Externally Adjustable Rear Feet for Low-Profile Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances require lengthy maintenance times due to the need to remove housing bearings and dismantle components for height adjustment, especially when the appliance is at a low position, making it difficult to access and adjust the feet.
Innovation Solution
A height adjustment mechanism where the rear feet are individually removable and externally adjustable, using a threaded main shaft with a worm gear and ring gear mechanism, allowing for quick and easy leveling without disassembling the appliance, with each rear foot mechanism being connected to an installation slot on the appliance's rear surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the appliance is positioned low for installation, then it can be placed in a cabin, but the feet become inaccessible for adjustment requiring removal of housing bearings
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment mechanism is segmented into modular components: a foot element, a bearing, and an extension shaft. These segments can be independently adjusted and reassembled, allowing maintenance personnel to access and adjust the feet without removing housing bearings or dismantling the entire appliance structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension shaft acts as an intermediary element that transmits rotational movement from the bearing to the foot element. This intermediary mechanism allows height adjustment to be performed from an accessible upper position rather than requiring direct access to the foot at the low inaccessible position.
2Ease of repair
If traditional height adjustment is used with wrench and bearings, then height can be adjusted, but maintenance time increases due to dismantling components
Solution Approach 1:
The extension shaft is pre-configured with threading and coupling mechanisms that allow the foot and bearing to be quickly assembled and disassembled. This preliminary preparation of the adjustment mechanism enables rapid height changes during maintenance without requiring time-consuming dismantling of appliance components.
Solution Approach 2:
The height adjustment mechanism is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the foot position to be changed on-demand without fixed constraints. The bearing and extension shaft can be rotated and repositioned freely, enabling quick adaptation to different height requirements during maintenance operations.
3Reliability
If the foot mechanism is fixed and non-removable, then structural integrity is maintained, but adjustment requires housing interference and dismantling
Solution Approach 1:
The foot mechanism is divided into separable segments (foot element, bearing, extension shaft) that can be independently removed and reinstalled. This segmentation maintains structural integrity when assembled while enabling easy access and adjustment during maintenance without requiring housing dismantling.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the necessary portion of the adjustment mechanism (the foot assembly with bearing and extension shaft) is made removable, while the main appliance housing remains intact. This partial disassembly approach provides the needed accessibility for height adjustment without excessive dismantling of structural components.
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 solution enables rapid and efficient height adjustment and maintenance of household appliances, reducing maintenance time and avoiding interference with the appliance's housing, allowing for precise leveling without the need to remove housing bearings or dismantle components.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded main shaft with a worm gear and ring gear mechanism
Implementation Method 2
a threaded main shaft with a worm gear and ring gear mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) having a pair of front feet (3) and rear feet (4), each couple of front feet (3) and rear feet (4) being mechanically couplable by an extension shaft (6) being secured within said household appliance (1), said rear feet (4) of said household appliance (1) being formed as individual foot mechanisms (2) having a coupling end (11) introducible into an installation slot (8), the latter being directly exposed to the outside on rear surface of said household appliance (1) whereby a mutually interengaging mechanical relationship is provided between said household appliance (1) and said foot mechanism (2) so that said rear feet (4) of said household appliance (1) are individually removable and externally height adjustable.