Electronic apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home appliances with level-adjustable feet, such as washing machines, tend to become misaligned over time due to vibrations, leading to increased noise and vibration transfer, as the gap between the bolt and nut allows the foot to move, disrupting the initially leveled state.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an elastic member and a support plate with a dome or coil spring to exert a repulsive force between the bolt and nut, increasing friction and maintaining the level-adjustable foot's position even during vibrations, ensuring the appliance remains aligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a level-adjustable foot with bolt and nut structure is used, then the height of the main body can be adjusted and the initially leveled state can be achieved, but the foot moves within the gap between bolt and nut due to vibration, causing the leveled state to become askew over time
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-installed between the bolt and nut to generate preliminary repulsive force before vibration occurs. This preliminary action ensures that the friction force is already present to prevent movement, so when vibration occurs, the leveled state is maintained without requiring additional adjustment actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary element between the bolt and nut. It converts the normal contact into a contact with elastic repulsion, thereby increasing the friction force that prevents the level-adjustable foot from moving within the gap during vibration, while still allowing height adjustment.
2Reliability
If the gap between bolt and nut is reduced to prevent movement, then the leveled state can be maintained, but the ability to adjust height is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member changes the physical parameter of the contact between bolt and nut by introducing elastic repulsion force. This parameter change increases the friction force without reducing the physical gap, thereby maintaining both the leveled state reliability and the height adjustment capability simultaneously.
3Reliability
If friction between bolt and nut is increased to prevent movement, then the leveled state is maintained, but the adjustment operation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member provides just enough repulsive force to increase friction and maintain the leveled state during normal vibration, but not so much force as to prevent adjustment operation. When adjustment is needed, the user applies force that overcomes the elastic repulsion, allowing movement, and the elastic member continues to provide stabilization once the new position is reached.
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 effectively maintains the initial level of home appliances by enhancing friction between the bolt and nut threads, reducing noise and vibration, and preventing the level-adjustable foot from becoming loosened, thus stabilizing the appliance's position.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating an elastic member and a support plate with a dome or coil spring to exert a repulsive force between the bolt and nut
Implementation Method 2
enhancing friction between the bolt and nut threads
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic apparatus (100) includes a main body (101) comprising a nut portion (330, 430, 520, 630, 730, 830, 1030); a plurality of level-adjustable foots (150, 290, 320, 420, 620, 720, 820, 920, 1020) placed at a lower side of the main body, configured to support the main body, adjustable in height to level the main body, and including a bolt portion inserted in and screw-coupled to the nut portion; and an elastic member (340, 440, 640, 840, 940, 1040) configured to elastically press one of the bolt portion and the main body toward the main body or the level-adjustable foot to make a first thread of the bolt portion and a second thread of the nut portion corresponding to the first thread be in contact with each other.