A hydraulic hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a wing or the like

Abstract

A hydraulic hinge for the controlled movement of a closing element anchored to a frame or counter-frame. The hinge comprises a hinge body (10) and a pivot (20) rotatably coupled to mutually rotate around (X); a plunger element (40') slidable along the axis (X) which includes a slider (40) and a stem (30); actuator means (70, 71). The latter comprise at least one ball (70) and at least one groove (71) wherein the ball (70) is slidably engaged. At least one of the pivot (20) and the stem (30) comprises at least one seat (72) for the at least one ball (70), at least the other of the pivot (20) and the stem (30) comprising the at least one groove (71).

Description

[0001] A HYDRAULIC HINGE FOR THE CONTROLLED MOVEMENT OF A DOOR, A WING OR THE LIKE DESCRIPTION

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to the technical field of closing and / or control systems for doors, door leaves or the like, and it particularly relates to a hydraulic hinge.

[0004] State of the Art

[0005] Patents EP2694764 and EP2785943, on behalf of the Applicant in question, disclose hydraulic hinges having a hinge body into which there is inserted a stem with an end connected to a slider and the other end connected with a pin to a pivot provided with helical cavities which determine the motion of the door, door leaf or the like to which the hinge is connected.

[0006] The slider partitions the working chamber inside the hinge body into two variable volume compartments, placed in fluid communication with each other by means a circuit inside the hinge body. In such hydraulic hinges, the pivot, the slider and the stem lie along the same axis, which also defines the movement direction of the slider.

[0007] Such hinges have a hydraulic circuit provided in the hinge body to make the door move towards the closing position starting from a predetermined angular position, in proximity of the same closing position.

[0008] While brilliantly performing their task, such hinges have large overall dimensions and are relatively expensive, which makes them less recommendable for some applications.

[0009] The United States Patent application number US2009 / 0214289 discloses a hinge having a structure similar to the one described above. As a matter of fact, such hinge has actuator means consisting of a movable pin in a helical groove and connected to a slider. The movement of the actuator means is countered by a torsion spring, which promotes the automatic closing of the door. There is also provided for a friction mechanism to allow the free rotation of the shaft without loading the torsion spring. Such friction mechanism includes one or more balls which selectively connect and disconnect the shaft and the torsion spring.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks illustrated above by providing a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like that is highly efficient and cost-effective.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like having minimum overall dimensions, in particular minimum radial overall dimensions.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf of the like that is easy to manufacture.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like, with a minimum number of pieces.

[0015] These and other objects which will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a hinge as described, illustrated and / or claimed herein.

[0016] The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0017] Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view of a first embodiment of the hinge 1;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of some components of the embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view some components of the embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG.4 is an exploded schematic view of a second embodiment of the hinge 1;

[0023] FIG. 5 is an assembled schematic view of the second embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 4;

[0024] FIG. 6 is an axonometric view of the stem 30 of the second embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 4;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge body 10 of the second embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG.4.

[0026] Detailed description of some preferred embodiments With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a hydraulic hinge 1, that is a hinge containing a working fluid, for example oil.

[0027] The hinge 1 may be advantageously suitable to be used for the controlled movement of any closing element, for example a door, a door leaf or the like, anchored to a stationary support structure, for example a wall, a frame or counter-frame or a floor.

[0028] Although hereinafter reference shall be made to the closing element such as a door and to the stationary support structure such as a frame, it is clear that the hinge 1 may be suitable to be connected to any closing element and to any stationary support structure without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0029] It is also clear that the door and the frame are not part of the present invention and they are not shown in the figures given that they are per se known.

[0030] Figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the hinge 1, while figures 4 to 7 show a second embodiment of the hinge 1. Unless otherwise specified, it is clear that the description below is common to both embodiments.

[0031] Generally, the hinge 1 may comprise one or more movable elements which can be directly or indirectly anchored to the door and one or more fixed elements which can be directly or indirectly anchored to the frame.

[0032] More particularly, the hinge 1 may include a hinge body 10, which may internally comprise a hydraulic working chamber 11, that is a working chamber which includes a working fluid, for example oil, and a pivot 20, which may include or consist of a hollow cylindrical portion 21 and a coupling portion 22.

[0033] The hinge body 10 and the pivot 20 may be coaxial to each other and rotatably coupled to rotate one with respect to the other around an axis X between a door closed position and a door open position.

