Hinge device and refrigeration apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a hinge device and a refrigeration apparatus. The hinge device comprises: a fixed hinge member; a connecting rod assembly, wherein one end of the connecting rod assembly is movably connected to the fixed hinge member, and the other end of the connecting rod assembly is configured to connect to a door body; and an assistance mechanism, which is rotationally connected to the fixed hinge member, wherein a linkage state and a disengaged state are provided between the assistance mechanism and the connecting rod assembly; in the linkage state, the assistance mechanism rotates with the rotation of the connecting rod assembly; and a positioning mechanism, which positions the assistance mechanism at a first preset position, is provided between the assistance mechanism and the fixed hinge member, such that the smoothness of the opening and closing of the door body is improved.

Description

Hinges and refrigeration equipment

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to Chinese patent applications No. 202410511214.9 and 202420885530.8, filed on April 26, 2024, and Chinese patent application No. 202411151333.4, filed on August 21, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular to a hinge device and a refrigeration device having the hinge device. Background Technology

[0003] With social development and the gradual improvement of living standards, people's demand for aesthetic appeal in home decoration is becoming increasingly prominent. Embedding refrigeration equipment (such as refrigerators) within external environmental components, such as cabinets or walls, to achieve a unified interior design style has become a popular approach. However, traditional refrigeration equipment doors are designed to rotate around a fixed axis to open and close. During this rotation, the pivot point of the door protrudes towards the external environmental component, causing interference and affecting the opening of the door and the use of the refrigeration equipment.

[0004] Some existing refrigeration equipment uses a hinge device with a linkage assembly to movably connect the door to the cabinet. When the door is opened relative to the cabinet, it rotates and translates along a preset trajectory under the drive of the linkage assembly. The structure is simple and can avoid interference between the door and external environmental components.

[0005] Based on the use of a hinge device with a linkage assembly, since the refrigeration equipment is refrigerated inside, if the door is not closed tightly, it can easily lead to the leakage of cold air inside the refrigeration equipment, causing the food inside the refrigeration equipment to rot and wasting a lot of electrical energy. Therefore, a door closer needs to be installed between the door and the cabinet.

[0006] Currently, commonly used door closer structures, such as the elastic assist device in Chinese invention patent application CN103924854A, have relatively stable structures and assist effects. However, as shown in Chinese invention patent application CN103924854A, the limiting grooves that cooperate with the elastic assist devices are all set as long straight grooves extending along the deformation direction of the elastic assist device. The setting of long straight grooves results in a generally small assisted closing angle, and makes the user's compression of the spring stroke consistent with the spring stroke when the assisted closing is finally achieved. This is inconvenient for user operation, and may even cause the door to rebound and open due to insufficient compression of the spring by the user, affecting the user experience.

[0007] Any reference to relevant technology in this specification is not, and should not be construed as, an admission or in any way an implication that such relevant technology is part of the general knowledge of the application region or any other jurisdiction, or that such relevant technology could be reasonably understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.

[0008] Application content

[0009] This application provides a hinge device and a refrigeration device having the same.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided in this application is as follows: A hinge device, comprising:

[0011] Fixed hinge components, used to secure the box body and the door body;

[0012] A linkage assembly, one end of which is movably connected to the fixed hinge and the other end of which is connected to the other side of the box and the door;

[0013] A power-assisting mechanism is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge member. The power-assisting mechanism and the linkage assembly have a linked state and a disengaged state. In the linked state, the power-assisting mechanism rotates with the rotation of the linkage assembly.

[0014] The positioning mechanism between the assist mechanism and the fixed hinge component positions the assist mechanism at a first preset position. When the assist mechanism is located at the first preset position and the linkage assembly continues to unfold, the assist mechanism disengages from the linkage assembly.

[0015] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives of this application, this application also provides a refrigeration device, including a housing, a door for opening or closing the housing, and the aforementioned hinge device.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows: The hinge device in this application, on the one hand, by rotatably connecting the assist mechanism to the fixed hinge component, can improve the stability and reliability of the interaction force between the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly, reduce the impact on the overall volume of the refrigerator, avoid noise caused by forceful door closing, and improve the smoothness of opening and closing the door for the user; on the other hand, by providing a positioning mechanism that positions the assist mechanism at a first preset position, the assist mechanism can be held at the preset position in the disengaged state. When the door is closed to the point where the door is at the disengaged angle, the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly can switch from the disengaged state to the linked state, thereby improving the stability of the assist mechanism.

[0017] The term “comprise” as used herein, and variations thereof such as “comprises,” “comprised,” “comprising,” “including,” and “containing,” do not exclude other features, components, elements, or steps unless the context explicitly requires otherwise. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the refrigeration equipment after it is embedded in the cabinet in a specific embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the hinge device in the first embodiment of this application shown in Figure 1 (the connecting rod assembly is in a folded state);

[0020] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the assist mechanism in Figure 2;

[0021] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed hinge component in Figure 2;

[0022] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed hinge component in Figure 4 from another angle;

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the linkage between the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly in Figure 2;

[0024] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the hinge device in Figure 2 (the connecting rod assembly is deployed with the straight limiting shaft located at the end of the limiting groove);

[0025] Figure 8 is a structural schematic diagram of the hinge device in Figure 2 (the linkage assembly is extended until the linkage assembly is disengaged from the assist mechanism);

[0026] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the hinge device in the second embodiment of this application (the linkage assembly is in a folded state);

[0027] Figure 10 is a structural schematic diagram of the hinge device in Figure 9 (the connecting rod assembly is deployed and the straight limiting shaft is located at the transition position of the limiting groove);

[0028] Figure 11 is a structural schematic diagram of the hinge device in Figure 9 (the connecting rod assembly is deployed with the straight limiting shaft located at the end of the limiting groove);

[0029] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the hinge device in Figure 9 (the linkage assembly is extended until the linkage assembly is disengaged from the assist mechanism);

[0030] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the hinge device in the third embodiment of this application (the linkage assembly is in a folded state);

[0031] Figure 14 is an exploded view of Figure 13;

[0032] Figure 15 is an exploded view of the assist mechanism in Figure 13;

[0033] Figure 16 is a structural schematic diagram of the hinge device in Figure 13 (the linkage assembly is extended to the position where the assist mechanism is located).

[0034] Figure 17 is a structural schematic diagram of the hinge device in Figure 13 (the linkage assembly is extended to the point where the linkage assembly is disengaged from the assist mechanism);

[0035] Figure 18 is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed hinge component in Figure 14 from another angle;

[0036] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of the hinge device in the fourth embodiment of this application (the linkage assembly is in a folded state);

[0037] Figure 20 is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed hinge component in Figure 19;

[0038] Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of the assist mechanism in Figure 19;

[0039] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the hinge device in the fifth embodiment of this application (the connecting rod assembly is in a folded state);

[0040] Figure 23 is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed hinge component in Figure 22;

[0041] Wherein: 100, refrigeration equipment; 10, 10a, hinge device; 1, fixed hinge component; 11, 11a, first limiting groove; 11b, second limiting groove; 111, first groove wall; A, starting position; B, ending position; C, transition position; 12, limiting part; 13, first clearance hole; 14, fixing plate; 15, connecting plate; 16, sliding groove; 17, second clearance hole; 2, connecting rod assembly; 21, first connecting rod; D, first hinge point; 22, second connecting rod; 221, guide shaft; 23, third connecting rod; 3, assist mechanism; M, rotating end; N, force-applying end; 31, limiting shaft; 311. First shaft segment; 312, second shaft segment; 32, rotating seat; 33, driving block; 331, through hole; 332, stop block; 34, spring; 35, damping rod; 4, 4a positioning mechanism; 41, second elastic element; 42, positioning block; 43, limiting hole; 44, positioning post; 45, positioning groove; 8, movable hinge component; 5, protruding block; 51, mating surface, contact surface; 6, rotating shaft; 7, limiting structure; 20, box body; 30, door body; L1, first connecting line; L2, second connecting line; L3, third connecting line; F1, first direction; F2, second direction; 200, cabinet; E, center of curvature.

[0042] Implementation

[0043] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in Figures 1-23. However, these embodiments do not limit the present application, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of this application.

