is provided in the drive to prevent downward movement of the tabletop, then the tabletop remains stable under load, but significant electrical energy is required to overcome frictional forces during downward and upward movements
Solution Approach 1:
The self-locking function is extracted from the drive system and implemented as a separate braking mechanism. This allows the drive to operate without self-locking, enabling energy recovery during downward movement, while the braking mechanism provides stability when needed. The braking mechanism is activated only when external energy supply is interrupted or during positioning, separating the stability function from the energy-consuming drive system.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy that would normally be lost as heat due to friction in a self-locking system is recovered during downward movement of the tabletop. The drive system operates without self-locking, allowing gravitational potential energy to be captured and stored in the energy storage device, which is then reused during upward movements, significantly reducing overall energy consumption.
2Reliability
If self-locking is provided in the drive to prevent downward movement, then the tabletop remains stable, but the drive system becomes more complex with additional friction-based components
Solution Approach 1:
The self-locking function is extracted from the drive system and implemented as a separate braking mechanism. This allows the drive to operate without self-locking, enabling energy recovery during downward movement, while the braking mechanism provides stability when needed. The braking mechanism is activated only when external energy supply is interrupted or during positioning, separating the stability function from the energy-consuming drive system.
3Use of energy by moving object
If braking mechanism is introduced to replace self-locking, then energy efficiency is improved through energy recovery, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The braking mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides stability when the external energy supply is interrupted, enables energy recovery during downward movement by allowing controlled descent, and assists in positioning the tabletop. The energy storage device also serves dual purposes by storing recovered energy and providing power during interruptions. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by eliminating the need for separate self-locking mechanisms and significantly reducing overall energy consumption.
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
This approach enhances energy efficiency by minimizing energy expenditure during upward movements and allowing the table to operate with reduced external power input, as energy is stored and reused from the potential energy of the tabletop.
Implementation Method 1
an energy-efficient solution is based on the idea of forgoing self-locking of the electrical drive and deliberately providing a braking mechanism that prevents downward motion of the tabletop even under a maximum possible load on the table or the table top. If the braking mechanism is not activated, then the tabletop slips downward on its own depending on the load on the tabletop. At the same time, however, less energy is required for the drive during a downward movement, especially because a lower force needs to be exerted due to the lack of self-locking. Furthermore, an electrical energy accumulator is provided, which receives, at least in part, an energy resulting from the downward movement of the table top, which energy may be output again during upward movement of the tabletop.
Implementation Method 2
deliberately providing a braking mechanism that prevents downward motion of the tabletop even under a maximum possible load on the table or the table top
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
A table (TBL) with a height-adjustable tabletop (PL) comprises an electrical drive (EA) for adjusting the height of the tabletop (PL) and a braking mechanism (BR) for selective prevention of a downward movement of the tabletop (PL). A self-locking of the drive (EA) is designed in such a manner that the tabletop (PL) moves downward in the event of a defined load on the tabletop (PL). The table further comprises an energy accumulator (BAT, FE), wherein the table (TBL) is designed in such a manner that energy resulting from a downward movement of the tabletop (PL) is stored at least in part in the energy accumulator (BAT, FE).