Household appliance comprising a leveling assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing appliance leveling systems fail to efficiently adjust the gap between the front panel and doors on uneven surfaces, leading to instability and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
A leveling assembly comprising a bracket housing with orthogonal portions, a leveler with a threaded shaft, and a knob, which allows for adjustable coupling to the frame and console, enabling precise adjustment of the gap between the front panel and doors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing leveling systems are used, then the appliance can be installed on uneven surfaces, but the gap between the front panel and doors cannot be precisely adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling assembly is nested within the console structure, with the bracket housing containing the leveler mechanism. The leveler with threaded shaft is housed within the bracket housing, creating a compact nested arrangement that achieves precise gap adjustment without adding external complexity to the appliance structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The leveling system incorporates a threaded shaft mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of the gap between the front panel and doors. The rotatable shaft with external threading enables continuous position adjustment along the vertical axis, transforming a static mounting structure into a dynamically adjustable one for precise gap control.
2Reliability
If the gap between front panel and doors is not adjusted, then the structure is simpler, but the appliance appearance and stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the console and frame is segmented into adjustable components. The leveling assembly is divided into a bracket housing portion attached to the console and a leveler portion that interfaces with the frame, allowing independent adjustment of each segment to achieve stable alignment without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the console relative to the frame by adjusting the gap distance. The threaded shaft mechanism enables continuous variation of the vertical position parameter, allowing the appliance to adapt to different installation conditions and achieve stable appearance by modifying the spacing parameter between components.
3Measurement precision
If manual adjustment methods are used, then the system is simpler, but the alignment precision and consistency are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The manual adjustment method is replaced with a threaded mechanical adjustment system. The rotatable shaft with external threading provides mechanical advantage, allowing precise positional control through rotation rather than requiring complex manual positioning or specialized tools, thus improving alignment precision while maintaining ease of operation.
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 provides stable and adjustable alignment of the user interface relative to the frame, maintaining a consistent gap and enhancing the appliance's stability and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
A leveler (36) is operably coupled to the carrier (110) and is configured to translate the carrier (110) between a first position and a second position. The leveler (36) has a shaft (38) that defines threads along a length L of the shaft (38).
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A leveling assembly (22) for a user interface (16) includes a bracket housing (26) that defines an aperture (30). A carrier (110) is disposed within the bracket housing (26). The carrier (116) defines an opening (116) proximate to the aperture (30) defined by the bracket housing (26). An engagement feature (112) is coupled to the carrier (110) and extends through the opening (116) and the aperture (30). A leveler (36) is operably coupled to the carrier (110) and is configured to translate the carrier (110) between a first position and a second position relative to the aperture (30) defined by the bracket housing (26).