[0044] The terms used in this application to express position and direction are defined as follows: "front" refers to the side where the door is located when the refrigerator is in normal use, and "outside" refers to the direction away from the refrigerator from the pivot side. For example, in a side-by-side refrigerator, moving one door away from the other door from the pivot side during the opening process is called moving outward, and moving one door closer to the other door from the pivot side during the opening process is called moving inward.

[0045] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used in this application are only used to distinguish similar objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. Additionally, it should be noted that unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "connected," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, a connection can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a fixed connection, a movable connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0046] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0047] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the specific embodiments and features disclosed in this application can be combined with each other.

[0048] Referring to Figures 1 to 23, this application provides a hinge device 10 and a refrigeration device 100 having the hinge device 10. Specifically, the refrigeration device 100 includes a housing 20 for storing items and a door 30 for opening or closing the housing 20. The hinge device 10 is used to movably connect the door 30 to the housing 20, so as to open or close the opening side of the housing 20 through the door 30. When the door 30 is in the closed state with the opening side closed, the door 30 and the housing 20 together form a closed refrigeration space for storing items. When the door 30 is in the open state with the opening side open, the internal space inside the housing 20 is exposed to the outside through the opening side, making it convenient for users to store or retrieve items inside the housing 20 through the opening side. Of course, it should be noted that the hinge device 10 described in this application is not limited to the refrigeration equipment 100 mentioned above, but can also be applied to other home furnishing products, such as cabinets, wine cabinets, wardrobes, microwave ovens, etc.

[0049] In this embodiment, the hinge device 10 is specifically described using an embedded refrigerator, where the refrigeration device 100 is embedded within an external environmental component, the door 30 is located on the front side of the cabinet 20, and the door 30 is a left-right rotating door. Figure 1 shows only a partial schematic diagram of the refrigeration device 100 embedded within the cabinet 200 in a specific embodiment of this application, showing only one side of the cabinet 200. It is understood that in actual installation, the refrigeration device 100 is completely embedded within the cabinet 200. Of course, it is understood that the refrigeration device 100 is not necessarily embedded within the cabinet 200; it can also be embedded within a wall or other external environmental component.

[0050] Of course, it is understood that this is not a limitation. The hinge device 10 described in this application can also be applied to the non-embedded refrigeration device 100, or to the refrigeration device 100 where the door 30 is located on the upper side of the box 20.

[0051] Specifically, the hinge device 10 includes a fixed hinge 1 for fixing to one of the housing 20 and the door 30, a connecting rod assembly 2 connecting the fixed hinge 1 to the other of the housing 20 and the door 30, and an assist mechanism 3 disposed on the fixed hinge 1.

[0052] In one specific embodiment, the fixed hinge 1 is fixed to the housing 20. In this case, the housing 20 and the door 30 refer to the other one, namely the door 30. Of course, this is not a limitation.

[0053] The following describes in detail the structure of the refrigeration device 100 in this application, taking the fixed hinge 1 fixed to the housing 20 as an example. Of course, this is not a limitation.

[0054] The linkage assembly 2 includes multiple hinged links. In the embodiment where the fixed hinge 1 is fixed to the housing 20, one end of the linkage assembly 2 is movably connected to the fixed hinge 1, and the other end is connected to the door 30. When the linkage assembly 2 is in the folded state, the multiple links are close to each other, and the door 30 is in the closed state, closing the housing 20. When the linkage assembly 2 is in the unfolded state, the multiple links are far apart, and the door 30 is in the open state, opening the housing 20.

[0055] During the switching process between the folded and unfolded states of the linkage assembly 2, i.e., during the rotational opening or closing of the door 30, the assist mechanism 3 is configured to act on at least one link of the linkage assembly 2 at a certain stage, thereby assisting the linkage assembly 2 in switching to the folded state or the unfolded state. When the assist mechanism 3 can assist the linkage assembly 2 in switching to the folded state, i.e., the assist mechanism 3 has the function of assisting in closing the door; when the assist mechanism 3 can assist the linkage assembly 2 in switching to the unfolded state, i.e., the assist mechanism 3 has the function of assisting in opening the door.

[0056] In existing refrigeration equipment, the assist mechanism 3 is generally set on the connecting rod in the connecting rod assembly 2. Since the connecting rod needs to bear the weight of the door, it is prone to deformation. As a result, the stability of the assist mechanism 3 is poor and the force transmission effect is limited. At the same time, it also results in a large overall volume and size of the hinge device, which makes the width of the crossbeam that fixes the hinge device on the refrigerator large, which seriously affects the volume of the refrigerator. Based on this, in this application, by setting the assist mechanism 3 on the fixed hinge component 1, since the fixed hinge component 1 is far from the door 30 after the hinge device 10 is installed between the cabinet 20 and the door 30, the fixed hinge component 1 is less likely to deform under the influence of the gravity of the door 30. Therefore, the stability and reliability of the interaction force between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 can be improved, and the stability of opening and closing the door can be improved. On the other hand, compared with the existing method of setting the assist mechanism 3 on the linkage assembly 2, in this application, the assist mechanism 3 and each link in the linkage assembly 2 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and set on the fixed hinge component 1 at a position that will not interfere with the linkage assembly 2. This frees up space at the linkage assembly 2, so that the volume and thickness of each link in the linkage assembly 2 can be made smaller, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the hinge device 10, saving installation space, and significantly reducing the width of the crossbeam on the cabinet 20 used to install the hinge device 10, thereby reducing the impact on the overall volume of the refrigerator.

[0057] As shown in Figure 2, the assist mechanism 3 has a rotating end M rotatably connected to the fixed hinge member 1, and a force-applying end N opposite to the rotating end M and used to act on one of the links in the linkage assembly 2. That is, the assist mechanism 3 is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge member 1 through the rotating end M.

[0058] The assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 have a linked state and a disengaged state. That is, in this embodiment, the assist mechanism 3 is configured to act on one of the linkage 2 links only at a certain stage. When the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 are in the disengaged state, the linkage assembly 2 is in a free state and can be driven to unfold or fold by the force applied by the user to the door 30, so as to drive the door 30 to move along a preset trajectory and avoid interference between the door 30 and the external environment components. In the linked state, the assist mechanism 3 rotates along with the linkage assembly 2. That is, when the assist mechanism 3 acts on the linkage assembly 2, the assist mechanism 3 rotates synchronously. The force applied by the assist mechanism 3 to the linkage assembly 2 has multiple directional components, which can reduce the force exerted by the assist mechanism 3 in assisting to close / open / resist to open / close the door, thereby avoiding noise caused by forceful closing and facilitating the user to open and close the door 30, improving the smoothness of the user's opening and closing of the door 30. At the same time, by controlling the rotation angle of the assist mechanism 3, the corresponding assist closing angle / assist opening angle and the disengagement angle between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 can be controlled, further improving the smoothness of the user's opening and closing of the door 30.

[0059] In one specific embodiment, the assist mechanism 3 is configured as follows: when the door 30 is in the closed state, i.e., when the linkage assembly 2 is in the folded state, the assist mechanism 3 is in the initial position; during the process of the door 30 rotating open from the closed state to the disengagement angle, i.e., during the process of the linkage assembly 2 unfolding from the folded state to the process of the door 30 opening to the disengagement angle, the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 are in a linked state, and the assist mechanism 3 rotates; when the door 30 opens to the disengagement angle, the assist mechanism 3 rotates to a first preset position; when the door 30 continues to rotate open from the disengagement angle, i.e., when the linkage assembly 2 continues to unfold, the linkage assembly 2 disengages from the assist mechanism 3. At this time, the linkage assembly 2 and the assist mechanism 3 are in a disengaged state, and the door can be opened freely.

[0060] It is known that when the disengagement angle is the same as the assisted closing angle, during the user closing phase, before the assisted closing mechanism 3 achieves the assisted closing phase, the assisted mechanism 3 will not apply a force to prevent closing, which can improve the smoothness of opening and closing the door body 30 and the stability of assisted closing. When the disengagement angle is greater than the assisted closing angle, during the user closing phase, before the assisted closing mechanism 3 achieves the assisted closing phase, the assisted mechanism 3 will apply a force to prevent closing. That is, during the user closing phase, in the linkage state, the assisted mechanism 3 first resists closing and then assists closing; correspondingly, during the user opening phase, in the linkage state, the assisted mechanism 3 first resists opening and then assists opening. When the disengagement angle is set to be greater than the assisted closing angle, the closing force and length required by the user during the resistance closing phase of the assisted mechanism 3 before the assisted closing phase can be controlled by setting the rotation angle of the assisted mechanism 3, thereby improving the smoothness of opening and closing the door body 30.

