Telescopic Seating Riser Alignment Control on Uneven Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seating risers face challenges in efficiently deploying and retracting while maintaining alignment, particularly in uneven or slick surfaces, often requiring manual intervention to correct misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A powered telescopic seating system with a belt drive system and a controller that monitors movement, identifies alignment or misalignment conditions, and adjusts steering to correct misalignment, using a laser/sensor feedback loop to ensure smooth deployment and retraction without binding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional seating risers are deployed and retracted manually, then operation simplicity is maintained, but alignment correction requires additional manual intervention reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The seating riser system performs self-alignment during deployment and retraction through the integrated alignment mechanism. The system automatically detects and corrects misalignment conditions without requiring external manual intervention, enabling the structure to service itself during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment mechanism incorporates feedback through sensors that monitor the relative positions of telescopic sections during deployment and retraction. This feedback enables real-time detection of misalignment conditions and triggers automatic corrective actions to maintain proper alignment throughout the operation cycle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If seating risers operate on uneven or slick surfaces, then adaptability to various venues is improved, but misalignment conditions increase requiring intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment mechanism proactively prevents misalignment by continuously monitoring positioning during deployment and retraction on varying surfaces. The system applies corrective forces before significant misalignment occurs, counteracting the effects of uneven or slick surfaces that would otherwise cause binding or binding conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation in response to surface conditions. The alignment mechanism modifies deployment and retraction parameters in real-time based on detected misalignment tendencies, enabling reliable operation across diverse surface conditions without compromising alignment maintenance.
3Reliability
If automated alignment correction is implemented, then operational reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment mechanism is integrated into the existing telescopic structure, allowing the same mechanical components to serve both deployment/retraction functions and alignment correction functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated alignment devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex manual alignment procedures with automated sensing and control mechanisms. By substituting mechanical alignment operations with sensor-based detection and automated actuation, the system achieves higher reliability while keeping the control architecture manageable through electronic rather than purely mechanical means.
Data Source
AI summary
An example of the disclosed seating system includes a plurality of seating risers configured to telescope relative to one another, and at least one of the seating risers is a powered seating riser configured to deploy and retract the seating risers. Further included is a controller operable to drive the powered seating riser to correct a misalignment condition.