Modular Bed with Shared Compression Plane to Reduce Motor Count
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bed technologies require multiple motors to achieve adjustable firmness in articulated beds, which is expensive and complex to synchronize, necessitating a need for alternative mechanisms to extend the impact of a single compressing zone to adjacent modules.
Innovation Solution
A bed design comprising a base module with a motor-controlled compression plane that translates height adjustments to side modules through a fixation mechanism, allowing a single motor to control the firmness across multiple modules, reducing the number of motors needed and simplifying synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple motors are used to achieve adjustable firmness in different modules of articulated beds, then the firmness can be adjusted in each module independently, but the cost increases and synchronization becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The bed is divided into modular sections (base module and side modules) that can be independently configured. Each module contains springs and compression planes that can be adjusted, but the segmentation allows a single motor in the base module to control multiple modules through the shared compression plane, reducing the total number of motors needed while maintaining independent adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plane serves multiple functions: it is both a structural element that supports the mattress and a control element that transfers compression force from the base module to side modules. This multi-functionality allows a single motor to control firmness across multiple modules, eliminating the need for separate motors in each module.
2Device complexity
If a single motor is used to control the base module, then cost is reduced, but the ability to adjust firmness in side modules is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The compression plane acts as an intermediary element that transfers the mechanical action of the single motor in the base module to the side modules. When the motor compresses the base module's springs, the compression force is transmitted through the shared compression plane to the side modules' springs, enabling indirect control of side module firmness without additional motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression planes of the base module and side modules are merged into a single continuous structure. This merging allows the compression force generated by one motor to be distributed across multiple modules simultaneously, achieving coordinated firmness adjustment across the entire bed with a single actuator.
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
This design achieves smoothly varying firmness in beds with fewer motors, providing economic advantages and efficient firmness adjustment across multiple modules, suitable for both regular and articulated beds.
Implementation Method 1
a motor applying a force on the compression plane to obtain an alteration of the compression level, in springs arranged on or above the compression plane
Implementation Method 2
The fixation means allows a rotation of the tail plane relative the compression plane of the base module
Implementation Method 3
a motion of the compression plane induces a corresponding motion of the first end section, whereby an alteration of the compression level of the base module causes an alteration of the compression level of the side module
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
It is disclosed a bed. The bed comprises at least two modules, a base module 1 and a rigid or articulated side module 4, the base module 1 comprises two plane, a base plane 2 and a compression plane 3 whose relative positions may be altered to obtain an alteration of the compression level of the compression plane. The side module 4 of the bed comprises two planes, a side module base plane 5 and a tail plane 6. The tail plane 6 comprises two end sections, a first end section 7 and a second end section 8, the first end section 7 of the tail plane is attached to the compression plane 3 of the base module 1 by means of a fixation means 11. The fixation means 11 allows a rotation of the tail plane 6 relative the compression plane 3 of the base module, and is further adapted to fixate the first end section 7 of the tail plane 6 to the compression plane 3 of the base module in such a way that a motion of the compression plane 3 induces the same motion of the first end section 7, whereby an alteration of the compression level of the compression plane, caused by a change in the relative position between the base plane 2 and compression plane 3, causes an alteration of the compression level of the side module 4.