[0061] It should be noted that the aforementioned assisted closing angle refers to the rotation angle of the door body 30 after the assisted closing mechanism 3 begins to assist in closing the door until the door body 30 is in the closed state. The aforementioned disengagement angle refers to the rotation angle of the door body 30 when the door body 30 rotates open from the closed state to the point where the assisted mechanism 3 disengages from the connecting rod assembly 2.

[0062] In the prior art, when the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 are in a linked state, the assist mechanism 3 is generally set to extend and retract, resulting in a large elastic restoring force applied by the assist mechanism 3 to the linkage assembly 2. This leads to a large closing force, which easily generates noise, and also requires the customer to exert more force to open the door. In this application, by setting the assist mechanism to rotate synchronously around the rotating end during the linkage process with the linkage assembly 2, the elastic restoring force applied by the assist mechanism 3 to the linkage assembly 2 can be reduced, the closing noise can be reduced, and the smoothness of opening and closing the door can be improved.

[0063] In one specific embodiment, the fixed hinge component 1 includes a fixed plate 14 for fixing to the housing 20 and two connecting plates 15 connected to opposite ends of the fixed plate 14. The connecting plates 15 are perpendicular to the fixed plate 14. That is, the fixed hinge component 1 has a U-shaped double-layer structure, which can improve the strength of the hinge device 10.

[0064] The assist mechanism 3 is disposed between the two connecting plates 15. The assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 are both in cooperation with the connecting plates 15, which can hide the assist mechanism 3 and improve the overall appearance of the hinge device 10.

[0065] In one specific embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the assist mechanism 3 includes a rotating seat 32 located at the rotating end M, a driving block 33 located at the force-applying end N, and a first elastic element disposed between the rotating seat 32 and the driving block 33. The rotating seat 32 is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge 1 about a second rotation axis A2, enabling the assist mechanism 3 to rotate about the second rotation axis A2. In the linkage state, the driving block 33 acts on a connecting rod in the linkage assembly 2. One end of the first elastic element abuts against the rotating seat 32, and the other end abuts against the driving block 33. In the linkage state, the first elastic element is always in a compressed state, so that, under the action of the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element, the driving block 33 can drive the connecting rod in the linkage assembly 2 that cooperates with the assist mechanism 3 to achieve assisted door closing and / or assisted door opening.

[0066] It should be noted that the state of the first elastic element is not particularly limited when the assist mechanism 3 is in the initial position and the first preset position. That is, in the initial position and the first preset position, the first elastic element can be set to a free state or a compressed state. For example, when the assist mechanism 3 is in the initial position, if the first elastic element is set to a compressed state, then under the action of the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element, the drive block 32 acts on the connecting rod that cooperates with the assist mechanism 3, which can achieve the function of maintaining the folded state of the connecting rod assembly 2, that is, maintaining the closed state of the door 30. Thus, it can prevent the door 30 from not closing tightly and achieve a certain energy-saving effect.

[0067] In one specific embodiment, the first elastic element is a spring 34, and the assist mechanism 3 further includes a damping rod 35. One end of the damping rod 35 is connected to the rotating seat 32, and the other end is connected to the driving block 33. The spring 34 is sleeved on the damping rod 35, with one end of the spring 34 abutting against the rotating seat 32 and the other end abutting against the driving block 33. This improves the stability of the elastic deformation of the first elastic element, preventing it from tilting in any direction other than the elastic deformation direction, thereby improving the stability of the force exerted by the assist mechanism 3. However, this is not a limitation.

[0068] A positioning mechanism is provided between the assist mechanism 3 and the fixed hinge 1 to position the assist mechanism 3 at a first preset position. After the door rotates open to the point where the assist mechanism positions the assist mechanism 3 at the first preset position, the assist mechanism disengages from the linkage assembly as the linkage assembly continues to unfold. The positioning mechanism maintains the assist mechanism 3 at the first preset position in the disengaged state, thus enabling a smooth transition from the disengaged state to the linked state between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 when the door 30 closes to the disengaged angle, improving the stability of the assist mechanism 3.

[0069] Referring to Figures 2 to 8, in the first embodiment of this application, the force-applying end N is provided with a limiting shaft 31, that is, the driving block 33 is provided with a limiting shaft 31. The fixed hinge component 1 is provided with a first limiting groove 11. During the opening and closing of the door 30, when the assist mechanism 3 is linked with the linkage assembly 2, the assist mechanism 3 rotates around the rotating end M, and the limiting shaft 31 moves within the first limiting groove 11. That is, when the force-applying end N acts on the linkage assembly 2, the assist mechanism 3 rotates synchronously around the rotating end M. By setting the trajectory and length of the first limiting groove 11, the corresponding assisted closing angle / assisted opening angle and the disengagement angle between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 can be controlled, thereby improving the smoothness of the user opening and closing the door 30.

[0070] In some optional embodiments, the limiting shaft 31 and the driving block 33 can be integrally formed or separately configured.

[0071] The first limiting groove 11 is defined with a relative starting position A and an ending position B. When the connecting rod assembly 2 is in the folded state, the limiting shaft 31 is located at the starting position A. When the connecting rod assembly 2 switches from the folded state to the unfolded state, the connecting rod assembly 2 drives the limiting shaft 31 to move towards the ending position B. At this time, the limiting shaft 31 and the ending position B together form the positioning mechanism. That is, when the assisting mechanism 3 is located at the first preset position, the limiting shaft 31 cooperates with the ending position B to position the limiting mechanism 3 at the first preset position, preventing the main force mechanism 3 from shaking.

[0072] Understandably, when the limiting shaft 31 is located at the terminal position B, that is, when the main force mechanism 3 is located at the first preset position, the assist mechanism 3 is disengaged from the connecting rod assembly 2, and the limiting shaft 31 remains at the terminal position B. At this time, if the first elastic element is set to be in a compressed state, the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element will act on the limiting shaft 31, causing the limiting shaft 31 to tightly abut against the terminal position B. This prevents the limiting shaft 31 from shaking within the first limiting groove 11, improves the limiting effect of the terminal position B on the limiting shaft 31, and is beneficial to the stability of the linkage between the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2.

[0073] Furthermore, the linkage assembly 2 is connected to a protruding block 5 that interacts with the force-applying end N. That is, the linkage in the linkage assembly 2 that interacts with the force-applying end N is connected to a protruding block 5 for abutting against the force-applying end N. In other words, the protruding block 5 abuts against the drive block 33 to achieve linkage between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2.

[0074] Specifically, the connecting rod in the connecting rod assembly 2 that interacts with the assist mechanism 3 is defined to have a first rotation axis A1, that is, the connecting rod in the connecting rod assembly 2 that interacts with the drive block 33 has a first rotation axis A1, or the connecting rod in the connecting rod assembly 2 where the protrusion block 5 is provided has a first rotation axis A1. The assist mechanism rotates around a second rotation axis A2, and there is a first connecting line L1 between the first rotation axis A1 and the second rotation axis A2. Simultaneously, there is a second connecting line L2 between the second rotation axis A2 and the curvature center E of the mating surface 51 where the connecting rod assembly 2 and the assist mechanism 3 cooperate, and a third connecting line L3 between the curvature center E of the mating surface 51 where the connecting rod assembly 2 and the assist mechanism 3 cooperate and the first rotation axis.

[0075] It should be noted that the aforementioned first rotation axis can be a physical rotation axis or a virtual rotation axis. For example, when the connecting rod in the linkage assembly 2 that interacts with the force-applying end N is a rotating rod simply rotatably connected to the fixed hinge 1, the first rotation axis is the physical rotation axis of that rotating rod; when the connecting rod in the linkage assembly 2 that interacts with the force-applying end N is a sliding rod that is rotatably and slidably connected to the fixed hinge 1, the first rotation axis is the virtual rotation axis of that sliding rod. Meanwhile, the mating surface 51 where the linkage assembly 2 cooperates with the assist mechanism 3 refers to the abutment surface 51 between the protruding block 5 and the force-applying end N / drive block 33.

[0076] It is known that when the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 where the protruding block 5 abuts against the force-applying end N is located on the first connecting line L1, the assist mechanism 3 is in a dead position.

