Washing machine foot with automatic leveling function and a washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines require manual leveling, which is inconvenient and imprecise, especially for heavy machines, leading to vibration and reduced service life due to unlevel placement and vibration-induced instability.
Innovation Solution
The washing machine foot features an automatic leveling system with a flexible assembly that uses hydraulic medium to adjust the height, ensuring stable placement and reducing vibration through a sealed and durable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of bolt feet is used, then the washing machine can be leveled, but it requires significant time and labor especially for heavy machines
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine foot performs automatic leveling adjustment by itself through the hydraulic system. The hydraulic medium automatically flows to extend or retract the adjusting foot based on the ground condition, eliminating the need for manual operation while achieving precise leveling.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical adjustment system (screw rod, nut washer) is replaced with a hydraulic system. The hydraulic medium drives the flexible assembly to extend or retract the adjusting foot automatically, substituting human mechanical operation with fluid-powered automation.
2Measurement precision
If manual adjustment is performed, then leveling can be achieved, but time is wasted and precision is relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is pre-configured within the washing machine foot structure, with the flexible assembly and hydraulic medium ready before installation. Upon installation, the system automatically performs leveling without requiring user intervention, achieving both time savings and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing machine foot autonomously performs the leveling adjustment process through its internal hydraulic mechanism, eliminating the time-consuming manual adjustment process while maintaining high precision through the controlled hydraulic extension and retraction.
3Reliability
If bolt feet are used for leveling, then the washing machine can be supported, but vibration causes support failure and loosening of foot screws over time
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic medium within the flexible assembly provides smooth, vibration-dampening adjustment of the adjusting foot height. The fluid nature of the hydraulic system absorbs vibrations better than rigid mechanical connections, preventing loosening and maintaining stable support over the long term.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the height parameter of the adjusting foot using hydraulic pressure to compensate for ground unevenness and vibration. This active parameter adjustment maintains optimal support stability throughout the washing machine's service life, preventing the degradation seen in fixed mechanical systems.
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 automatic leveling system simplifies and enhances the stability of washing machine placement, reduces noise and vibration, and extends the service life by maintaining optimal leveling and preventing damage from unlevel surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
one end of the flexible assembly is mounted in the jacket in a limiting manner, and another end of the flexible assembly is a telescopic end acting on the adjusting foot; and the telescopic end of the flexible assembly extends and contracts under action of the hydraulic medium
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine foot with automatic leveling function comprises: a jacket; an adjusting foot, which is arranged in the jacket and moves axially relative to the jacket; and a flexible assembly, which is arranged in the adjusting foot and is used for accommodating a hydraulic medium; one end of the flexible assembly is mounted in the jacket in a limiting manner, and another end of the flexible assembly is a telescopic end acting on the adjusting foot; and the telescopic end of the flexible assembly extends and contracts under action of the hydraulic medium to drive the adjusting foot to move axially, thereby implementing automatic leveling. According to the hydraulic principle, the washing machine foot is provided with the hydraulic medium, the washing machine feet can automatically adjust adaptively for different pressures due to the fluidity of the hydraulic medium.