Adjustable Water Heater Base for Uneven Floor Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water heaters are often installed on uneven or slanted surfaces without a suitable method for proper leveling, leading to safety and stability concerns, as existing solutions like shims are not effective for easy and safe adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A universal leveling base with adjustable elongated outer struts, peripheral plates, and radial struts, featuring threaded rods for precise leveling, which can be securely fastened and adjusted to accommodate uneven surfaces, ensuring the water heater is safely and stably positioned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If shims are used to level the water heater, then the water heater can be installed on uneven surfaces, but the leveling process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the base structure adjustable through threaded rods that can be rotated to change the height of base corners. This allows the base to adapt to uneven surfaces dynamically, resolving the contradiction between adaptability to uneven surfaces and ease of adjustment by providing a mechanical system that is both adaptable and simple to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of base height by using threaded rods that can be rotated to extend or retract, thereby adjusting the height of individual corners of the base. This parameter change capability allows easy leveling adjustment while maintaining adaptability to various surface conditions.
2Productivity
If a dedicated leveling product is designed, then leveling can be quick and easy, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the base into modular components including a rectangular base structure, four adjustable legs with threaded rods, and corner plates. This segmentation allows for quick assembly and adjustment, improving productivity while managing complexity through standardized modular parts that can be manufactured and assembled efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal leveling base that can be used with water heaters of various sizes and on different surface conditions. The base serves multiple functions: providing a level surface, elevating the water heater, and accommodating different installation scenarios. This multi-functionality justifies the moderate complexity by eliminating the need for multiple different tools or products.
3Strength
If the base structure is made rigid and stable, then support strength increases, but adjustability for uneven surfaces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the base dynamically adjustable through threaded rods that can be rotated to change leg length. The base structure itself remains rigid and strong, while the adjustable legs provide the necessary adaptability to uneven surfaces, allowing both strength and adjustability to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the support function between the rigid base platform (which provides strength and stability) and the adjustable legs (which provide adaptability). This segmentation allows the base to maintain structural integrity while accommodating surface variations through independent adjustment of each leg.
Data Source
AI summary
A leveling base for leveling a water heater that is installed on an uneven and/or slanted surface. The water heater is placed atop the leveling base, and includes a plurality of elongated outer struts connected end-to-end to form an outer periphery. The base also includes a plurality of peripheral plates which are each used to rigidly secure together a pair of strut ends. Each peripheral plate includes a threaded rod that is connected to the peripheral plate and the lateral position of the rod with respect to the respective peripheral plate can be adjusted by rotating the rod. The lateral adjustment of each rod is used to level the leveling base. There is also a central plate positioned within the outer periphery which is connected to the outer struts by a plurality of radial struts. The central plate also includes a laterally-adjustable threaded rod.