[0077] When the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 where the protruding block 5 abuts against the force-applying end N is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 facing the starting position A, that is, when the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 where the protruding block 5 abuts against the force-applying end N is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 away from the connecting rod assembly 2, that is, when the curvature center E is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 closer to the housing 20, if there is no external force, under the action of the thrust of the assist mechanism 3, the limiting shaft 31 has a tendency to move towards the starting position A, which will cause the protruding block 5 to have a tendency to move towards the direction of the housing 20, that is, the connecting rod cooperating with the assist mechanism 3 has a tendency to rotate towards the direction of the housing 20, which can drive the connecting rod assembly 2 to switch to the folded state, so that the door can be assisted to close when closing, and conversely, when opening the door, a certain force will be applied to prevent the door from opening.

[0078] When the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 where the protruding block 5 abuts against the force-applying end N is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 away from the starting position A, that is, when the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 where the protruding block 5 abuts against the force-applying end N is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 toward the connecting rod assembly 2, that is, when the curvature center E is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 away from the housing 20, if there is no external force, under the action of the thrust of the assist mechanism 3, the limiting shaft 31 has a tendency to move away from the starting position A, that is, the protruding block 5 has a tendency to move away from the housing 20, and the connecting rod cooperating with the assist mechanism 3 has a tendency to rotate away from the housing 20, which can drive the connecting rod assembly 2 to continue to unfold, that is, it can achieve assisted opening when opening the door, and correspondingly, when closing the door, a certain force will be applied to prevent closing the door.

[0079] In one specific embodiment, the mating surface of the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 is arc-shaped, that is, the contact surface 51 of the protruding block 5 abutting the force-applying end N is arc-shaped, and also, the contact surface 51 of the drive block 33 abutting the protruding block 5 is arc-shaped. This can improve the smoothness of the fit between the protruding block 5 and the drive block 33, thereby further improving the smoothness of opening and closing the door. It is understood that, at this time, the curvature center E of the mating surface 51 of the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 refers to the center of the circle in which the mating surface 51 is located. Throughout the entire process of the protruding block 5 abutting the drive block 33, the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 of the protruding block 5 abutting the force-applying end N is always this center, that is, the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 of the protruding block 5 abutting the force-applying end N remains unchanged. Of course, this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the contact surface 51 between the driving block 33 and the protruding block 5 can also be a non-circular arc. In this case, during the entire process of the protruding block 5 abutting against the driving block 33, the contact surface 51 between the protruding block 5 and the force-applying end N will change, and the curvature center E of the corresponding contact surface 51 will also be different. It can be seen that in the embodiment where the contact surface 51 between the protruding block 5 and the force-applying end N is arc-shaped, the aforementioned second connecting line L2 refers to the line connecting the rotation axis of the rotating end M and the center of the circle containing the contact surface 51.

[0080] In one specific embodiment, the axis of the limiting shaft 31 is located on the second connecting line L2. That is, the rotation axis of the rotating end M, the axis of the limiting shaft 31, and the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 where the protruding block 5 abuts the force-applying end N are all on the same straight line. In other words, the deformation direction of the first elastic element and the curvature center E of the contact surface 51 are on the same straight line. This can improve the effect of the first elastic element / assistance mechanism 3 on the protruding block 5 and avoid the dispersion of the force exerted by the first elastic element / assistance mechanism 3 on the protruding block 5. Of course, this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the axis of the limiting shaft 31 may also be set not to be located on the second connecting line L2, with a certain amount of misalignment.

[0081] Referring to Figure 7, in the first embodiment of this application, when the assist mechanism 3 is located in the first preset position, the center of curvature E of the mating surface 51 of the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 is located on the first line L1 connecting the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, or on the side of the first line L1 facing the starting position A. In the embodiment with the first limiting groove 11, when the limiting shaft 31 is located in the terminal position B, the center of curvature E of the mating surface 51 of the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 is located on the first line L1 connecting the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, or on the side of the first line L1 away from the linkage assembly 2. In this case, the disengagement angle is consistent with the assisted closing angle. After the user closes the door until the protruding block 5 contacts the assist mechanism 3, the assist mechanism 3 applies a force to the protruding block 5 to assist in closing the door, without first applying a force to prevent closing, thus improving the smoothness of opening and closing the door body 30 and the stability of assisted closing.

[0082] It is understood that in the embodiment where the axis of the limiting shaft 31 is located on the second connecting line L2, the above-mentioned curvature center E of the contact surface 51 of the protruding block 5 and the force-applying end N when the limiting shaft 31 is located at the terminal position B is located on the first connecting line L1 or on the side of the first connecting line L1 facing the starting position A. This can be understood as the terminal position B being located on the first connecting line L1 or on the side of the first connecting line L1 facing the starting position A.

[0083] Specifically, from the starting position A toward the terminal position B, the distance between the first limiting groove 11 and the rotating end M gradually decreases.

[0084] Referring to Figures 2 and 7, in the initial stage of the linkage assembly 2 unfolding from the folded state, i.e., in the initial stage of the door 30 rotating open from the closed state, the protruding block 5 abuts against the force-applying end N, i.e., the protruding block 5 abuts against the driving block 33, driving the limiting shaft 31 to move along the first limiting groove 11 towards the terminal position B. The assisting mechanism 3 rotates around the rotating end M. During this process, the distance between the limiting shaft 31 and the rotating end M continuously decreases, and the first elastic element continuously compresses. When the limiting shaft 31 is at the terminal position B, the first elastic element reaches its maximum compression stroke. It can be understood that at this stage, the assisting mechanism 3 will provide a certain force to prevent the door from opening. Referring to Figure 8, as the linkage assembly 2 continues to rotate and unfold, the linkage assembly 2 disengages from the assisting mechanism 3, and later, the door is mainly driven to open by the linkage assembly 2. Correspondingly, as the linkage assembly 2 gradually folds from the unfolded state to the point where the protruding block 5 contacts the force-applying end N, that is, as the door 30 rotates and closes from the open state to the point where the protruding block 5 contacts the force-applying end N, even if the user releases the door 30, under the push of the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element, the limiting shaft 31 tends to move towards the starting position A, causing the protruding block 5 to move towards the direction of the housing 20, driving the linkage assembly 2 to switch to the folded state. When the limiting shaft 31 is at the starting position A, the linkage assembly 2 is in the folded state, and the door 30 is in the closed state, realizing assisted closing. That is, in this embodiment, during the closing stage, when the limiting shaft 31 moves within the first limiting groove 11, the assisting mechanism 3 has the function of assisting closing.

[0085] In one specific embodiment, the terminal position B has a limiting part 12, which together with the limiting shaft 31 forms the positioning mechanism; after the force-applying end N disengages from the linkage assembly 2, the limiting shaft 31 is limited to the limiting part 12. This prevents the limiting shaft 31 from moving towards the starting position A under the elastic restoring force of the elastic element after the force-applying end N disengages from the linkage assembly 2, thus avoiding the protruding block 5 failing to engage with the force-applying end N when the door is closed, and causing the assist mechanism 3 to malfunction.

[0086] In one specific embodiment, the first limiting groove 11 has a first groove wall 111 away from the rotating end M. The first groove wall 111 corresponding to the terminal position B is configured to bend away from the rotating end M. The limiting part 12 is the deflected section of the first groove wall 111 corresponding to the terminal position B. After the force-applying end N disengages from the connecting rod assembly 2, the limiting shaft 31 abuts against the deflected section to prevent the limiting shaft 31 from moving towards the starting position A under the elastic restoring force of the elastic member. This would prevent the protruding block 5 from engaging with the force-applying end N when the door is closed, causing the assist mechanism 3 to fail.

[0087] Specifically, the deflection segment can be a straight segment that forms a certain angle with other segments of the first groove wall 111, such as a straight segment extending in the front-back direction; or it can be an arc segment that is adapted to the limiting shaft 31.

[0088] Furthermore, the first limiting groove 11 is an arc-shaped groove, which can improve the smoothness of the movement of the limiting shaft 31 along the first limiting groove 11, thereby further improving the smoothness of opening and closing the door body 30.

