Furniture Linear Actuator Diagnostics for Targeted Component Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high maintenance and repair costs of furniture with actuation systems are due to the inability to reliably determine which component (voltage source, hand control, or linear actuator) is defective, often leading to unnecessary replacement of the entire system.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a diagnostic system with light displays on a circuit board within the linear actuator to indicate the functionality of each component, allowing users or repair services to identify and replace only the defective part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a diagnostic system with light displays is added to the linear actuator, then the ease of repair is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linear actuator performs self-diagnosis through integrated light displays that automatically indicate the operational status of connected components (voltage source, hand control, and itself) without requiring external diagnostic equipment or expert intervention. The system monitors its own health and reports issues through visual signals.
Solution Approach 2:
Light displays serve as an intermediary communication medium between the electrical components and the user/repair service. Instead of requiring direct electrical testing or complex diagnostic procedures, the system translates component status into simple visual light signals that are easy to interpret.
2Reliability
If the entire actuation system is replaced when defective, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation system is segmented into three distinct replaceable components: voltage source, hand control, and linear actuator. The diagnostic system identifies which specific segment is defective, allowing replacement of only that component rather than the entire system, thus reducing waste of functional parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire actuation system when a defect occurs, the diagnostic system enables selective discarding of only the defective component while recovering and retaining the two functional components. This reduces unnecessary loss of usable materials and parts.
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
Significantly reduces repair costs by enabling easy identification and replacement of defective components, thereby streamlining maintenance and reducing unnecessary replacements.
Implementation Method 1
the light display is formed by an LED (light emitting diode) or an LCD (liquid crystal display)
Implementation Method 2
the light display is formed by an LED (light emitting diode) or an LCD (liquid crystal display)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The item of furniture according to the invention has at least one moving element and an operating system for adjusting the moving element, wherein the operating system comprises at least a linear actuator, a voltage source and a manual control means, wherein the voltage source and the manual control means are electrically connected to the linear actuator and the linear actuator has a diagnosis system having at least one LED indicator for indicating the functioning of the three components. The user, but at the latest the repair service, can use the diagnosis system to determine in a simple manner which of the three components is defective, so that only the defective component has to be replaced in a targeted manner. Any repair costs incurred can be considerably reduced in this way. The user or a repair service can then also replace one of the three components without problems.