[0034] It is clear that the fixed element may comprise one of the hinge body 10 and the pivot 20, while the movable element may comprise one of the hinge body 10 and the pivot 20 without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0035] Advantageously, the hinge body 10, which may be configured as a lower half-hinge comprising a tubular portion 10' and the lower fin 10" which can be connected to the door frame, may be fixed while the pivot 20 may be movable integrally joined with an upper half- hinge 200 which can be connected to the door.

[0036] More particularly, the upper half-hinge 200 may include a fin 20' which can be connected to the door and a tubular portion 20". The upper half-hinge may be provided integrally joined with pivot 20 by means of a pin passing through the seat 20'" and the coupling portion 22. On the upper half-hinge 200 there may be inserted a closing cap 200'.

[0037] There may also be provided for a hollow bushing 23 into which there is coaxially inserted the pivot 20 with its coupling portion 22 protruding therefrom for coupling with the upper half-hinge 200. The bushing 23 may be integrally connected with the hinge body 10, for example by means of screw and female screw means 230.

[0038] The upper half-hinge 200 may be inserted coaxially with the hollow bushing 23 by possibly interposing a ball bearing 24, preferably an axial ball bearing.

[0039] The hinge 1 may further comprise a stem 30 with an end 31 connected with a slider 40 and an opposite end 32. More particularly, the stem 30 may have the end 31 inserted into the hydraulic working chamber 11 and the opposite end 32 outside the latter, and more precisely into the hollow cylindrical portion 21 of the pivot 20.

[0040] Once mutually connected, the stem 30 may extend from the slider 40 so that the assembly of these two components defines a unitary plunger element 40' adapted to slide along the axis X.

[0041] In the embodiment of the hinge 1 shown in figures 1 to 3, the end 32 of the stem 30 may lie against elastic counteracting means 50, for example a compression spring. Although hereinafter reference will be made to a single compression spring, it is clear that the hinge 1 may comprise elastic counteracting means of any type, and in particular any number of compression springs, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0042] More particularly, the compression spring 50 may be interposed between an abutment surface 25 of the hollow cylindrical portion 21 of the pin 20 and the end 32 of the stem 30, which may have a centring pin 33' for the spring 50.

[0043] On the other hand, in the embodiment of the hinge 1 shown in figures 4 to 7 the compression spring 50 may act against the slider 40. More particularly, the compression spring 50 may be interposed between the slider 40 and a closing cap 60 of the hydraulic chamber 11. Generally, the one or more compression springs 50, which as better specified below may or may not be present in the hinge 1, may act against the unitary assembly between the stem 30 and the slide 40, that is against the plunger element 40', so as to counter the sliding thereof along the axis X and promote the closing of the door from the open position.

[0044] In order to avoid the outflow of working fluid from the working chamber 11, the stem 30 may sealingly slide therein, for example by means of one or more O-rings 33 interposed between the stem 30 and the inner wall 11' of the working chamber 11.

[0045] Although in the figures shown herein the hinge 1 comprises a compression spring 50, the hinge according to the present invention may or may not provide for such elastic counteracting means without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0046] If present, the one or more compression springs 50 may be one or more closing springs, so that the hinge is a closing hinge.

[0047] On the other hand, the hinge 1 may include a return spring or also be without elastic counteracting means, in which case the hinge will be a mere hydraulic control hinge. In this case, the door may be moved manually or by means of external actuators, for example a further closing hinge or an electric actuator.

[0048] The slidable movement of the plunger element 40' along the axis X may be promoted by the rotation mentioned above, as better outlined hereinafter.

[0049] The slider 40 may partition the working chamber 11 into at least two variable volume compartments 12, 13 fluidly communicating with each other and preferably adjacent and it may include valve means for controlling the flow of the working fluid between them, which may have any configuration.

[0050] For example, the valve means may provide for a single valve configured to open upon the mutual rotation of the hinge body 10 and of the pivot 20 from the door closed position to the door open one so as to allow the passage from one to the other of the variable volume compartments 12, 13 and to close upon the reverse rotation. In this case, the working fluid may flow back into the variable volume compartment 13 due to leakage between the slider 40 and the inner wall 11' of the working chamber 11 or through a suitable circuit obtained in the hinge body 10.