[0089] Referring to Figures 9 to 12, the hinge device 10a in the second embodiment of this application differs from the first embodiment in that: when the assist mechanism 3 is in the first preset position, the center of curvature E of the mating surface 51 where the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 cooperate is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 away from the starting position. That is, when the limiting shaft 31 is in the terminal position B, the center of curvature E of the mating surface 51 where the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 cooperate is located on the side of the first connecting line L1 away from the starting position. At this time, corresponding to the above-mentioned disengagement angle being greater than the assisted closing angle, that is, during the closing process, before the assisted closing stage, the assist mechanism 3 will apply a force to prevent closing, and during the opening process, the assist mechanism 3 will apply a certain force to assist opening, thereby achieving assisted opening.

[0090] Specifically, referring to Figure 10, the first limiting groove 11a also has a transition position C located between the starting position A and the ending position B. When the limiting shaft 31 is located at the transition position C, the curvature center E of the mating surface 51 of the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 is located on the first connecting line L1. By definition, the first limiting groove 11a includes a first groove segment located between the starting position A and the transition position C, and a second groove segment located between the transition position C and the ending position B. From the starting position A towards the transition position C, the distance of the first groove segment from the rotating end M gradually decreases; from the transition position C towards the ending position B, the distance of the second groove segment from the rotating end M gradually increases.

[0091] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, when the linkage assembly 2 unfolds from its folded state, i.e., when the door 30 rotates open from its closed state, the protruding block 5 abuts against the force-applying end N. That is, the protruding block 5 abuts against the driving block 33, causing the limiting shaft 31 to move along the first groove segment from the initial position A to the transition position C. The assist mechanism 3 rotates around the rotating end M. During this process, the distance between the limiting shaft 31 and the rotating end M continuously decreases, and the elastic element continuously compresses. When the limiting shaft 31 is at the transition position C, the elastic element reaches its maximum compression stroke. It can be understood that at this stage, the assist mechanism 3 provides a certain force to prevent the door from opening. Referring to Figures 10 and 11, after the door 30 continues to rotate and open until the protruding block 5 drives the limiting shaft 31 to switch from the transition position C to the second groove segment, driven by the elastic restoring force of the elastic element, the assist mechanism 3 rotates while pushing the protruding block 5 away from the housing 20, thus achieving the effect of assisting in opening the door. As shown in Figure 11, when the limiting shaft 31 is located at the terminal position B and continues to rotate to open the door, the assisting mechanism 3 disengages from the linkage assembly 2. It can be seen that in this embodiment, after the assisting mechanism 3 disengages from the linkage assembly 2, the force applied by the assisting mechanism 3 to the first limiting groove 11 has a component force in the direction away from the starting position A. Therefore, without the action of external force, the limiting shaft 31 will not move towards the starting position A. The limiting shaft 31 can be limited to the terminal position B without the need to set the limiting part 12 separately. However, in essence, the limiting shaft 31 and the terminal position B also form the above-mentioned positioning mechanism.

[0092] Correspondingly, as the linkage assembly 2 gradually folds from its unfolded state until the protruding block 5 contacts the force-applying end N, that is, as the door 30 rotates to close until the protruding block 5 contacts the force-applying end N and continues to rotate to close, the limiting shaft 31 moves along the second groove towards the transition position C. The distance between the limiting shaft 31 and the rotating end M continuously decreases, and the first elastic element is continuously compressed. When the limiting shaft 31 is at the transition position C, the first elastic element reaches its maximum compression stroke. At this stage, the assist mechanism 3 applies a certain force to the linkage assembly 2 to prevent the door from closing. After the door 30 continues to close until the limiting shaft 31 enters the first groove from the transition position C, the limiting shaft 31 tends to move towards the starting position A under the push of the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element, causing the protruding block 5 to move towards the direction of the box 20, driving the linkage assembly 2 to switch to the folded state. When the limiting shaft 31 is at the starting position A, the linkage assembly 2 is in the folded state, and the door 30 is in the closed state, realizing assisted closing.

[0093] Specifically, the trajectory and length of the second groove segment can be controlled to prevent the closing force and length required by the user during the closing phase, that is, to control the opening angle of the assist mechanism 3 during the opening phase, thereby improving the smoothness of opening and closing the door body 30.

[0094] The second embodiment in this application is the same as the first embodiment except for the differences mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0095] Furthermore, the drive block 33 also includes a stop block 332 protruding toward the protruding block 5. The stop block 332 is located on the side of the protruding block 5 facing the housing 20, that is, the stop block 332 is located on the side of the drive block away from the linkage assembly. Thus, during the opening phase, the stop block 332 does not restrict the separation between the protruding block 5 and the drive block 33; during the closing phase, the stop block 332 can prevent the protruding block 5 from disengaging from the drive block 33, improving the stability of the cooperation between the assist mechanism 3 and the protruding block 5.

[0096] Furthermore, the length of the second connecting line L2 is greater than the length of the third connecting line L3, so that the elastic element can obtain sufficient elastic compression, thereby improving the assisting effect and assisting stability of the assisting mechanism 3.

[0097] Furthermore, referring to Figure 6, when the linkage assembly 2 is in the folded state, that is, when the door body 30 is in the closed state, the angle α1 between the first connecting line L1 and the second connecting line L2 is no greater than 60°. It can be seen that the size of the angle α1 can control the lever arm of the force applied by the assist mechanism 3 to the linkage assembly 2 for assisting door closing. The larger the angle α1, the larger the lever arm of the force applied by the assist mechanism 3 to the linkage assembly 2 for assisting door closing, thus obtaining a greater assisting torque for door closing and achieving high-load assisted door closing.

[0098] Furthermore, when the linkage assembly 2 is in the folded state, that is, when the door 30 is in the closed state, the angle α2 between the third connecting line L3 and the first connecting line L1 is not less than 5°. It can be understood that the size of the angle α2 can control the assisted closing angle of the assist mechanism 3; the larger the angle α2, the larger the corresponding assisted closing angle.

[0099] Furthermore, the limiting shaft 31 has a first shaft segment 311 located within the first limiting groove 11, and the diameter of the first shaft segment 311 is smaller than the width of the first limiting groove 11. When the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 are linked together, there is a gap between the first shaft segment 311 and the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11. That is, the difference between the distance from the center of the first rotating shaft to the center of the first shaft segment 311 and the distance from the center of the first rotating shaft to the first limiting groove 11 is greater than the radius of the first shaft segment 311, and the difference between the distance from the center of the rotating end M to the center of the first shaft segment 311 and the distance from the center of the rotating end M to the first limiting groove 11 is greater than the radius of the first shaft segment 311. Therefore, during the stage when the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 are linked together, there is no contact between the limiting shaft 31 and the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11, and the force of the assist mechanism 3 is fully applied to the connecting rod assembly 2, thereby improving the assisting effect of the assist mechanism 3. It is known that only when the limiting shaft 31 is located at the terminal position B and the connecting rod assembly 2 is disengaged from the assist mechanism 3, will the first shaft segment 311 abut against the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11 located at the terminal position B under the action of the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element, that is, contact the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11.

[0100] It should be noted that the distance between the first rotation axis and the first limiting groove 11 in this article refers to the distance between the first rotation axis and the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11 on the side closer to the first rotation axis; similarly, the distance between the rotation axis of the rotating end M and the first limiting groove 11 in this article refers to the distance between the rotation axis of the rotating end M and the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11 on the side closer to the rotating end M.

[0101] Furthermore, during the interaction between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2, and as the limiting shaft 31 moves from the second preset position to the terminal position B, the gap between the first shaft segment 311 and the first groove wall 111 gradually decreases. The second preset position is either the starting position A or a position between the starting position A and the terminal position B. That is, during the interaction between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2, from the second preset position towards the terminal position, the difference between the distance from the center of the first rotation axis to the center of the first shaft segment 311 and the distance from the center of the first rotation axis to the second groove segment gradually decreases. This reduces the gap between the first shaft segment 311 and the first groove wall 111 when the assist mechanism 3 disengages from the linkage assembly 2, preventing the first shaft segment 311 from impacting the first groove wall 111 under the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element after disengagement, thus avoiding noise or damage to the first shaft segment 311.

