Roller Height Adjustment Assembly for Precise Instrument Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to facilitate the relocation and alignment of instruments, requiring manual labor and multiple people to adjust the height and position of instrument subunits, making the process cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A roller-based height adjustment system with a frame and wheel assembly, utilizing a rotary shaft, lead screw nuts, swing levers, and wheels to enable simultaneous height adjustment and alignment of instruments, allowing a single person to relocate and level heavy and large instrument systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual labor and multiple people are used to adjust the height and position of instrument subunits, then the positioning can be achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument system is divided into multiple relocatable subunits, each equipped with its own wheel assembly and height adjustment mechanism. This segmentation allows each subunit to be independently positioned and adjusted, eliminating the need for multiple people to manually handle the entire assembly and enabling efficient reconfiguration of the instrument system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each instrument subunit is equipped with its own integrated wheel assembly and height adjustment mechanism, allowing the subunit to be self-positioned and self-adjusted without requiring external manual intervention. The operator simply needs to rotate the handwheel, and the mechanism automatically adjusts the height and position, enabling one person to relocate and align heavy instrument systems efficiently.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional height adjustment methods are used with four supportive feet, then the instrument can be positioned, but multiple readjustment steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly integrates multiple functions into a single mechanism: the handwheel rotation simultaneously controls both the horizontal positioning (through wheel rotation) and the height adjustment (through lead screw mechanism). This merging of positioning and height adjustment functions into one coordinated system eliminates the need for separate adjustment steps required by conventional four-foot methods, reducing time while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly is pre-configured with the lead screw mechanism and swing lever system in optimal positions, allowing the operator to achieve precise height adjustment in a single continuous motion. The preliminary mechanical arrangement of components ensures that the adjustment path is optimized, eliminating the need for multiple readjustment steps and reducing the time required to achieve precise leveling.
3Weight of moving object
If heavy and large instrument system subunits are moved manually, then relocation is possible, but multiple people are required
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the heavy instrument subunit. Instead of directly lifting and moving the heavy subunit, the operator rotates the handwheel, which transmits force through the lead screw and swing lever mechanism to the wheels. This intermediary mechanical system multiplies the operator's effort, enabling one person to relocate heavy instrument subunits that would otherwise require multiple people.
4Stability of the object's composition
If simultaneous height adjustment of all wheels is implemented, then the instrument is leveled equally on all sides, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The swing levers are positioned asymmetrically relative to the lead screw nuts, with each swing lever connected to a specific wheel at optimized angles. This asymmetric configuration allows the single lead screw mechanism to effectively control all four wheels simultaneously, achieving balanced leveling while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple. The asymmetric placement optimizes the mechanical advantage and force distribution for each wheel.
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 the robust and equal leveling of instruments on all sides, facilitating the relocation and alignment of instrument systems with increased stability and mobility, reducing the need for manual labor and multiple people.
Implementation Method 1
The lead screw nuts are mounted to the threaded ends of the rotary shaft. The rotary motion of the rotary shaft is converted to a linear back and forth motion of the lead screw nuts.
Implementation Method 2
The swing levers are mounted to the lead screw nuts at their lower end portions. The back and forth motion of the lead screw nuts pivots the coupled swing levers.
Implementation Method 3
The wheels are coupled to the rods. The rotary motion of the rods result in a linear up and down motion of the wheels.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A roller-based height adjustment system (1) for levelling and repositioning an instrument, which is to be relocated at a desired vertical elevation with respect to a ground reference, comprises a frame (2), for supporting the instrument, and mounted wheel assembly (3). The wheel assembly (3) further comprises a rotary shaft (5) with threaded end portions (6A, 6B), lead screw nuts (7 A, B), swing levers (8), rods (9) and wheels (10). The roller-based height adjustment system (1) allows to relocate an instrument at a desired vertical elevation, where an instrument can be a subunit of a bigger interconnected instrument system. The roller-based height adjustment system (1) facilitates height adjustment of each of the subunits, such that they are aligned in relation to one another and can be coupled accurately. Furthermore, the roller-based height adjustment system (1) reduced the manual work needed to relocate the subunits of an instrument system.