[0051] In the embodiments of the hinge 1 shown in FIGS. 1 - 7, the slider 40 may sealingly slide in the working chamber 11, for example by means of one or more O-rings 43 interposed between the slider 40 and the inner wall 11' of the working chamber 11, and it may comprise a first valve with a first shutter 41 forced by a first spring 41' against a first seat 41'" passing through a first grub screw 41".

[0052] The first valve mentioned above may be configured to selectively open upon the rotation of the hinge body 10 of the pivot 20 from the closed to the open position so as to allow the through-flow of the working fluid from the variable volume compartment 13 to the variable volume compartment 12 through the channel 34 and to close upon the reverse rotation.

[0053] In order to allow the backflow of the working fluid from the variable volume compartment 12 to the variable volume compartment 13 there may be provided for a suitable hydraulic circuit obtained in the hinge body 10, and in particular at the lower fin 10".

[0054] Such circuit may provide for three openings 81, 82, 83 which are mutually superimposed and mutually connected to each other by means of a through channel 84. In the preferred but not exclusive embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 - 7, the opening 81 may act as an inlet for the working fluid and the openings 82, 83 may act as an outlet thereof.

[0055] It is clear that the opening may have an opposite function without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0056] In the through channel 84 on opposite sides with respect thereto there may act two elements 85, 86 for adjusting the flow of the working fluid. Both may all have a conical end 85', 86' acting in corresponding counter-shaped portions of the channel 84 and both may be operated from the external or by an operator to widen or narrow the through-flow section of the working fluid.

[0057] Furthermore, the adjustment element 86, may include a through duct 86" so that the opening 83 is always in fluidic communication with the opening 81 by means of the channel 84, irrespective of the through-flow of the working fluid at the end 86 and irrespective of the fact that the working fluid flows or does not flow through the opening 82.

[0058] As a matter of fact, when closing the door, for a first part of the of the stroke thereof, the slider 40 will lie against the opening 82, basically plugging it and therefore preventing the through-flow of the working fluid. In such part of the stroke of the slider 40, the working fluid will enter through the opening 81 and it will only exit through the opening 83 passing through the channel 84 and the through duct 86".

[0059] In a second part of the stroke thereof, starting from the moment when the slider 40 exceeds the opening 82, the latter remains open and the working fluid may also flow out from the latter. This will determine a sudden inflow of a larger amount of working fluid into the variable volume compartment 12, which will cause the acceleration of the slider 40 and the snapping of the door towards the closing position.

[0060] An operator, acting suitably on the adjustment elements 85, 86, may respectively adjust the closing speed and the force of the closing snap of the door respectively.

[0061] In order to prevent the hinge 1 from breaking if forced to close and / or open, there may be provided for respective relief valves, which may be configured so as to open if the pressure in variable volume compartment 12 and / or variable volume compartment 13 during the opening and / or closing of the door exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0062] The configuration of the relief valves may be substantially the same as that of the valve with shutter 41 mentioned above.

[0063] In particular, a first relief valve configured to open in the event of forced opening may have a second shutter 42 forced by a second spring 42' and a second grub screw 42" against a second seat 42"' passing through the same grub screw 42".

[0064] Furthermore, a second relief valve configured to open in the event of forced closing, it may have a third shutter 44 forced by a third spring 44' and a third adjustment grub screw 44" against a third seat 44'" passing through the same grub screw 42".

[0065] The working chamber 11 may be sea lingly closed by a closing cap 60 connected to the hinge body 10. Advantageously, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 the closing cap 60 may include a through-element 61 adapted to come into contact with the shutter 41 to open it near the closing, facilitating the final snapping of the door.

[0066] In order to promote the slidable movement of the plunger element 40' along the axis X, there may be provided for special actuator means for the mutual operational connection between the pivot 20 and the plunger element 40', so that the mutual rotation between the pivot 20 and the hinge body 10 around the axis X promotes the sliding of the plunger element 40' along the same axis X.

[0067] Generally, such actuator means comprise one or more balls 70 and one or more grooves 71 in which said balls 70 are slidably engaged. The one or more balls 70 may be inserted into corresponding one or more seats 72 obtained in at least one of the pivot 20 and the stem 30, while at least the other of the pivot 20 and the stem 30 may comprise one or more grooves 71.