[0102] It is known that when the second preset position is the starting position A, that is, when the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 are linked together, and the limiting shaft 31 moves from the starting position A to the terminal position B, the gap between the first shaft segment 311 and the first groove wall 111 gradually decreases. When the second preset position is not the starting position A, but a position between the starting position A and the terminal position B, it is known that when the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2 are linked together, and the limiting shaft 31 moves from the starting position A to the second preset position, the gap between the first shaft segment 311 and the first groove wall 111 can be set to remain unchanged or change without a specific pattern; the gap between the first shaft segment 311 and the first groove wall 111 gradually decreases when the limiting shaft 31 moves from the second preset position towards the terminal position B.

[0103] In one specific embodiment, during the process of the assisting mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 moving together and the limiting shaft 31 moving from the second preset position to the terminal position B, the gap between the first shaft segment 311 and the first groove wall 111 gradually decreases to 0. That is, during the process of the connecting rod assembly 2 driving the limiting shaft 31 to move towards the terminal position B, there is a gap greater than 0 between the first shaft segment 311 and the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11, and they will not contact each other. Until the connecting rod assembly 2 drives the limiting shaft 31 to move to the terminal position B, the first shaft segment 311 will abut against the first groove wall 111. At this time, under the action of the elastic restoring force of the elastic element, the first shaft segment 311 abuts against the groove wall at the terminal position B, that is, it contacts the groove wall of the first limiting groove 11, so that the protruding block 5 can naturally disengage from the force-applying end N of the assisting mechanism 3 without generating noise. Of course, this is not a limitation.

[0104] Furthermore, the fixed hinge component 1 is also provided with a first clearance hole 13 communicating with the first limiting groove 11 at the starting position A. Therefore, after the limiting shaft 31 moves from the end position B to the starting position A, the limiting shaft 31 will not collide with the fixed hinge component 1, thus avoiding noise or damage to the limiting shaft 31.

[0105] In one specific embodiment, the limiting shaft 31 further includes a second shaft segment 312 coaxial with the first shaft segment 311 and located outside the limiting groove 11. The shaft diameter of the second shaft segment 312 is larger than the shaft diameter of the first shaft segment 311, and the groove width of the first limiting groove 11 is smaller than the shaft diameter of the second shaft segment 312. The first clearance hole 13 is a mounting hole, and the diameter of the mounting hole is not smaller than the shaft diameter of the second shaft segment 312. Therefore, the limiting shaft 31 can be installed through the mounting hole, that is, the second shaft segment 312 is passed through the mounting hole, and after installation, the limiting shaft 31 is moved to the starting position. With the cooperation of the second shaft segment 312 and the first limiting groove 11, the axial movement of the limiting shaft 31 can be restricted, improving the stability of the cooperation between the limiting shaft 31 and the first limiting groove 11.

[0106] Specifically, both connecting plates 15 are provided with the first limiting groove 11, the driving block 33 is provided with a through hole 331 for receiving the second shaft segment 312, and the limiting shaft 31 includes the second shaft segment 312 and two first shaft segments 311 located at opposite ends of the second shaft segment 312. That is, the limiting shaft 31 is detachably connected to the driving block 33. When installing the assist mechanism 3, first place the assist mechanism 3 between the two connecting plates 15, and rotatably connect the rotating end M to the two connecting plates 15; then, align the through hole 331 on the drive block 33 with the first clearance hole 13, and insert the limiting shaft 31 from the outside of the fixed hinge 1 into the first clearance hole 13 and the through hole 331, so that the second shaft segment 312 is located in the through hole 331, and the two first shaft segments 311 are respectively located in the corresponding first clearance holes 13; finally, rotate the assist mechanism 3 so that the two first shaft segments 311 respectively enter the corresponding first limiting grooves 11, which is simple to install; and at this time, since the shaft diameter of the second shaft segment 312 is larger than the groove width of the first limiting groove 11, the two opposite ends of the second shaft end 312 abut against the two connecting plates 15 respectively, which can restrict the limiting shaft 31 from moving axially relative to the first limiting groove 11, and improve the stability of the fit between the limiting shaft 31 and the first limiting groove 11.

[0107] In one specific embodiment, the linkage assembly 2 includes a first link 21 rotatably connected to the fixed hinge member 1. The force-applying end N is configured to act on the first link 21, that is, the protruding block 5 is connected to the first link 21. In this way, since the position of one end of the first link 21 relative to the fixed hinge member 1 does not change and is located within the fixed hinge member 1, it can better cooperate with the assist mechanism 3 for linkage. By applying force to the first link 21 through the force-applying end N of the assist mechanism 3, the first link 21 can drive the entire linkage assembly 2 to move, thereby providing an auxiliary force for the entire linkage assembly 2 during folding, facilitating the closing of the door 30 and preventing the door 30 from opening by itself.

[0108] It is known that when the force-applying end N is set to act on the first connecting rod 21 which is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge member 1, the first rotation axis of the connecting rod in the connecting rod assembly 2 that acts on the force-applying end N refers to the first hinge point D of the first connecting rod 21 on the fixed hinge member 1.

[0109] Furthermore, the protruding block 5 is detachably connected to the first connecting rod 21. This simplifies the fabrication of the first connecting rod 21 and improves the versatility of the hinge device 10.

[0110] Specifically, the hinge device 10 includes a rotating shaft 6 that rotatably connects the first connecting rod 21 to the fixed hinge member 1, and the protruding block 5 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 6; a limiting structure 7 is also provided between the protruding block 5 and the first connecting rod 21 to restrict the rotation of the protruding block 5 relative to the first connecting rod 21, which makes assembly simple.

[0111] In one specific embodiment, the limiting structure 7 can be configured as a mutually cooperating concave-convex structure, or it can be configured as a riveted structure that is riveted together, etc.

[0112] Furthermore, the fixed hinge component 1 is also provided with a sliding groove 16. The linkage assembly 2 further includes a second linkage 22 rotatably slidably connected within the sliding groove 16 and a third linkage 23 connecting the door body 30 and the first linkage 21. The first linkage 21 and the second linkage 22 intersect and are rotatably connected at the intersection. The other end of the second linkage 22 is rotatably connected to the door body 30. One end of the third linkage 23 is rotatably connected to the door body 30, and the other end is rotatably connected to the end of the first linkage 21 away from the fixed hinge component 1. During the rotation of the door body 30 relative to the housing 20, the linkage assembly 2 moves along the sliding groove 16 to make the door body 30 move along a preset trajectory, thereby avoiding interference with external environmental components.

[0113] Furthermore, the hinge device 10 also includes a movable hinge member 8 for fixing to the door body 30, and one end of the link assembly 2 connected to the door body 30 is connected to the movable hinge member 8. That is, both the third link 23 and the second link 22 are rotatably connected to the movable hinge member 8. Modularizing the hinge device 10 facilitates the assembly between the hinge device 10 and the door body 30, and also helps to further improve the strength of the hinge device 10.

[0114] The pivot end of the door 30 in the refrigeration device 100, which rotates relative to the housing 20, is defined as the pivot end. When the door 30 is in the closed state, the direction from the center of the door 30 away from the housing 20 is defined as the first direction F1, and the direction from the center of the door 30 toward the pivot end is defined as the second direction F2. It is understood that the definitions of the pivot end, the first direction F1, and the second direction F2 also apply to the hinge device 10. Specifically, the pivot end of the movable hinge 8 in the hinge device 10, which rotates relative to the fixed hinge 1, is defined as the pivot end. When the movable hinge 8 is in the closed state, i.e., when the linkage assembly 2 is in the folded state, the direction from the center of the movable hinge 8 away from the fixed hinge 1 is defined as the first direction F1, and the direction from the center of the movable hinge 8 toward the pivot end is defined as the second direction F2.

[0115] Specifically, the first direction F1 is the forward direction away from the housing 20 / fixed hinge 1. When the pivot end side is the left end side, the second direction F2 is the direction from right to left, and when the pivot end side is the right end side, the second direction F2 is the direction from left to right. In short, the second direction F2 is the outward direction toward the pivot end side.

[0116] In one specific embodiment, the second connecting rod 22 has a guide shaft 221 that is rotatably and slidably connected within the slide groove 16. The slide groove 16 is located on the side away from the pivot end from the hinge point of the first connecting rod 21 and the fixed hinge member 1, and the slide groove 16 has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. When the connecting rod assembly 2 is in the folded state, the guide shaft 221 is located at the first end. When the connecting rod assembly 2 gradually unfolds from the folded state, the guide shaft 221 moves along the slide groove 16 toward the second end to drive the door body 30 to translate along a preset trajectory.

