Appliance Support Roller Assembly for Automatic Floor Leveling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Home appliances, such as washing machines, often face difficulties in being properly supported on uneven or sloping surfaces due to their heavy weight and confined placement, making it challenging to adjust rear supports to ensure even distribution of weight, which can lead to rocking or tilting.

Innovation Solution

A self-adjustable supporting assembly featuring a support base with roller assemblies and a rod that allows for automatic adjustment by rotating the rollers about different axes, enabling the assembly to compensate for floor contours without manual access to rear supports, ensuring even weight distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustable supports are used on the underside of the cabinet, then the appliance can be adjusted to compensate for slope in the supporting surface, but it becomes difficult to provide access to the rear supports for adjusting them to compensate for a sloping surface

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional support mechanism by placing rollers on the exterior rear surface of the cabinet instead of inside the cabinet. This allows the support mechanism to be accessible from the back of the appliance, enabling easy adjustment of rear supports without requiring access to the interior of the cabinet. The rod connects these exterior rollers to the cabinet, allowing them to function as support points while remaining externally accessible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the appliance is placed on uneven or sloping surfaces, then it can be installed in various locations, but the cabinet may tend to rock or tilt if it is supported by only on three of its four supports

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement flexibilityVSAvoidleveling stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms where the rod can move along the exterior rear surface of the cabinet, and the rollers are positioned to contact the supporting surface. This dynamic configuration allows the support system to adapt to uneven surfaces by adjusting the position and angle of the rollers, ensuring all four supports remain in contact with the surface and preventing rocking or tilting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If the appliance is heavy and placed in confined areas, then it can be installed in small spaces, but it becomes difficult to provide access to the rear supports for adjusting them

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidadjustment accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 allows for automatic leveling of home appliances on uneven surfaces, preventing tilting and ensuring stable operation, even in confined spaces where manual adjustments are impractical.

Implementation Method 1

each roller assembly including a roller rotatable about a first axis, and a rod coupled with the roller assemblies. Each roller assembly is rotatable with respect to the rod about a second axis different than the first axis.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Data Source

PatentUS7481405B2Methods and apparatus for supporting an appliance

Publication Date: 2009.01.27 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An assembly for supporting a home appliance includes a support base and two roller assemblies mounted on the support base. Each roller assembly includes a roller rotatable about a first axis and a rod coupled with the roller assemblies. Each roller assembly is rotatable with respect to the rod about a second axis different than the first axis. The appliance includes a cabinet having a top panel, a bottom panel, side panels, a front panel, and a back panel.