Compact Joint for Kitchen Appliances with Nested Pivot Bearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household assistant joints for kitchen appliances face challenges in achieving a compact design while allowing only two degrees of freedom for rotational and nodding movements, often introducing additional unwanted degrees of freedom or requiring complex support mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A joint design featuring a rotary body with two pivot bearings around a common rotational axis and a nodding body connected via a transverse axis, positioned between the pivot bearings, which allows for easy movement control and a compact, stable structure with only two mechanical degrees of freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a ball joint is used to achieve rotary and nodding movements, then the joint can perform both movements, but an additional unwanted degree of freedom is introduced complicating movement control
Solution Approach 1:
The joint is segmented into two independent rotational bodies: a first rotatable body for rotary movement around a vertical axis, and a second rotatable body for nodding movement around a horizontal axis. Each body has its own pivot bearing, separating the two degrees of freedom into distinct, controllable units rather than allowing free movement in all directions as a ball joint would permit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cross joint is used to achieve rotary and nodding movements, then both movements are enabled, but the rotary movement must be supported separately and another degree of freedom is introduced causing the head to nod to the sides
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot bearing is designed to simultaneously provide support for both the first rotatable body (rotary movement) and the second rotatable body (nodding movement). The pivot bearing combines the functions of supporting rotary movement and enabling nodding movement into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate support structures required by cross joint designs.
3Device complexity
If serial connection of rotary body and nodding body is used to achieve two degrees of freedom, then movement control is simplified, but the design becomes spacious
Solution Approach 1:
The second rotatable body (nodding body) is nested within or positioned inside the first rotatable body (rotary body). The pivot bearing is arranged such that the horizontal axis of the second body passes through the vertical axis of the first body, allowing the nodding movement to occur within the spatial envelope of the rotary body, thereby minimizing the overall height of the joint assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
A joint (1) comprises a rotary body (2) comprising at least one bearing (5a, 5b) and being rotatable around a rotational axis (R) and a nodding body (3), rotatably connected to the rotational body (2) via a rotatable connection (4) rotatable about a transverse axis (Q), the transverse axis (Q) being perpendicular to the rotational axis (R), wherein the transverse axis (Q) is in the same sectional region with respect to the rotational axis (R) as the at least one rotary bearing (5a, 5b). A household assistant (H) comprises a base part and a movable head, wherein the head is connected to the base part via the joint (1). The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to household appliances, especially kitchen appliances.