[0117] Specifically, from the first end toward the second end, the extending direction of the slide groove 16 has directional components of a first direction F1 and a second direction F2. Therefore, as the linkage assembly 2 gradually unfolds from its folded state, the movable hinge 8 moves simultaneously along both the first direction F1 and the second direction F2. That is, during the rotational opening process of the door body 30, the translational direction of the door body 30 simultaneously has directional components of both the first direction F1 and the second direction F2. On the one hand, during the opening of the door 30, the door 30 moves forward along the first direction F1 away from the cabinet 20, so that the pivot end of the door 30 located on the pivot end side gradually moves to the front side of the wall / cabinet located on the pivot end side. This avoids interference between the door 30 and the wall / cabinet located on the pivot end side during the opening process, allowing the door 30 to adapt to various application scenarios, such as the application scenario of built-in refrigerators. At the same time, it can also increase the maximum opening angle of the door 30. On the other hand, during the opening of the door 30, the door 30 simultaneously moves outward along the second direction F2 away from the cabinet 20, which can increase the opening degree of the door 30 and prevent the door 30 from obstructing the pulling out of the shelves / drawers inside the cabinet 20, thus making it easier for users to view and retrieve the items inside the cabinet 20.

[0118] Furthermore, the fixed hinge component 1 also includes a second clearance hole 17 at the first end that communicates with the slide groove 16, so that when the guide shaft 221 moves to the first end, the guide shaft 221 will not collide with the fixed hinge component 1, thereby avoiding noise and preventing damage to the guide shaft 221.

[0119] Specifically, the second clearance hole 17 can also be configured as a mounting hole for the guide shaft 221. In this case, the structure of the guide shaft 221 can be set with reference to the limiting shaft 31. Of course, this is not a limitation.

[0120] Referring to Figures 13 to 18, the hinge device 10b in the third embodiment of this application is shown. The difference between the third embodiment of this application and the above-mentioned embodiments is that the third embodiment of this application does not have the above-mentioned limiting shaft and first limiting groove, and the corresponding positioning mechanism is different.

[0121] Specifically, the positioning mechanism 4 includes a second elastic element 41 disposed on the assisting mechanism 3, a positioning block 42 disposed on one end of the second elastic element 41 facing the connecting plate, and a limiting hole 43 disposed on the connecting plate 15. The limiting hole 43 is located on the rotation path of the positioning block 42. During the process of the assisting mechanism 3 being in the initial position and rotating from the initial position toward the first preset position, the second elastic element 41 is in a compressed state, and the second elastic element 41 applies a pushing force to the positioning block 42 toward the connecting plate 15, and the positioning block 42 abuts against the connecting plate 15; when the assisting mechanism 3 rotates to the first preset position, the positioning block 42 moves to the limiting hole 43. Under the action of the elastic restoring force of the second elastic element 41, the positioning block 42 moves into the limiting hole 43, restricting the assisting mechanism 3 from continuing to rotate, and positioning the assisting mechanism 3 at the first preset position.

[0122] Specifically, the positioning block 42 is a hemispherical or spherical positioning block, and the limiting hole 43 is a circular hole adapted to the shape of the positioning block 42. On the one hand, this facilitates the positioning block 42 entering or exiting the limiting hole 43, and facilitates the switching between the linkage state and the disengagement state between the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2; on the other hand, it reduces the contact area between the positioning block 42 and the connecting plate 15, thereby reducing the friction between the positioning block 42 and the connecting plate 15, which is beneficial to the rotation of the assist mechanism 3.

[0123] In one specific embodiment, both connecting plates 15 are provided with limiting holes 43, and the positioning mechanism 4 includes two positioning blocks 42 that respectively cooperate with the two limiting holes 43. This improves the positioning stability of the positioning mechanism 4 for the assist mechanism 3.

[0124] Specifically, the drive block 33 is provided with a through hole 331 extending in the vertical direction, the second elastic member 41 is located in the through hole 331, and the two positioning blocks 42 are respectively installed on the upper and lower ends of the second elastic member 41 to cooperate with the two connecting plates 15 respectively.

[0125] The third embodiment of this application is identical to the first and second embodiments except for the differences mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0126] Referring to Figures 19-21, the hinge device 10c in the fourth embodiment of this application differs from the third embodiment in that the positioning mechanism 4a includes a positioning post 44 on the drive block 33 and a positioning groove 45 on the connecting plate 15. When the assisting mechanism 3 rotates to the first preset position, the positioning post 44 moves into the positioning groove 45. When the connecting rod assembly 2 disengages from the assisting mechanism 3, under the action of the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element, the positioning post 44 abuts against the groove wall of the positioning groove 45 to position the assisting mechanism 3 at the first preset position.

[0127] The fourth embodiment of this application is the same as the third embodiment except for the differences mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0128] Referring to Figures 22 and 23, the hinge device 10d in the fifth embodiment of this application differs from the aforementioned third embodiment in that: the connecting plate 15 facing the assist mechanism 3 is further provided with a second limiting groove 11b extending toward the limiting hole 43. In the linkage state, the positioning block 42 is located within the second limiting groove 11b. This improves the stability of the movement of the assist mechanism 3.

[0129] In one specific embodiment, the second limiting groove 11b is a groove formed by thinning from the side of the connecting plate 15 toward the assist mechanism 3, and the limiting hole 43 is a blind hole with a depth greater than the depth of the second limiting groove 11b, or the limiting hole 43 is a through hole. Of course, this is not a limitation; in other embodiments, the second limiting groove 11b can also be formed by a groove wall protruding from the connecting plate 15 and together enclosing the connecting plate 15.

[0130] Specifically, in the linkage state, the positioning block 42 abuts against the bottom wall of the second limiting groove 11b. At the same time, there is a gap between the positioning block 42 and the side wall of the second limiting groove 11b. Thus, during the stage when the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2 are linked together, the positioning block 42 will not come into contact with the wall of the second limiting groove 11b. The force of the assist mechanism 3 is fully applied to the connecting rod assembly 2, thereby improving the assist effect of the assist mechanism 3.

[0131] This implementation method is identical to the aforementioned third implementation method except for the differences described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0132] In summary, the hinge device 10 in this application, on the one hand, by rotatably connecting the assist mechanism 3 to the fixed hinge component 1, can improve the stability and reliability of the interaction force between the assist mechanism 3 and the linkage assembly 2, reduce the impact on the overall volume of the refrigerator, avoid noise caused by forceful door slamming, and improve the smoothness of opening and closing the door for the user; on the other hand, by providing a positioning mechanism that positions the assist mechanism 3 at a first preset position, the assist mechanism can be held at the first preset position in the disengaged state. When the door is closed to the disengaged angle, the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly can switch from the disengaged state to the linked state, thereby improving the stability of the assist mechanism.

[0133] Meanwhile, by setting the first limiting groove 11 on the fixed hinge 1 that cooperates with the assist mechanism 3 to rotate synchronously around the rotating end M when the force-applying end N acts on the connecting rod assembly 2, the smoothness of opening and closing the door 30 can be improved by setting the trajectory and length of the first limiting groove 11 to control the corresponding assisted closing angle / assisted opening angle and the disengagement angle between the assist mechanism 3 and the connecting rod assembly 2.

[0134] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, for example, if the technologies in different embodiments can be used in combination to achieve the corresponding effects simultaneously, the solutions are also within the protection scope of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application.

Claims

1. A hinge device, characterized in that: include: Fixed hinge components, used to secure the hinge to either the cabinet or the door. A linkage assembly, one end of which is movably connected to the fixed hinge and the other end of which is connected to the other side of the box and the door; A power-assisting mechanism is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge. The power-assisting mechanism and the linkage assembly have a linked state and a disengaged state. In the linked state, the power-assisting mechanism rotates with the rotation of the linkage assembly. A positioning mechanism is provided between the assisting mechanism and the fixed hinge to position the assisting mechanism at a first preset position. When the assisting mechanism is located at the first preset position and the linkage assembly continues to unfold, the assisting mechanism disengages from the linkage assembly.

2. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The assist mechanism has a rotating end rotatably connected to the fixed hinge member and a force-applying end opposite to the rotating end and used to act on a link in the linkage assembly. The force-applying end has a limiting shaft, and the fixed hinge member has a first limiting groove. When the assist mechanism rotates around the rotating end, the limiting shaft moves within the first limiting groove.

