Movable Leg Support Assembly with Ball Bearing and Screw Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support assemblies for structures, such as refrigerated cases, face issues with wheels becoming worn, leading to unintended movement and high costs, while stationary legs hinder movement. There is a need for a solution that facilitates movement while being resistant to degradation and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly with a movable leg and ball bearing system that can be repositioned by rotating a fastener, allowing for selective contact with the surface to facilitate movement or not, using a rail assembly for ease of transportation and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wheels are used to support the structure, then movement capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to wear over time
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly allows dynamic switching between wheel-supported movement mode and leg-supported stationary mode. The leg can be selectively positioned to bear load, transitioning the system from mobile to stationary state as needed, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving movement capability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg acts as an intermediary element between the structure and the ground. When positioned, it transfers the load from the worn wheels to the ground through the leg support point, eliminating unintended movement caused by wheel wear while allowing the wheels to remain for when movement is needed.
2Ease of operation
If wheels are used to support the structure, then movement capability is improved, but cost increases due to expensive wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The leg provides a simple, inexpensive alternative support mechanism that can be used when movement is not required. This eliminates the need for expensive, high-quality wheels to provide both movement and stationary support functions, allowing the use of simpler, cheaper wheels that only need to provide movement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly combines wheels and legs in a single system that can operate in multiple modes: mobile mode using wheels and stationary mode using legs. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both movement capability and cost-effectiveness by using the appropriate support element for each operational requirement.
3Reliability
If stationary legs are used to support the structure, then reliability is improved by preventing movement, but ease of operation deteriorates due to hindered movement
Solution Approach 1:
The leg positioning mechanism allows the system to dynamically transition between stationary and mobile states. The leg can be positioned to provide stable support when needed and retracted or disengaged when movement is required, giving operators the flexibility to switch between reliability and mobility based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is segmented into independent wheel and leg components that can function separately or together. This segmentation allows the legs to provide stationary support when needed while the wheels remain available for movement, eliminating the compromise of having to choose between stationary legs or movable wheels.
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 support assembly enables flexible movement and secure positioning of structures, reduces the need for expensive wheels, and is less prone to wear, providing cost-effective and durable support solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a first bearing assembly, configured to be received in the fourth aperture
Implementation Method 2
The first fastener is configured to be positioned within the second aperture to threadably engage with the fourth aperture such that rotation of the first fastener causes repositioning of the leg within the third aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly includes a body, a first bearing assembly, a first fastener, and a leg. The body includes a first aperture centered on an axis. The first bearing assembly includes a first ball bearing. The first fastener is threadably engaged with the first aperture. The leg is selectively repositionable along the axis. The leg includes a support. The first fastener is configured to cooperate with the leg to cause repositioning of the support relative to the body in response to rotation of the first fastener within the first aperture.