Adjustable Four-Axis Appliance Hinge for Door Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hinges in electrical appliances, particularly those with multiple fulcrum points, occupy more space and can cause conflicts with adjacent objects, limiting the door's opening angle and user-friendliness, especially in built-in appliances.
Innovation Solution
A hinge with four pivot axes and an adjustable stop member that allows users to set the maximum pivot angle, optimizing door movement based on the installation environment, using an eccentric mechanism for easy adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple fulcrum hinges are used, then the door can move slightly out of the body reducing strain on insulation arrangements, but the hinge occupies more space and limits the opening angle
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into multiple fulcrum points (first and second fulcrums) with separate hinge members, allowing the door to move in a complex trajectory that reduces strain on insulation while keeping each individual hinge member compact
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge uses multiple rotation axes (first and second rotation axes at different locations) to create a three-dimensional movement path for the door, enabling it to clear adjacent objects and reduce strain on insulation arrangements without requiring excessive space
2Ease of operation
If multiple fulcrum hinges are used, then the door movement path is improved, but the hinge occupies more space causing conflicts with adjacent objects
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is segmented into multiple independent hinge members (first hinge member with first fulcrum, second hinge member with second fulcrum) that work together to create an optimized door movement path while maintaining compact individual component sizes
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing multiple rotation axes at different positions and orientations, the hinge creates a multi-dimensional door movement trajectory that efficiently navigates around adjacent objects, improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing the space occupied
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the maximum pivot angle is limited by a fixed stop member, then door conflicts with adjacent objects are prevented, but user-friendliness is reduced especially for built-in appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the maximum pivot angle to be dynamically changed according to the installation environment. This enables the hinge to adapt between preventing door conflicts in tight spaces and allowing greater opening angles when space permits, thereby improving user-friendliness
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the parameter of maximum pivot angle by adjusting the stop member position. This parameter change enables the same hinge to function differently based on installation conditions, resolving the contradiction between preventing conflicts and maintaining user-friendliness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables larger opening angles for easier access to appliance compartments, reducing the likelihood of door conflicts with adjacent objects, and enhancing user-friendliness by allowing flexible adjustment of the pivot angle.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the stop member is configured to abut against a portion of the second hinge member to limit further pivoting of the door when the door reaches a maximum pivot angle
Implementation Method 2
using an eccentric mechanism for easy adjustment
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5c
Figure 6~8c
AI summary
An electrical appliance is disclosed (1) comprising a hinge (4) and a door (5') pivotally attached to an appliance body (2') via the hinge (4). The hinge (4) comprises a door member (5), a body member (2), a first hinge member (6) pivotally attached to the body member (2) around a first pivot axis (p1), and a second hinge member (7) pivotally attached to the body member (2) around a second pivot axis (p2). The door member (5) is pivotally attached to the first hinge member (6) around a third pivot axis (p3) and is pivotally attached to the second hinge member (7) around a fourth pivot axis (p4). The first hinge member (6) comprises a stop member (8, 8') configured to limit further pivoting of the door (5') when the door (5') reaches a maximum pivot angle (pA). The stop member (8, 8') is adjustable to allow adjustment of the maximum pivot angle (pA).