Hydraulic Appliance Foot Structure for Automatic Leveling Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliance leveling systems require manual adjustment, which is inconvenient for heavy appliances and prone to vibration-induced instability, leading to noise and reduced service life due to the need for manual leveling and susceptibility to out-of-flat placement.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic support system that connects high-pressure pipes to household appliance supports for automatic leveling, ensuring sealed connections and improved stability through snap-in connecting members and a flexible accommodation body that adjusts to pressure differences for adaptive regulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual leveling adjustment is used, then the structure is simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to heavy weight and narrow setting space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidleveling adjustment convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support system performs automatic leveling adjustment without requiring user intervention. The control system automatically detects the appliance's leveling state and adjusts the support height accordingly, making the system serve itself rather than requiring manual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system that uses sensors and actuators to perform leveling. This substitution eliminates the need for users to physically manipulate heavy components in narrow spaces.

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

2Device complexity

If manual leveling adjustment is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to vibration-induced loosening and supporting failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidleveling stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors the appliance's leveling state through sensors and automatically adjusts the support height in response to detected changes. This feedback mechanism compensates for vibration-induced loosening and maintains stable support despite operational vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The support system automatically detects and corrects its own loosening or displacement caused by vibration, performing self-adjustment without external intervention to maintain reliable support throughout the appliance's operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If snap-in connecting members are used for hydraulic connection, then the ease of manufacture improves, but the strength deteriorates due to sloshing and impact during transportation and mounting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection assembly simplicityVSAvoidconnection durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates protective measures in advance to prevent damage to the snap-in connections during transportation and mounting. This may include cushioning structures, protective housings, or pre-tensioning mechanisms that prepare the connection to withstand anticipated shocks and impacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes flexible protective coverings or damping materials around the hydraulic connections to absorb shocks and reduce the impact of sloshing and transportation vibrations on the snap-in connecting members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 hydraulic support system enables simple and efficient automatic leveling, reducing vibration and noise, and extending the service life of household appliances by maintaining stability and balance without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible accommodation body, which accommodates a hydraulic medium and is arranged in the accommodation chamber; the flexible accommodation body extends and retracts to drive the regulating support to axially move in the sheath for leveling under the action of pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3567296B1Foot for home appliance and home appliance
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3567296B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3567296B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3567296B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a support for household appliance and a household appliance. The support for household appliance comprises a fixed part (100, 200) and a moving part (300), a hollow chamber is formed between the fixed part (100, 200) and the moving part (300) and the hollow chamber is provided with a hydraulic medium. At least two household-appliance-used supports communicate with one another through high-pressure pipes (1100); and the hydraulic medium circulates among the household-appliance-used supports under action of pressure to drive the moving part to extend and retract to achieve automatic leveling. Liquid outlet nozzles (101) communicating with the hollow chamber are arranged on the fixed part (100, 200), the high-pressure pipes (1100) are in sealed connection with the liquid outlet nozzles (101) through snap-in connecting members (900), and the snap-in connecting members (900) have reinforcing aprons (902) which are fit with the fixed part. In the present disclosure, the hydraulic medium circulates between the two supports for the household appliance for automatic leveling.