Hydraulic Leveling Foot for Automatic Appliance Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliances, such as washing machines, require manual adjustment of leveling feet, which is inconvenient, especially for heavy appliances or in limited spaces. Additionally, manual leveling can lead to instability and increased vibration, causing noise and reducing the appliance's lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance foot utilizing a hydraulic principle, where a hydraulic plate with a regulating foot is used. The hydraulic medium circulates and adjusts based on pressure changes, automatically leveling the appliance by moving the regulating foot until balance is achieved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual adjustment of leveling feet is used, then the appliance can be leveled, but it requires significant manual labor and is inconvenient for heavy appliances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleveling adjustment convenienceVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The leveling foot automatically adjusts the appliance level using hydraulic pressure from the appliance's own weight, eliminating the need for manual adjustment. The system serves itself by converting gravitational force into leveling action through the hydraulic medium circulation between elevated and depressed feet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical adjustment system is replaced with an automatic hydraulic system. Instead of manually turning adjustment knobs or bolts, the appliance uses hydraulic pressure differential to automatically move the regulating foot and achieve leveling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If manual leveling adjustment is performed, then the appliance can be positioned, but the precision and stability are insufficient leading to vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleveling precisionVSAvoidplacement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic system provides continuous feedback between the leveling feet. When one foot is elevated, hydraulic pressure differential automatically drives the regulating foot to extend or retract, creating a self-correcting mechanism that maintains precise leveling and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses hydraulic medium circulation between leveling feet to automatically adjust and maintain precise leveling. The hydraulic system provides smooth, controlled movement and stable positioning that manual adjustment cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Adaptability or versatility

If bolt feet with nut washers are used for height adjustment, then the washing machine height can be changed, but the structure is complex and requires multiple components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidfoot structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the traditional bolt foot structure. Instead of using screw rods, nut washers, and multiple fastening elements, the invention uses a simplified hydraulic foot structure with a single regulating foot that integrates both support and adjustment functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The regulating foot structure serves multiple functions: it provides support, enables height adjustment, and maintains leveling stability all through a single integrated component. The hydraulic medium circulation system provides both adjustment and locking functions without requiring separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables automatic leveling, reducing manual labor and improving stability. It minimizes vibration and noise, extends the appliance's lifespan, and simplifies installation, making it more convenient for users.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic principle: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

The hydraulic medium circulates and adjusts based on pressure changes, automatically leveling the appliance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3604852B1Bottom foot for household appliance, and household appliance

Publication Date: 2025.02.19 QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MASCH CO LTD

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AI summary

A household appliance foot and a household appliance provided. The household appliance foot comprises a hydraulic plate (101); a sheath (103), which is fixedly connected with the hydraulic plate (101); a regulating foot (104), which is arranged in the sheath (103) and is axially movable relative to the sheath; an accommodation chamber, which is formed by the hydraulic plate (101), the sheath (103) and the regulating foot (104); and a hydraulic medium (102), which is arranged in the accommodation chamber and is compressed or expands with pressure changes to drive the regulating foot (104) to axially move in the sheath (103) for leveling. According to the household appliance foot, based on the hydraulic principle, the regulating foot can perform adaptive regulation automatically because of the fluidity of the hydraulic medium due to different pressures resulting from unflatness, the hydraulic medium stops circulating until the household appliance foot achieves balance, and automatic leveling is achieved.