Spherical Pivot Mount for Three-Axis Fan Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing directionally adjustable appliances, such as fans and mirrors, require separate adjustments for vertical and horizontal airflow direction changes, which can be imprecise due to frictional forces and gear structures, making adjustments cumbersome and less accurate.
Innovation Solution
A pivot assembly providing three degrees of freedom with a single rotatable pivot mount, utilizing a spherical cap and base unit with frictional maintenance, and an optional pivot guide for stability and aesthetic customization, allowing precise and fast airflow direction adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate pivot mechanisms are used for vertical and horizontal adjustment, then the appliance can be adjusted in multiple directions, but the device complexity increases and adjustments become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate pivot mechanisms into a single pivot assembly that provides both vertical and horizontal adjustment capabilities. The spherical mount allows the appliance to pivot vertically while the base rotates horizontally, integrating multiple degrees of freedom into one unified structure rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each axis.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pivot assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides vertical pivoting, horizontal rotation, and positional adjustment all through one integrated mechanism. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate pivot mechanisms while maintaining full directional adjustability of the appliance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If friction is increased to maintain angular adjustments, then position stability improves, but adjustment precision decreases due to gear teeth meshing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical mount with a curved surface instead of flat gear teeth interfaces. The spherical geometry allows for smooth continuous rotation and pivoting without the discrete meshing steps of gear teeth, eliminating the precision loss while maintaining position through friction between the curved surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the gear-based mechanical system with a friction-based spherical mount system. Instead of using interlocking gear teeth to maintain position, the design relies on friction between the spherical cap and mounting surface, eliminating the meshing precision limitations while providing stable position maintenance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If gear structures are used to increase friction for position maintenance, then stability improves, but the difficulty of making adjustments increases due to reduced smooth gliding
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical mount provides smooth continuous surfaces that allow the appliance to be easily rotated and positioned without the jerky motion caused by gear teeth engagement. The curved geometry enables fluid movement while the friction between surfaces maintains the adjusted position once reached.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear-based friction system is replaced with a direct friction-based spherical interface. This substitution eliminates the mechanical complexity of gear teeth while maintaining position stability through friction, resulting in smoother and easier adjustments.
4Productivity
If a single rotatable pivot mount is used for three degrees of freedom adjustment, then adjustment speed and precision improve, but the frictional resistance must be carefully controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the friction parameter by selecting appropriate materials and surface characteristics for the spherical mount interface. The friction is controlled to be sufficient for maintaining position but low enough to allow easy rotation, achieving a balance that enables both quick adjustments and stable positioning through the single pivot assembly.
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 precise and fast adjustment of airflow direction with reduced frictional resistance and increased stability, preventing unintended position changes due to external forces, while maintaining aesthetic flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom portion of the base unit exerts a force against the spherical cap such that the friction between the spherical cap of the arm and the top portion of the base will maintain the positional adjustment made to the arm
Data Source
AI summary
A pivot assembly that can be used with various appliances. The pivot assembly provides up to three degrees of freedom when positioning the appliance. The pivot may be used, for example, with a fan that is mounted on a base such that direction of the airflow generated can be adjusted about three coordinate axes by manipulating a single rotatable pivot mount. The fan assembly includes a base unit and an arm to which an appliance may be detachably coupled. The opposite end of the arm is provided with a spherical cap which is received by the base unit. Any adjustments to the positioning of the rotatable pivot mount are maintained by the friction within the rotatable pivot mount. Additionally, the pivot mount may include a pivot guide to restrict the degree of rotation about the pivot, thereby increasing stability.