Adjusting Device for Lamppost Vertical Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adjusting devices for structures like lampposts are cumbersome when positioning and fixating them vertically due to reliance on bolt rotation for accurate alignment, which lacks precision and requires significant force.

Innovation Solution

The adjusting device features a first carriage translating along an elongated base, coupled with a second carriage via an abutment element that moves transversally to achieve precise alignment, allowing a different movement ratio and enabling accurate positioning of the structure relative to the support, with a compact design for reduced space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bolts are used to align and fixate the structure in the receiving chamber, then the structure can be secured to the support, but the positioning and fixating operation becomes relatively cumbersome and requires significant force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidpositioning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting device employs dynamic carriages that can translate along the elongated base and move abutment elements between active and passive positions. This dynamic mechanism allows operators to easily position the structure by translating carriages longitudinally, while the abutment elements automatically engage to provide reliable fixation, eliminating the need for significant force required by static bolt mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The abutment elements serve as intermediaries between the carriages and the structure/support. These elements transfer the positioning action from the longitudinal translation of carriages to the transversal abutment against the structure or support, providing both ease of operation through simple carriage translation and reliable fixation through the mediating abutment action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If bolts are used for accurate spatial positioning of the support, then the structure can be vertically aligned, but the alignment process becomes relatively cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidalignment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable carriage mechanism allows for dynamic positioning of abutment elements along the elongated base. By translating the carriage longitudinally and having the abutment element move transversally, the system achieves precise spatial positioning through a two-stage motion that is much easier to control than direct bolt rotation, enabling accurate vertical alignment of the structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism transforms a one-dimensional rotational adjustment (bolt rotation) into a two-dimensional translational adjustment (longitudinal carriage movement plus transversal abutment element movement). This dimensional change allows for more precise positioning control, as the ratio between longitudinal and transversal movements can be optimized to achieve fine alignment precision while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If the abutment element moves transversally to abut against the structure or support, then accurate positioning is achieved, but the device requires space for the transverse movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidspace requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism achieves transverse positioning precision by converting longitudinal carriage translation into transversal abutment element movement. This dimensional transformation allows the majority of the adjustment range to be achieved in the longitudinal direction (where space is less constrained), while only requiring minimal transverse space for the final positioning and abutment action, thus reducing the overall space requirement while maintaining positioning precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3587709B1Adjusting device and an assembly comprising the adjusting device
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 POWERCAST HLDG BV
  • EP3587709B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3587709B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3587709B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An adjusting device comprising: - a first carriage, a second carriage and an elongated base for translating said first carriage along said elongated base in a longitudinal direction relative to said elongated base and relative to said second carriage, wherein said first carriage and said second carriage are connected to said elongated base; - a first coupling arrangement coupling said first carriage to said second carriage via a first abutment element, wherein said first abutment element is arranged for abutment against said structure or said support for said adjusting in an active position, wherein said first abutment element, in dependence of said translating of said first carriage relative to said elongated base and relative to said second carriage in said longitudinal direction, displaces in a direction transversal to said longitudinal direction for abutting said first abutment element against said structure or said support for said adjusting in said active position. An assembly comprising the adjusting device