Foot for household appliance, and household appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance leveling systems require manual adjustment, which is inconvenient and prone to instability, especially for heavy appliances like washing machines, leading to vibration and reduced service life due to uneven placement and vibration-induced noise.
Innovation Solution
A foot system for household appliances featuring a hydraulic plate, sheath, and adjustable foot with a hydraulic medium that automatically adjusts to level the appliance by flowing between interconnected feet, controlled by a manual valve to achieve equal hydraulic pressure and stabilize the appliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of bolt feet is used for leveling, then the washing machine can be leveled, but user operation is extremely inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine performs leveling automatically using a hydraulic system. The control device opens a liquid flowing passage to allow hydraulic medium to flow between feet, enabling the washing machine to self-level without manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system serve itself rather than requiring user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a hydraulic medium contained in a flexible accommodating body to automatically adjust the height of feet. When the washing machine is placed on an uneven surface, the hydraulic medium flows between feet through a controlled passage, causing the flexible body to expand or contract and automatically level the appliance. This eliminates manual adjustment while maintaining precise leveling.
2Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of bolt feet is used for leveling, then the washing machine can be leveled, but the precision is relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is pre-configured with a flexible accommodating body and controlled liquid flowing passage. When leveling is needed, the control device simply opens the passage and the hydraulic medium automatically flows to equalize pressure and level the feet, achieving precise leveling quickly without manual adjustment. This preliminary setup enables fast and accurate leveling.
3Force
If the washing machine is heavy, then it provides sufficient supporting force, but user operation for adjustment is extremely inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy washing machine automatically performs its own leveling operation through the hydraulic system. The control device activates the liquid flowing passage, allowing hydraulic medium to flow between feet, and the machine self-adjusts without requiring users to manually move or adjust the heavy appliance. This resolves the contradiction by making the heavy machine serve itself.
4Productivity
If vibration occurs during washing, then the washing machine performs its function, but it causes screws to loosen and feet to move vertically
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system provides continuous feedback-based leveling. The flexible accommodating body responds to vertical movements of feet caused by vibration, and the hydraulic medium automatically flows to equalize pressure differences, maintaining leveling stability during washing operations. This feedback mechanism counteracts vibration-induced disturbances.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic medium in the flexible accommodating body acts as a damping mechanism that absorbs vibration-induced pressure changes. When vibration causes feet to move vertically, the hydraulic medium flows smoothly between feet through the controlled passage, maintaining equal pressure and preventing screw loosening. This hydraulic damping improves reliability during washing.
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 system enables automatic leveling and stable support, reducing vibration and noise, simplifying the mounting process, and extending the service life of appliances by eliminating manual adjustment and vibration-induced damage.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic medium, arranged in the accommodating chamber, and the hydraulic medium is compressed or expanded depending on the pressure changes to drive the adjustable foot to move axially in the sheath for leveling
Implementation Method 2
At least two feet for household appliance are communicated with each other to allow the hydraulic medium to flow between the feet for household appliance
Data Source
AI summary
A foot for household appliance and a household appliance are provided. The foot includes: a hydraulic plate; a sheath, fixedly connected with the hydraulic plate; an adjustable foot, arranged in the sheath and capable of axially moving relative to the sheath, an accommodating chamber is formed by the hydraulic plate, the sheath and the adjustable foot; a hydraulic medium, arranged in the accommodating chamber, and the hydraulic medium is compressed or expanded depending on pressure changes to drive the adjustable foot to move axially in the sheath for leveling. At least two feet are communicated with each other to allow the hydraulic medium to flow between the feet. A liquid flowing passage for allowing the hydraulic medium to flow is arranged in the hydraulic plate. A control device for controlling the liquid flowing passage to open or close is arranged on at least one of the feet.