[0068] Preferably, the hinge may comprise three balls 70 inserted in corresponding three seats 72 obtained into the pivot 20, at 120° from each other and lying on a plane n substantially perpendicular to the axis X, while the stem 30 may comprise a single inclined groove 71 with a predetermined angle.

[0069] Suitably, the inclined groove 71 may extend by at least 90° around the axis X, preferably by 180°.

[0070] Although hereinafter reference will be made to such embodiment, the one or more balls 70 and one or more grooves 71 may vary in number and configuration without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0071] For example, the hinge of the present invention may include a single ball 70 engaged in a single inclined groove 71.

[0072] On the other hand, the hinge of the present invention may include two or more balls 70.

[0073] In this case, there may be provided two or more inclined grooves 71, with each ball 70 engaged in a respective single inclined groove 71, possibly in groups of at least two. For example, there may be provided two inclined grooves 71, and in each of them there may be engaged a single ball 70. In this case, the inclinations of inclined grooves 71 may all be substantially equal, that is the inclined grooves 71 may be substantially parallel.

[0074] On the other hand, in an alternative embodiment, the balls 70 may define a plane inclined with respect to the axis X and they are all engaged in a respective single groove 71 defining a plane n substantially perpendicular with respect to the axis X.

[0075] In any case, the balls 70 may protrude slightly from the respective seat 72 so as to be slidably engaged in the inclined groove 71. More particularly, the balls 70 may rotate without sliding along the inclined groove 71. Advantageously, each seat 72 may be configured so that the respective ball 70 can only rotate within the same seat 72, without translating along it.

[0076] To this end, in a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment for example shown in FIG.

[0077] 3, each seat 72 may have a substantially square-shaped cross-section with side 73 having a length I substantially equal to the diameter D of each ball 70. Furthermore, each seat 72 may have a depth P slightly less than the length I of each side 73.

[0078] In a further embodiment, each seat 72 may have a circular cross-section with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of each ball.

[0079] Therefore, the balls 70 may only rotate in the respective seat 72 around the centre thereof.

[0080] Advantageously, each seat 72 may be defined by a hole passing through the wall of the hollow cylindrical portion 21 of the pivot 20, and the bottom wall of each seat 72 may be defined by the inner wall portion 23' of the bushing 23 arranged thereat.

[0081] This will allow to provide the hinge 1 in the simplest manner possible, reducing the costs thereof.

[0082] In order to prevent the rotation of the stem 30 around the axis X, there may be provided for suitable anti-rotation means.

[0083] For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS 4 - 7, such anti-rotation means may include two or more balls 90 which can be inserted into suitable seats 91 passing through the end 10'" of the hinge body 10. Suitably, the seats 91 may be configured like the seats 72, while the balls 90 can be configured like the balls 70.

[0084] The balls 90 may lie against the portion 23" of the inner wall of the bushing 23 located at the seats 91 and against axial grooves 35 of the stem 30, for example a pair of milled portions.

[0085] The hinge 1 may be made of plastic material and / or made of metal material.

[0086] From an operative standpoint, when a user opens the door, the working fluid, initially contained in the compartment 13, passes into the compartment 12 passing through the valve seat 41"'opening the relative shutter 41. During such step, the plunger element 40' slides along the axis X to load the spring 50.

[0087] When closing, the spring 50 acts on the plunger element 40' to close the door. During such step, the working fluid passes from compartment 12 to the compartment 13 through channel 84 as described above.

[0088] During such step, in the event of forced opening and / or closing of the door, for example due to a gust of wind or thrust by an incautious user, the shutter 42 and / or 44 of the relief valves may open, to allow a fast flow of working fluid from the variable volume compartment 12 to the compartment 13 and avoid damaging the hinge 1.

[0089] In the light of the above, the invention attains the pre-established objects.

