Spring-Reel Heat Lamp Assembly for Adjustable Warming Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat lamps lack the ability to adjust height efficiently, limiting their versatility and effectiveness in temperature regulation for food products.
Innovation Solution
A height adjustable lamp assembly with a frame, reel, and electrical cord system that allows manual or motorized adjustment of the lamp's height, featuring a spring mechanism to wind up the cord as the lamp is lifted, enabling precise height control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lamp height is fixed, then the structure is simple and stable, but the versatility and effectiveness in temperature regulation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp assembly transitions from a fixed height structure to a dynamically adjustable height system. A reel mechanism with spring is integrated into the canopy, allowing the electrical cord to be wound or unwound to change the lamp's height position. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the heat lamp to adapt to different food warming needs while maintaining operational simplicity through automatic spring-based retraction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lamp height is adjustable, then the versatility is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The reel mechanism serves multiple functions: it stores the electrical cord, enables height adjustment, and provides automatic retraction through the spring mechanism. By integrating these functions into a single component system within the canopy, the invention avoids the need for separate motorized actuators, control systems, and power sources, thereby enhancing height adjustability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a spring mechanism is used to wind up the cord, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is designed to automatically wind up the electrical cord when the lamp is lowered, without requiring manual intervention. The stored elastic energy in the spring provides the force to retract the cord and rotate the reel back to its initial position. This self-service characteristic simplifies operation for the user while the mechanism's simplicity (using only spring energy storage and a rotating reel) keeps the added complexity minimal.
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 efficient temperature regulation by allowing adjustable lamp height, enhancing versatility and effectiveness in maintaining food temperature.
Implementation Method 1
The reel includes a spring. As the lamp is manually lifted by an operator, the spring causes the reel to rotate to wind up the electrical cord.
Data Source
AI summary
A height adjustable lamp assembly includes a frame defining a cord aperture, a reel rotationally supported by the frame, an electrical cord wound around the reel where a lower end of the electrical cord extends through the cord aperture, and a lamp coupled to the lower end of the electrical cord. The reel rotates to wind up or pay out the electrical cord therefrom to adjusts a height of the lamp.