Platform Leveling Apparatus Using Two Actuators and Spherical Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted adjustable bed technologies fail to provide simultaneous side-to-side and front-to-rear tilting capabilities efficiently, often requiring more actuators and complex mechanisms than necessary.
Innovation Solution
A platform leveling apparatus utilizing two electrically powered piston-driven linear actuators and a single spherically-rotatable heim joint, allowing for side-to-side and front-to-rear tilting of a bed platform with a simplified mechanism, and optional features like level indicators and stabilizer arms for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If four linear actuators are used to provide two-axis tilting capability, then the bed platform can be leveled on sloped ground, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of four separate actuators into a single actuator by combining it with a spherical mechanism. The spherical joint provides three degrees of freedom, allowing one actuator to achieve the same two-axis tilting capability that would otherwise require four actuators. This reduces component count and system complexity while maintaining full adaptability for leveling on sloped ground in any direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a spherical mechanism (ball joint) that provides three degrees of freedom through its spherical geometry. This spherical element allows the bed platform to tilt about two perpendicular axes simultaneously, enabling the system to compensate for ground slopes in any direction. The spherical curvature inherently provides the rotational flexibility that would otherwise require multiple linear actuators to achieve.
2Device complexity
If a single actuator with spherical mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but achieving precise two-axis tilting control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates tilt sensors (such as accelerometers or potentiometers) that provide feedback on the bed platform's orientation angles about both axes. This feedback is fed to a control system that processes the tilt information and adjusts the single actuator's position accordingly. The closed-loop feedback control enables precise two-axis tilting control despite using only one actuator, as the system continuously monitors and corrects the platform orientation.
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
Enables efficient adjustment of the bed platform to be parallel to the horizontal plane on sloped ground surfaces using fewer actuators than previous solutions, ensuring comfortable sleeping and stability with minimal complexity.
Implementation Method 1
two piston-driven linear actuators and a single spherically-rotatable heim joint. The linear actuators are electrically powered from the vehicle's battery.
Implementation Method 2
a single spherically-rotatable heim joint configured to form a pivot support wherein the platform is configured to tilt both side-to-side and front-to-rear on the heim joint
Data Source
AI summary
A platform leveling apparatus with a platform attached to a frame, two and only two linear actuators, and one and only one heim joint. The upper ends of the linear actuators are rotatably attached to the front frame member, and the heim joint is connected to the rear frame member. The lower end of the heim joint is connected to an upper end of a heim joint support, and the lower end of the heim joint support is connected to a rear base support by front and/or rear heim joint braces. The rear base support is oriented parallel to the rear frame member when the heim joint is at a centered position, and the rear base support is positioned below a front edge of the rear frame member. The lower ends of the linear actuators are rotatably connected to a first fixed surface.