Hydraulic Leveling Feet for Automatic Appliance Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances like washing machines and refrigerators experience instability and increased vibration due to uneven placement, leading to noise and potential damage, especially when the leveling feet fail to support the appliance properly, making manual adjustment inconvenient and ineffective for heavy or space-constrained appliances.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance leveling device with telescopically adjustable leveling feet that utilize a hydraulic medium, where closed chambers communicate via high-pressure oil pipes, allowing the feet to automatically adjust and distribute pressure uniformly, ensuring the appliance remains horizontal and stable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of leveling feet is used, then the appliance can be leveled, but the operation becomes extremely inconvenient for heavy appliances or those with limited placement space
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling feet are equipped with automatic leveling mechanisms including spring-loaded adjustment components and vibration damping structures that enable the feet to self-adjust to uneven surfaces without manual intervention. The springs automatically compensate for height differences while the damping structures stabilize the appliance during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional manual screw-based leveling mechanism is replaced with a spring-mechanism-based automatic leveling system. The spring-loaded feet utilize elastic deformation and mechanical advantage to automatically adjust height and maintain stability, eliminating the need for manual rotation and adjustment of threaded components.
2Reliability
If traditional leveling feet are used, then initial leveling can be achieved, but the feet are prone to failure during long-term operation due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
Vibration damping structures are pre-installed within the leveling foot assembly, including shock-absorbing elements and damping materials positioned to counteract vibration forces before they can cause damage. These structures are designed to absorb and dissipate vibration energy during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the leveling feet are optimized by selecting materials with appropriate elastic moduli and damping characteristics. The spring constants and geometric parameters of the leveling feet are specifically designed to maintain optimal contact pressure and vibration resistance throughout the appliance's service life.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the appliance is placed on uneven ground, then the appliance must be leveled, but vibration causes screws to loosen and feet to move vertically, creating a vicious cycle of increasing instability
Solution Approach 1:
Vibration damping structures are integrated into the leveling foot design to preemptively counteract vibration forces that would otherwise cause loosening and instability. These damping elements are positioned to absorb shock and maintain consistent contact between the feet and the ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters of the leveling feet are optimized to maintain stable contact pressure under varying vibration conditions. The spring constants and geometric dimensions are specifically calculated to ensure that the feet remain firmly planted on uneven surfaces without loosening during 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 device ensures uniform stress distribution and maintains the appliance's horizontality, reducing vibration and noise, extending the appliance's service life by automatically adapting to uneven surfaces and biased centers of gravity.
Implementation Method 1
A closed chamber is formed between the fixed part and the movable part, and the closed chamber is provided with a hydraulic medium. The closed chambers of at least two said leveling feet communicate with each other via high-pressure oil pipe sets, the hydraulic medium flows under pressure between the closed chambers of the leveling feet communicating with each other
Implementation Method 2
the hydraulic medium flows under pressure between the closed chambers of the leveling feet communicating with each other, and the movable parts expand or contract along with the flowing of the hydraulic medium to perform automatic leveling
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance leveling device comprises at least two leveling feet mounted at the bottom of the appliance, wherein each leveling foot comprises a fixed part and a movable part, the fixed part is mounted at the bottom of the household appliance, one end of the movable part is telescopically sleeved with the fixed part while the other end is arranged on a support plane, a closed chamber is formed between the fixed part and the movable part, and the closed chamber is provided with a hydraulic medium; the closed chambers of at least two said leveling feet communicate with each other, the hydraulic medium flows between the closed chambers of the leveling feet communicating with each other, and the movable parts expand or contract along with the flowing of the hydraulic medium to perform automatic leveling.