Folding Loft Stair Assembly with Motorized Cable Drum Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elderly or infirm individuals face difficulties in manually extending and folding folding loft stairs, especially with high ceilings, as they struggle to reach and deploy the stairs safely and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A folding loft stair assembly with an outer mounting frame, an inner stairway support frame, a collapsible two-part stairway, and actuating means including gas struts, a cable and drum system, and remote control operation, allowing for controlled and automatic extension and folding without manual handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation of folding loft stairs is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates for elderly or infirm people
Solution Approach 1:
The stair assembly operates automatically through its own integrated actuating mechanism (motor, cable drum, slide arms) without requiring external manual intervention. The system serves itself by converting electrical energy to mechanical motion through the motor-driven cable system that automatically extends and retracts the stairway.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation system is replaced with an automated electromechanical system. The motor-driven cable drum mechanism substitutes for manual pulling and folding actions, while the slide arms with slide rails replace manual positioning operations, enabling automatic control of stair deployment and retraction.
2Volume of moving object
If high ceiling height is used, then attic space volume is increased, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in reaching the folded stair
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for human reaching or manual intervention by incorporating an automated motor-driven actuating mechanism. The motor and control system enable the stair to deploy and retract automatically, making the system self-operating and independent of ceiling height constraints for manual access.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-driven cable drum assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the power source and the stair structure. This intermediary system transmits force through cables to extend and retract the stairway, bridging the gap between the fixed mounting point and the movable stair components without requiring direct human contact.
3Ease of operation
If automatic actuating means is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly serves multiple functions: it drives the cable drum for stair extension, provides counterbalancing force through integrated struts, and enables controlled positioning at various stages of deployment. The control system manages both the actuating motor and counterbalance mechanisms, consolidating multiple functions into integrated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating mechanism and counterbalance system are merged into a unified assembly. The motor-driven cable drum mechanism is combined with gas struts or spring-based counterbalance elements, allowing both functions to operate from a single integrated structure mounted on the inner frame, reducing the number of separate components.
4Ease of operation
If counterbalance means is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Gas struts or spring-based counterbalance mechanisms are mounted between the inner frame and the stair structure to provide upward force that counteracts the downward weight of the extended stairway. This counterbalancing system reduces the force required by the motor to hold and position the stair at various angles, making operation easier and more energy-efficient.
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
Enables safe and effortless access to attic spaces for individuals of all abilities, reducing physical strain and risk, with automatic operation and counterbalancing mechanisms ensuring easy deployment and storage, even in high-ceilinged areas.
Implementation Method 1
said counterbalance means comprises a number of gas struts mounted between the outer frame and the support arms
Implementation Method 2
the stairway extension means comprises a cable extended between the stairway and a cable winding drum and drum motor assembly on the inner frame
Implementation Method 3
the two parts of the stairway being hingedly interconnected, the upper part having an upper end hingedly attached to the inner frame
Implementation Method 4
the lower part being slidably connected to the inner frame by slide arms which slidably engage complementary slide rails on each side of the lower part of the stairway
Data Source
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AI summary
A folding loft stair assembly (1) has an outer mounting frame (2) for mounting in a ceiling ope giving access to an attic space in a building. An inner stairway support frame (3) is pivataily mounted on the outer frame (2) for movement between a nested position wilhin the outer frame (2) and a downwardly extending In-use position, A two-art collapsible stairway (4) is movable on the inner frame (3) by a remotely controlled actuator (5) between a raised collapsed stored position and lowered in-use position. The stairway (4) Includes an upper part (30) and a lower part (31 ) hingedly connected (38) to the upper part (30). An upper end of the upper part (30) Is htngedly mounted on the inner frame (3). The lower part {31 ) is $lidably connected to the inner frame (3) by a pair of slide arms (40). An inner end of each slide arm (40) is pivotally connected to the inner frame (3) and an outer end of the slide arm (40) slidabJy engages a slide rail (42) on the lower part (31).