Gas Spring Counterbalance for Height-Adjustable Work Surface Lift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing height adjustable devices lack a reliable and efficient mechanism for easily raising and lowering work surfaces, often requiring complex mechanisms or heavy components that are cumbersome and difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A height adjustable device incorporating a telescoping leg assembly with a counterbalance mechanism using a gas spring, which includes a cylinder and piston, and guide members to stabilize and guide movement, allowing for smooth adjustment of the work surface height through a release mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a complex mechanism is used to raise and lower work surfaces, then the height adjustment function is achieved, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a counterbalance mechanism using a gas spring that counteracts the weight of the work surface. The gas spring is connected between the first member (base) and the second member (telescoping leg), creating a force that opposes gravity and reduces the effort needed to adjust height. This directly resolves the contradiction by making the device easy to operate without requiring complex manual mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a gas spring (pneumatic element) as the core component of the counterbalance mechanism. The gas spring contains compressed gas that provides the counterbalancing force through pneumatic pressure. This pneumatic approach replaces complex mechanical linkages with a simpler, more efficient force-generation method, improving ease of operation while reducing overall mechanism complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a gas spring mechanism is used to counteract weight, then ease of operation is improved, but the device requires additional components increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the counterbalance mechanism with the telescoping leg assembly structure. The gas spring is integrated into the existing leg assembly rather than being a separate external mechanism. The cylinder is mounted on the first member and the piston connects to the second member, combining the height adjustment function and counterbalance function into a unified structure. This merging reduces the need for additional separate components while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping leg assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the structural support for the work surface, enables height adjustment through telescoping motion, and incorporates the counterbalance mechanism through the gas spring. The first and second members work together to provide both mechanical support and the counterbalancing force, making each component multi-functional and reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cylinder moves relative to the first or second members, then the gas spring can be actuated, but stability and guidance of movement become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide member as an intermediary element between the cylinder and the first/second members. The guide member is attached to one of the members and provides a track or surface that the cylinder slides against during movement. This intermediary guide member stabilizes the cylinder's motion, ensures proper alignment, and prevents unwanted lateral movement while still allowing the cylinder to move relative to the members for gas spring actuation.
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 easy and efficient height adjustment of work surfaces by counteracting the weight with a gas spring, reducing the effort required to raise or lower the surface and providing a stable and smooth operation.
Implementation Method 1
a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston
Implementation Method 2
The gas spring can be part of a counterbalance mechanism that can support weight located on the work surface and allow the work surface to be raised or lowered easily
Implementation Method 3
The cylinder can slidably engage guide members that can be attached to one or both of the first or second members. The guide members can stabilize and guide movement of the cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A height adjustable device that can include: a work surface; and at least one leg assembly connected to the work surface, the at least one leg assembly including: a first member; and a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis; a counterbalance mechanism connected to the height adjustable device and configured to counteract a force exerted on the work surface, the counterbalance mechanism including: a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston; a wheel moveably connected to the gas spring; and first tension member engaged to the wheel, the first tension member connected to the at least one leg assembly; a second tension member engaged to the wheel, the second tension member connected to the at least one leg assembly; and a guide member mounted inside of one of the first member and the second member, the guide member being slidably engaged with the cylinder.