Hydraulic Actuator System for Multifunctional Height-Adjustable Tables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing height-adjustable tables require complex mechanics or electronic motion control for smooth height adjustment and often lose previous settings, making them cumbersome to use, especially with heavy loads.

Innovation Solution

An actuator system utilizing master and slave cylinders connected by conduits for simultaneous height adjustment, controlled by a central IT unit with a communication module for wireless connectivity, allowing for easy and reliable height adjustments without complex mechanics or electronic control devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If electric motors with complex gears and chains are used to adjust table height, then the user can comfortably adjust height even with more weight, but the mechanism becomes complicated and requires electronic motion control devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of height adjustmentVSAvoidmechanical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hydraulic system with a master cylinder and slave cylinders connected by conduits to adjust the height of table legs. When the user operates the control device, hydraulic fluid is transmitted through the conduits from the master cylinder to the slave cylinders, causing the table legs to extend or retract simultaneously. This hydraulic mechanism provides smooth and synchronized height adjustment without requiring complex gears, chains, or electronic motion control devices, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical transmission systems (gears, chains, belts) with a hydraulic system. Instead of using mechanical components that require complex assemblies and electronic control for synchronized movement, the invention uses hydraulic fluid pressure transmitted through conduits to directly actuate the table leg height adjustment. This substitution eliminates the need for complicated mechanical linkages and electronic motion control devices while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual counterweight mechanisms are used for height adjustment, then the user can move the table himself, but the previous height settings are lost and must be reset repeatedly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual adjustabilityVSAvoidtime to reset height settings
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a control device that allows the user to select and store desired height positions. The system provides feedback by indicating the current height position and allows the user to program memory positions for different height settings. When the user needs a previously set height, they can recall it from memory, and the hydraulic system automatically adjusts the table legs to the stored position. This feedback and memory function eliminates the need to repeatedly reset height settings, resolving the contradiction between manual adjustability and time loss from repeated resetting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the user to pre-program multiple height positions in the control device's memory before they are needed. These preliminary actions store the desired height settings in advance, so when the user needs a specific height configuration, it is already prepared and can be recalled instantly. This preliminary programming action eliminates the need to manually adjust and reset heights repeatedly, saving time while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If telescopic legs with spring counterweight mechanisms are used, then height adjustment is possible, but the mechanism increases the weight of the table

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustabilityVSAvoidtable weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a hydraulic system with a master cylinder and slave cylinders connected by conduits to adjust the height of table legs. When the user operates the control device, hydraulic fluid is transmitted through the conduits from the master cylinder to the slave cylinders, causing the table legs to extend or retract simultaneously. This hydraulic mechanism provides smooth and synchronized height adjustment without requiring complex gears, chains, or electronic motion control devices, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical transmission systems (gears, chains, belts) with a hydraulic system. Instead of using mechanical components that require complex assemblies and electronic control for synchronized movement, the invention uses hydraulic fluid pressure transmitted through conduits to directly actuate the table leg height adjustment. This substitution eliminates the need for complicated mechanical linkages and electronic motion control devices while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 efficient and simultaneous adjustment of table legs with stored height settings, allowing remote control via external devices, enhancing usability and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

at least two master cylinders (10), each of which has a cylinder (10a) and a piston (10b) movable in the cylinder (10a) and a piston rod (10c) for moving the piston (10b), and slave cylinders (20) connected to the master cylinders (10) by means of conduits (40) allowing fluid flow between the master cylinders (10) and the slave cylinders (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic principle: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS11812852B2Actuator system and multifunctional table comprising such an actuator system
Publication Date: 2023.11.14 KOCH, ANNA MÁRIA
  • US11812852B2 patent drawing
  • US11812852B2 patent drawing
  • US11812852B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to an actuator system (100) for a table (200) having at least two table legs (210) of variable length and a table top (220) held by the table legs (210), characterized in that it comprises at least two master cylinders (10), each having a cylinder (10a) and a piston (10b) movable in the cylinder (10a) and a piston rod (10c) for moving the piston (10b), wherein a slave cylinder (20) having a cylinder (20a) and a piston (20b) movable in the cylinder (20a) for changing the length of the table leg (210) is connected to each of the master cylinders (10) by means of a conduit (40) allowing fluid (30) flow between the master cylinder (10) and the slave cylinder (20), and wherein the piston rods (10c) of the master cylinders (10) are mechanically connected to each other by means of a rigid connecting element (45), and wherein a drive unit (52) in a rigid drive connection (50) with the connecting element (45) is connected to the connecting element (45) for simultaneously moving the pistons (10a) of the master cylinders (10). The invention further relates to a multifunctional table (200) comprising an actuator system (100) according to the invention.