Sanitary Bearing Assembly With Vibration-Resistant Height Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing arrangements for sanitary facilities, such as those disclosed in DE 20 2006 019 811 U and EP 2 407 072, suffer from the disadvantage of threaded pins that can continue to turn during use due to vibrations, leading to instability and the need for a reliable locking mechanism for height adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A bearing arrangement with a foot element that includes a support part and an adjustment part, where the adjustment part can be moved relative to the support part to adjust the position, and a locking element that decouples from the adjustment movement to securely lock the adjustment part in place, ensuring stability during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a threaded pin is used for height adjustment, then the adjustment mechanism is simple, but the threaded pin can continue to turn during use due to vibrations, leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is divided into two independent functions: the threaded pin (adjustment element) for height adjustment and the separate locking element for securing the position. This segmentation allows the adjustment function to remain simple while the locking function provides stability, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element acts as an intermediary between the adjustment element and the bearing element. It mediates the connection by providing a positive locking mechanism that prevents the adjustment element from turning due to vibrations, thereby ensuring stability without complicating the adjustment mechanism itself.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent unintended movement, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is integrated with the existing adjustment mechanism components. The locking element utilizes the same threaded pin structure and combines it with a locking feature that engages with the bearing element, merging the adjustment and locking functions into a unified system rather than adding completely separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element is designed to be self-securing through a positive locking mechanism that automatically engages when the adjustment element is rotated into the desired position. The locking element's geometry allows it to self-lock without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems, maintaining simplicity while providing reliability.
3Reliability
If the locking element is positioned for secure locking, then reliability is improved, but accessibility during assembly may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is positioned axially along the threaded pin, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the adjustment mechanism. This axial positioning allows the locking element to be accessible from the end of the threaded pin while still providing effective locking engagement with the bearing element, resolving the conflict between locking effectiveness and accessibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A bearing arrangement (1) for a sanitary facility comprises a bearing element (2) for bearing the sanitary facility; and a foot element (3) which can be connected to the bearing element (2), the foot element (3) having a support part (4) with a support surface (5) with which the foot element (3) rests on a floor (B) can be supported, and an adjustment part (6) with a stop surface (7) on which the bearing element (2) rests directly or indirectly, wherein the adjustment part (6) can be moved to the support part (4) along an adjustment movement (E) in this way that the distance (A) between the support surface (5) and abutment surface (7) is adjustable, whereby the position of the bearing element (2) to the ground (B) is adjustable. The bearing arrangement (1) further comprises a locking element (8) for locking the adjustment part (6), the locking element (8) moving along a locking movement (V) from a position releasing the adjustment part (6), in which said adjustment movement (E) is executable, is movable into a position blocking the setting part (6), in which said setting movement (E) can be blocked.