Appliance Pedestal Height Adjustment With Torque-Limiting Gear Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing height adjustment devices for household appliances, particularly those with plastic components, are prone to damage due to excessive torque during manual adjustment, leading to potential destruction and lack of effective torque limitation throughout the adjustment range.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a torque limiting element that allows the drive gear to evasively move out of meshing engagement with the transmission gear when maximum torque is exceeded, preventing damage and providing feedback through a rattling noise when a stop is reached, and integrating this element within the housing for reduced component count and manufacturing simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a height adjustment device with plastic components is used, then the device can be manufactured simply and cost-effectively, but the plastic components are prone to damage due to excessive torque during manual adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a torque-limiting mechanism that preemptively protects plastic components from excessive torque damage. The mechanism includes a drive gear with limited rotational movement capability, allowing the gear to skip teeth when maximum torque is exceeded, thereby preventing component destruction before it occurs.
2Reliability
If an end stop is designed to prevent excessive lifting movement, then the gearbox is secured against overload, but the formation of the end stop becomes complex in terms of components and manufacturing technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the torque-limiting function with the existing drive gear structure. The drive gear itself is designed to limit rotational movement by skipping teeth, merging the protective function into the driving mechanism rather than adding a separate complex end-stop structure. This integration reduces overall component complexity while maintaining reliable overload protection.
3Ease of operation
If manual actuation of the height adjustment device is allowed, then the appliance can be adjusted to the correct height position, but excessive torque can be introduced leading to destruction of plastic components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of excessive manual torque into a useful protective mechanism. When users apply excessive force during manual adjustment, the drive gear skips teeth and disengages, transforming the harmful overload into a protective action that prevents component damage while still allowing normal adjustment operation.
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
Ensures reliable torque limitation throughout the adjustment range, preventing damage to the appliance's components and providing user feedback when a stop is encountered, thus ensuring safe and effective height adjustment without component destruction.
Implementation Method 1
the drive gear--in relation to the transfer gear element--can skip at least one pitch, whereby the teeth of the drive gear and the transfer gear element are relieved
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance, particularly a dishwasher or washing machine, having a height-adjusting device (11) for an appliance pedestal (9), comprising at least one drive gear (23) engaged with a transmission drive (25) converting the rotary motion of the drive gear (23) into a lift motion of the appliance pedestal (9). The invention is characterized in that torque-limiting element (53) allowing a deflecting motion (I) of the drive gear (23) from the operating position thereof in case a torque limit is exceeded is associated with the drive gear (23), said element releasing the tooth engagement between the drive gear (23) and the transmission drive (25).