Floating Appliance Base Structure for Dough Torque and Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Food processors face challenges with high resistance and vibration issues due to the toughness of dough, leading to increased drive torque and potential agitator sticking, which existing bases fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A base design featuring a shell part with a mandrel part that allows for sliding relative to an elastomer part, providing a significant clearance and a frictional connection that converts energy into heat, while maintaining stability and reducing vibrations through a floating mounting mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the extension is rigidly anchored to the base, then vertical stability is improved, but horizontal mobility is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical stabilityVSAvoidhorizontal mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The base design transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic system where the extension can slide horizontally within the shell part while maintaining vertical positioning. The elastomer part enables this dynamic behavior, allowing the food processor to adapt to torque fluctuations and vibrations by permitting controlled horizontal movement while preserving vertical stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the extension is frictionally connected to the base, then horizontal mobility is improved, but vertical stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehorizontal mobilityVSAvoidvertical stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the extension and base exhibits different frictional characteristics in different directions. The elastomer part is designed to provide low friction in the horizontal direction, enabling mobility and torque compensation, while maintaining sufficient friction and structural integrity in the vertical direction to ensure stability and prevent detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the shell part closely surrounds the mandrel part, then vertical rigidity is improved, but horizontal mobility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical rigidityVSAvoidhorizontal mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shell part is designed with a specific clearance relationship to the mandrel part, creating a dynamic connection that is rigid in compression (vertical direction) but allows sliding movement (horizontal direction). This dynamic design enables the structure to maintain vertical load-bearing capacity while accommodating horizontal movements for torque fluctuation compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the elastomer part is made stiff, then vibration compensation is improved, but frictional resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration compensationVSAvoidfrictional resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomer part is designed with optimized material properties and geometric parameters to achieve the right balance between stiffness and friction. The stiffness is sufficient to compensate for vibrations and maintain structural integrity, while the frictional resistance is controlled to allow the extension to slide horizontally during torque fluctuations, converting impact energy into friction heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively reduces frictional resistance, compensates for torque fluctuations, and absorbs vibrations, ensuring stable operation and preventing the agitator from getting stuck, while maintaining rigidity in the vertical direction and allowing horizontal movement.

Implementation Method 1

The abruptly introduced energy is converted into friction between the associated and superimposed surfaces of the shell part and the mandrel part on the elastomer part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the elastomer part preferably consists of a rubber material or a thermoplastic elastomer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2410199B1Base, in particular for a table kitchen appliance
Publication Date: 2013.03.20 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP2410199B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2410199B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2410199B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The pedestal (6) has an extension (9) connected with a base (18). A support of a pin part (14) is provided in a line part (10) such that the extension is formed opposite to the base. The pin part is mounted on an elastomer part (16).