Single-Motor Adjustable Platform with Synchronized Leg Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable platforms, such as desks, often require complex and expensive automatic adjustment mechanisms that complicate the design and increase costs, while manual adjustments can be cumbersome and require balancing objects during height changes.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable platform with a simplified drive mechanism using a single motor to simultaneously extend or retract at least two leg assemblies, minimizing the number of drive components and enhancing control over the platform's movement to maintain levelness, featuring a gear train and linear actuators for axial movement of the leg assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single motor is used to drive multiple leg assemblies, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but control precision for maintaining platform levelness becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drive functions into a single motor system. The motor is coupled to a drive shaft that simultaneously actuates multiple leg assemblies through shared mechanical linkages, reducing the number of drive components from multiple motors to one motor while maintaining coordinated movement of all legs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a drive shaft as an intermediary component between the single motor and multiple leg assemblies. This drive shaft serves as a mechanical mediator that distributes rotational motion to multiple linear actuators, enabling synchronized leg movement while isolating the motor from direct control of each individual leg
2Ease of operation
If automatic adjustment mechanisms are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through the mechanical advantage provided by the linear actuators and drive mechanism. The system automatically balances the platform weight and adjusts height without requiring user force or complex electronic controls, achieving automatic adjustment through purely mechanical means that minimize operational intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts complex electronic control systems and sophisticated mechanisms from the design, retaining only the essential mechanical components needed for automatic adjustment. By removing unnecessary complexity while preserving the core automatic height adjustment function, the system achieves ease of operation with simplified construction
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
This configuration reduces costs, simplifies the design, and enhances flexibility by allowing simultaneous and controlled movement of leg assemblies, ensuring the platform remains level and adaptable to various configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The gear train is configured to translate rotational movement of the drive shaft about the transverse axis into simultaneous movement of each rod
Implementation Method 2
The linear actuator in each leg assembly may include a movable rod that extends along a longitudinal axis and at least partially supports the upper platform surface, the movable rod being drivingly coupled to a linkage
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable platform having an upper platform surface, at least two leg assemblies supporting the upper platform surface, and a drive mechanism that is configured to extend or retract the leg assemblies between a first position, in which each leg assembly is retracted to lower the platform toward ground, and a second position, in which each leg assembly is extended to raise the platform away from the ground. The drive mechanism includes a single motor that is drivingly coupled to each of the at least two leg assemblies, in which the drive mechanism is configured to simultaneously extend or retract both of the at least two leg assemblies between the first position and second position to thereby lower or raise the upper platform surface relative to the ground.