Swivel Foot Assembly for Accurate Force Plates on Uneven Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Force measurement systems, such as force plates and balance plates, experience measurement errors due to instability caused by uneven support surfaces, leading to inaccurate force and moment quantification.
Innovation Solution
A swivel foot assembly with a ball-and-socket joint configuration that allows the force plate or balance plate to accommodate uneven surfaces, maintaining measurement accuracy by providing three degrees of freedom and stabilizing the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If force measurement systems are mounted on uneven surfaces, then the device can be placed in more locations, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to instability and rocking
Solution Approach 1:
The foot assembly incorporates a swivel mechanism with a ball portion and receptacle that allows dynamic adjustment and rotation. This enables the force plate to adapt to uneven surfaces by rotating the foot assembly into a stable position, while the force transducer maintains accurate measurement through its mounting configuration that isolates it from rotational stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot assembly is divided into separate functional components: a foot base component for surface contact, a foot attachment component with stem and body portions for connection, and a ball portion with receptacle for the swivel mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling adaptability to uneven surfaces while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the force plate is made stable on uneven surfaces, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to additional stabilization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using complex active stabilization systems, the invention employs a passive dynamic swivel mechanism that automatically adjusts to uneven surfaces. The ball-and-receptacle configuration allows the foot assembly to rotate and find stability naturally, eliminating the need for sensors, motors, or control systems while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The swivel foot assembly acts as an intermediary between the uneven support surface and the force plate. It absorbs and accommodates surface irregularities through its rotational capability, preventing these irregularities from being transmitted to the force transducer, thus simplifying the overall system while maintaining accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the foot assembly allows rotation to accommodate uneven surfaces, then adaptability improves, but structural stability deteriorates due to potential movement
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel mechanism provides dynamic adaptability during the adjustment phase, allowing the foot assembly to rotate and accommodate uneven surfaces. Once positioned, the system achieves static stability as the foot assembly settles into a stable configuration on the support surface, with the force transducer securely mounted to prevent movement during measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot assembly is segmented into a movable foot base component with swivel capability and a fixed force plate component. This segmentation allows the foot portion to rotate for adaptability while the force plate and its mounting remain stable and secure, maintaining structural integrity throughout the measurement process.
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
The swivel foot assembly effectively stabilizes force measurement systems on uneven surfaces, preventing measurement errors and ensuring accurate force and moment quantification.
Implementation Method 1
The body portion of the foot attachment component comprises a ball portion, and the receptacle of the foot base component is configured to rotatably receive the ball portion of the foot attachment component
Data Source
AI summary
A swivel foot assembly for a force plate or balance plate is disclosed herein. The swivel foot assembly includes a foot attachment component including a stem portion and a body portion, the stem portion of the foot attachment component configured to be attached to a force plate or balance plate; and a foot base component including a receptacle for receiving the body portion of the foot attachment component, the foot base component configured to be disposed on a support surface. The swivel foot assembly is configured to accommodate an uneven support surface on which a force plate or balance plate is disposed so that a force measurement accuracy of the force plate or balance plate is not adversely affected by stresses resulting from the uneven support surface.