Telescoping adjustable leg
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable legs for heavy industrial equipment, such as those in commercial kitchens, have limited height adjustment capabilities and are not easily assembled to be non-removable and non-corrosive, which restricts their adaptability and durability.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping adjustable leg composed of three parts – a tubular housing, a tubular toe, and a cylindrical toe – with internal and external threads, allowing for full height adjustment and assembly methods that secure components irreversibly, using stainless steel for non-corrosive properties and ease of cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two telescoping parts are used for height adjustment, then the leg can be adjusted in height, but the adjustment capacity is limited to a fraction of the leg height
Solution Approach 1:
The leg is divided into three separate telescoping components: an inner tube, a middle tube, and an outer tube. Each tube can slide independently within the next larger tube, allowing cumulative height adjustment that equals the full length of the retracted leg. This segmentation enables full-height adjustment capability while maintaining a compact retracted profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The three tubular components are nested one within another in a telescoping arrangement, with the inner tube contained within the middle tube, which is contained within the outer tube. This nesting configuration maximizes the adjustment range by allowing each tube to extend the overall length independently, achieving total adjustment capacity equal to the retracted leg height.
2Strength
If legs are made of substantial bulk and strength for heavy equipment, then they can support heavy loads, but they become difficult to adjust and clean
Solution Approach 1:
The leg components utilize tubular structures with thin-walled construction that maintain high strength-to-weight ratios. The tubular geometry provides structural integrity for heavy load support while the smooth, continuous surfaces of the thin-walled tubes facilitate easy cleaning and hygiene maintenance, eliminating the need for bulky, difficult-to-clean constructions.
3Reliability
If legs are made of materials that resist corrosion, then they maintain durability, but they may still require frequent maintenance in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The leg components are constructed from stainless steel, a composite material that combines chromium and nickel with iron to create a corrosion-resistant alloy. This material provides superior durability and extended maintenance intervals in harsh commercial kitchen environments while maintaining the structural strength required for heavy equipment support.
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 leg provides full height adjustment capability, robust construction, and non-corrosive properties, ensuring the equipment can be levelled and maintained effectively, with components that cannot be easily disassembled, enhancing durability and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
The tubular toe has a collar at one end threadably mounted in the tubular housing for movement between a retracted position within the tubular housing and an extended position projecting from the tubular housing
Implementation Method 2
The tubular toe also has an internal thread while the cylindrical toe has a collar at one end thereof threadably mounted in the tubular toe for movement between a retracted position within the tubular toe and an extended position projecting from the tubular toe
Implementation Method 3
The base is sized and shaped to lie flat on a support surface
Data Source
AI summary
The telescoping adjustable leg comprises a tubular housing, a tubular toe, a cylindrical toe, a base and an externally threaded rod. The adjustable leg 10 is expandable from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position by rotation of the housing and cylindrical toe relative to the tubular toe.