3. The hinge device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The first limiting groove has a relative starting position and an ending position. When the connecting rod assembly is in the folded state, the limiting shaft is located at the starting position. When the connecting rod assembly switches from the folded state to the unfolded state, the connecting rod assembly drives the limiting shaft to move to the ending position. The terminal position corresponds to the first preset position, and the limiting shaft and the terminal position together form the positioning mechanism.

4. The hinge device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The first limiting groove has a relative starting position and an ending position. When the connecting rod assembly is in the folded state, the limiting shaft is located at the starting position. When the connecting rod assembly switches from the folded state to the unfolded state, the connecting rod assembly drives the limiting shaft to move towards the ending position. From the starting position toward the ending position, the distance between the first limiting groove and the rotating end gradually decreases. In the linkage assembly, the linkage that interacts with the force-applying end has a first rotation axis. When the limiting shaft is located at the end position, the curvature center of the mating surface of the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly is located on the first line connecting the first rotation axis and the rotation axis of the rotating end, or on the side of the first line facing the starting position.

5. The hinge device as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The terminal position has a limiting part for limiting the limiting shaft, and the limiting shaft and the limiting part together form the positioning mechanism.

6. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed hinge component includes a connecting plate, and the positioning mechanism includes: The second elastic element is provided in the assist mechanism; A positioning block is provided at one end of the second elastic member facing the connecting plate, and the second elastic member applies a pushing force to the positioning block to move towards the connecting plate; A limiting hole is provided on the connecting plate, and the limiting hole is located on the rotation path of the positioning block.

7. The hinge device as described in claim 2 or 6, characterized in that: The link in the linkage assembly that interacts with the assist mechanism has a first rotation axis; when the assist mechanism is located at the first preset position, the center of curvature of the mating surface of the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly is located on a first line connecting the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis of the assist mechanism, or the center of curvature of the mating surface of the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly is located on the side of the first line away from the linkage assembly, or the center of curvature of the mating surface of the assist mechanism and the linkage assembly is located on the side of the first line facing the linkage assembly.

8. The hinge device as described in claim 2 or 6, characterized in that: The assist mechanism has a second rotation axis, and a second line connects the second rotation axis and the center of curvature of the mating surface of the assist mechanism and the link assembly; the link in the link assembly that interacts with the assist mechanism has a first rotation axis, and a first line connects the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis of the assist mechanism; a third line connects the center of curvature of the mating surface of the assist mechanism and the link assembly and the first rotation axis. When the link assembly is in the folded state, the angle between the first connecting line and the second connecting line is not greater than 60°; and / or, when the link assembly is in the folded state, the angle between the third connecting line and the first connecting line is not less than 5°.

9. The hinge device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The assist mechanism has a second rotation axis, and a second line connects the second rotation axis and the curvature center of the mating surface where the assist mechanism mates with the link assembly; the axis of the limiting shaft is located on the second line.

10. The hinge device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting shaft has a first shaft segment located within the first limiting groove, and the shaft diameter of the first shaft segment is smaller than the groove width of the first limiting groove. When the assist mechanism and the connecting rod assembly are linked together, there is a gap between the first shaft segment and the groove wall of the first limiting groove.

11. The hinge device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The first limiting groove has a relative starting position and an ending position. When the connecting rod assembly is in the folded state, the limiting shaft is located at the starting position. When the connecting rod assembly switches from the folded state to the unfolded state, the connecting rod assembly drives the limiting shaft to move to the ending position. The first limiting groove has a first groove wall away from the rotating end. The limiting shaft has a first shaft segment located in the first limiting groove. The shaft diameter of the first shaft segment is smaller than the groove width of the first limiting groove. During the process of the assist mechanism and the connecting rod assembly moving together and the limiting shaft moving from the second preset position to the end position, the gap between the first shaft segment and the first groove wall gradually decreases. The second preset position is the starting position or the second preset position is located between the starting position and the end position.

12. The hinge device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The first limiting groove has a relative starting position and an ending position. When the connecting rod assembly is in the folded state, the limiting shaft is located at the starting position. When the connecting rod assembly switches from the folded state to the unfolded state, the connecting rod assembly drives the limiting shaft to move to the ending position. The fixed hinge component is also provided with a first clearance hole that communicates with the first limiting groove at the starting position.

13. The hinge device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that: The limiting shaft has a first shaft segment located within the first limiting groove and a second shaft segment coaxial with the first shaft segment and located outside the first limiting groove. The shaft diameter of the second shaft segment is greater than the shaft diameter of the first shaft segment, and the groove width of the first limiting groove is less than the shaft diameter of the second shaft segment. The first clearance hole is a mounting hole, and the diameter of the mounting hole is not less than the shaft diameter of the second shaft segment.

14. The hinge device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The fixed hinge component includes a fixed plate for fixing to one of the box body or the door body, two connecting plates connected to opposite ends of the fixed plate, the connecting plates being perpendicular to the fixed plate, the assist mechanism being disposed between the two connecting plates, and the first limiting groove being disposed on the connecting plate; The limiting shaft has a first shaft segment located within the first limiting groove and a second shaft segment coaxial with the first shaft segment and located outside the first limiting groove. The shaft diameter of the second shaft segment is greater than that of the first shaft segment, and the groove width of the first limiting groove is less than that of the second shaft segment. The assist mechanism includes a drive block that cooperates with the connecting rod assembly. The drive block is provided with a through hole for receiving the second shaft segment.

15. The hinge device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The first limiting groove is an arc-shaped groove.

16. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The mating surface between the assist mechanism and the connecting rod assembly is arc-shaped.

17. The hinge device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The positioning block is a spherical positioning block or a hemispherical positioning block; the limiting hole is a circular hole that matches the shape of the positioning block.

18. The hinge device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The connecting plate is provided with a second limiting groove extending toward the limiting hole on the side facing the assist mechanism. In the linkage state, the positioning block is located in the second limiting groove.

19. The hinge device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that: In the linked state, there is a gap between the positioning block and the side wall of the second limiting groove.

20. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The supporting organizations include: A rotating seat, which is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge member; A drive block, which acts on a link in the linkage assembly, and a positioning mechanism is disposed between the drive block and the fixed hinge member; A damping rod, one end of which is connected to the rotating seat and the other end of which is connected to the driving block; A first elastic element, one end of which abuts against the rotating seat and the other end of which abuts against the driving block.

21. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The linkage assembly includes a first link rotatably connected to the fixed hinge, and the assist mechanism acts on the first link.

22. The hinge device as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that: The first connecting rod is connected to a protruding block that acts with the assist mechanism, and the protruding block is detachably connected to the first connecting rod.

23. The hinge device as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that: The hinge device includes a pivot shaft that rotatably connects the first connecting rod to the fixed hinge member, and the protruding block is sleeved on the pivot shaft; a limiting structure is also provided between the protruding block and the first connecting rod to restrict the rotation of the protruding block relative to the first connecting rod.

24. The hinge device as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that: The fixed hinge is used to connect the housing and the door, and the linkage assembly further includes: The second link has one end rotatably and slidably connected to the fixed hinge, and the other end is rotatably connected to the other side of the box and the door. The second link intersects with the first link and is rotatably connected at the intersection. The third link has one end rotatably connected to the other end of the box body and the door body, and the other end rotatably connected to the first link.

25. The hinge device as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that: The fixed hinge component is provided with a sliding groove that cooperates with the second connecting rod. The second connecting rod has a guide shaft located in the sliding groove. The sliding groove has a first end and a second end that are opposite each other. When the connecting rod assembly is in the folded state, the guide shaft is located at the first end. The fixed hinge component also includes a second clearance hole at the first end that communicates with the slide groove.

26. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The linkage assembly is connected to a protruding block that cooperates with the assist mechanism; the assist mechanism includes a drive block that cooperates with the protruding block and a stop block located at one end of the drive block facing the protruding block, the stop block being located on the side of the drive block away from the linkage assembly.

27. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The hinge device further includes a movable hinge component, with one end of the linkage assembly movably connected to the fixed hinge component and the other end connected to the movable hinge component; And / or, the fixed hinge is used to securely connect to the housing.

28. A refrigeration device, comprising a housing and a door for opening or closing the housing, characterized in that: The refrigeration equipment further includes a hinge device as described in any one of claims 1 to 27.

Images