[0090] The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the attached claims. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hydraulic hinge for the controlled movement of a closing element, for example a door, a door leaf or the like, anchored to a frame or counter-frame, the hinge comprising:- a hinge body (10) which can be anchored to one of the closing element or the frame or counter-frame;- a pivot (20) which can be anchored to the other of the closing element or the frame or counter-frame;wherein said hinge body (10) and pivot (20) are coaxially and rotationally coupled to mutually rotate around an axis (X) between an open position and a closed position of the closing element;wherein said hinge body (10) internally includes a hydraulic working chamber (11) defining said axis (X), the hinge further comprising:- a working fluid inserted into said hydraulic working chamber (11);- a plunger element (40') at least partially inserted into said working chamber (11) coaxially therewith to slidably move along said axis (X), said plunger element (40') comprising or consisting of:- a slider (40) susceptible to at least partly divide said working chamber (11) into at least two variable volume compartments (12, 13) which are fluidly communicating with each other;- a stem (30) extending from said slider (40) along said axis (X);- valve means (41, 41', 41", 41'") for controlling the flow of the working fluid between said at least two variable volume compartments (12, 13);- actuator means (70, 71) for the mutual operational connection between said pivot (20) and said plunger element (40'), so that the mutual rotation between said pivot (20) and said hinge body (10) around said axis (X) promotes the sliding of said plunger element (40') along the same axis (X); wherein said actuator means comprise at least a first ball (70) and at least a first groove (71) wherein said first ball (70) is slidably engaged, at least one of said pivot (20) and said stem (30) comprising at least one first seat (72) for said at least one first ball (70), at least the other of said pivot (20) and said stem (30) comprising said at least one first groove2. Hinge according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first ball (70) protrudes slightly from said at least one first seat (72) so as to be slidably engaged in said at least one first groove (71), said at least one first ball (70) and said at least one first groove (71) moving one with respect to the other upon the mutual rotation between said hinge body (10) and pivot (20).

3. Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one first seat (72) is configured so that said at least one first ball (70) can only rotate around its centre inside the first seat (72) without translating therein.

4. Hinge according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said at least one first seat (72) has a substantially square shape in a plan view with a side (73) with length (I) substantially equal to the diameter (D) of said at least one first ball (70), said at least one first seat (72) having a depth (P) slightly less than the length (I) of said side (73).

5. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:- said at least one first groove (71) is inclined with respect to said axis (X), said at least one inclined first groove (71) extending for at least 90° around said axis (X), preferably for 180°;or- the hinge comprises two or more first balls (70) defining a plane inclined with respect to said axis (X) and they are engaged in a respective first groove (71) defining a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to said axis (X), said inclined plane extending for at least 90° around said axis (X), preferably for 180°.

6. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge comprises two or more first balls (70) defining a plane (n) substantially perpendicular with respect to said axis (X), said balls (70) being engaged in a respective single first groove (71) inclined with respect to said axis (X).

7. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hinge body (10) comprises a circuit (81, 82, 83, 84) for the flowing of said working fluid, said valve means (41, 41', 41", 41'") being configured to open upon mutual rotation of said hinge body (10) andpivot (20) from said closed position to said open position to allow the through-flow of the working fluid and to close upon opposite mutual rotation so as to force said working fluid to flow through said circuit (81, 82, 83, 84).

8. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slider (40) comprises first relief valve means (42, 42', 42", 42'") configured to selectively open in the event of accidental forcing occurring upon the rotation of said hinge body (10) and pivot (20) from said closed position to said open position and second relief valve means (44, 44', 44", 44'") configured to selectively open in the event of accidental forcing occurring upon the rotation of said hinge body (10) and pivot (20) from said open position to said closed position.

9. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising elastic counteracting means (50) acting on said plunger element (40') to promote the mutual rotation of said hinge body (10) and pivot (20) from said open position to said closed position, said elastic counteracting means (50) preferably consisting of a compression spring (50).

10. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hinge body (10) is a lower half-hinge comprising a lower tubular portion (10') and a lower connection portion (10"), the hinge further comprising an upper half-hinge (200) which includes an upper connection portion (20') and an upper tubular portion (20"), said pivot (20) being arranged above said hinge body (10) and comprising a hollow cylindrical portion (21) and a coupling portion (22) integrally joined with said upper half-hinge (200), the hinge further comprising a hollow bushing (23) integrally joined with said hinge body (10), said pivot (20) being coaxially inserted into said hollow bushing (23) with said coupling portion (22) protruding therefrom, said upper half-hinge (200) being coaxially inserted with said hollow bushing (23), said at least one seat (72) being defined by a hole passing through said hollow cylindrical portion (21).

11. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising antirotation means to prevent rotation of said stem (30) around said axis (X) during its sliding along the same axis (X) comprising two or more second balls (90) inserted into respective second seats (91) passing through said hinge body (10), said second balls (90) beingrotationally engaged in respective second grooves (35) which extend axially along said stem (30) parallel to said axis (X).

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