Gas Spring Brake Throttling for Controlled Furniture Post Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Height-adjustable furniture columns with gas pressure springs often experience uncontrolled movement when the safety device is unintentionally unlocked, posing risks of injury and damage, as existing safety mechanisms can be circumvented by user actions such as shaking or applying weight.
Innovation Solution
A braking device with a throttle mechanism is integrated into the gas pressure spring, regulating fluid passage to limit the height adjustment speed and prevent uncontrollable movement by adjusting fluid channels based on weight changes, ensuring the system remains secured even if the safety device is unlocked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a gas pressure spring is used for height adjustment, then the adjustment speed is significantly reduced, but the risk of uncontrolled movement and sudden dropping increases when safety devices are unlocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using a gas pressure spring with integrated throttle devices that regulate fluid passage. The throttle mechanism creates controlled resistance to gas flow, providing damping effect that limits the speed of height adjustment while maintaining safety. The gas pressure spring system with throttling ports ensures that even when unlocked, the movement remains controlled through pneumatic resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow resistance parameter within the gas pressure spring system by incorporating throttle devices with adjustable or fixed restriction ports. By modifying the fluid passage geometry and flow resistance parameters, the system achieves controlled damping that prevents sudden movements while allowing gradual height adjustment. The throttle devices alter the gas flow characteristics to provide safety braking effect.
2Reliability
If a safety device with lever or button is provided, then protection against unintended movement is improved, but the system can be circumvented by user actions such as shaking or applying weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by integrating a braking device with damping capability directly into the gas pressure spring system. This damping mechanism provides continuous resistance to sudden movements before they can cause harm. The throttle devices create pneumatic cushioning that absorbs shock and prevents abrupt height changes, protecting against both unintended unlocking and deliberate circumvention attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of gas compressibility into a beneficial damping mechanism. By utilizing the gas spring's inherent compressibility combined with throttle restrictions, the system transforms what could be a source of sudden movement into a controlled damping force. The gas pressure fluctuations are harnessed to provide continuous braking effect that prevents uncontrolled movement.
3Reliability
If the gas pressure spring is set to a certain permissible weight, then weight-based safety control is achieved, but height adjustment is prevented when weight is exceeded or fallen below
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing throttle devices that provide continuous damping across the entire range of motion, rather than complete locking at specific weight thresholds. The braking effect is always present but varies in intensity, allowing gradual height adjustment while maintaining safety. This partial braking action enables operation within and beyond traditional weight limits without complete adjustment prevention.
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 braking device effectively prevents sudden jerking or lifting of the table top, maintaining stability and safety by damping the movement speed, thus preventing injuries and damage from uncontrolled height adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a gas pressure spring which has a throttle device. This ensures that the height adjustment never exceeds a maximum speed
Implementation Method 2
the piston of the gas pressure spring is connected to the static unit of the furniture column and the piston rod of the gas pressure spring is connected to the movable part
Implementation Method 3
The braking device effectively prevents sudden jerking or lifting of the table top, maintaining stability and safety by damping the movement speed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a height-adjustable piece of furniture comprising a brake device inside a gas pressure spring (1), said brake device having a piston (3), which is arranged inside a cylinder (2) and in which a first fluid channel (3.1) is provided, and a piston rod (4) and a second fluid channel (4.1, 8.1, 8.1'). A maximum speed of the height adjustment can be controlled by regulating the fluid passage inside the gas pressure spring (1).