Adjustable Door Hinge With Friction Damping for Variable Leaf Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges for rotary movement of closing elements, such as doors, are often complex, costly, and difficult to assemble, and lack flexibility in accommodating varying thicknesses of closing elements.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system with a simplified design comprising a fixed element anchored to a stationary structure and a movable element, featuring a pin and plate configuration with adjustable components allowing for precise positioning and compatibility with varying door thicknesses, facilitated by adjustable grub screws and slots for easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a door is divided into two leaves joined by a hinge to improve ease of operation, then the door becomes easier to maneuver through tight spaces, but the hinge mechanism introduces complexity and potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The door is divided into two separate leaves that can move independently relative to each other, connected by the hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows each leaf to be maneuvered separately, improving ease of operation in tight spaces while maintaining structural integrity through the connection point.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism allows the door leaves to change their relative position parameters dynamically. The leaves can rotate from a parallel configuration to an orthogonal configuration, enabling the door to adapt to different spatial constraints and improve operational flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional hinge construction methods are used with separate components, then manufacturing is easier, but assembly precision and structural integrity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge components (first hinge component, second hinge component, and connecting element) are merged into a single monolithic structure through additive manufacturing. This integration eliminates assembly errors and ensures precise geometric relationships between components while maintaining the ease of manufacturing through digital design and automated fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing method transitions from conventional subtractive or assembly-based approaches to additive manufacturing, fundamentally changing the production parameters. This allows for complex internal geometries and precise tolerances to be achieved directly in the manufacturing process, improving assembly precision without sacrificing ease of manufacture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hinge allows full rotational movement for versatility, then the door can adapt to various configurations, but the structural integrity and stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism provides dynamic adaptability by allowing the door leaves to rotate between parallel and orthogonal configurations, enabling the structure to adapt to different spatial requirements. The monolithic construction ensures that this dynamic movement maintains structural integrity throughout the range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is constructed as a monolithic structure that combines multiple functional elements (hinge components and connecting elements) into a single composite unit. This composite structure provides both the versatility of movement and the stability of a unified construction, eliminating weak points that would exist in assembled mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~1B
Figure 1C~2A
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge device for the rotary movement around an axis (X) of a closing element (A), comprising a fixed element (2) which can be anchored to the stationary supporting structure and a movable element (3) which can be anchored to the closing element (A). The movable element (3) includes a hinge body (30), while the fixed element (2) includes a plate (10) which can be anchored to the supporting structure and defining a plane (π") perpendicular to the closing element (A). The device comprises means for adjusting the spatial position (28) of the hinge body (30) with respect to the plate (10) which comprise a pair of opposite longitudinal projections (21',21") integrally joined to the pin (20), which can be inserted into a slot (16) made in the plate (10), in which the longitudinal projections (21', 21") are movable along the aforementioned plane (π"). A pair of adjustment grub screws (14) located at the slot (16) promotes the integrally joined rotation of the longitudinal projections (21',21") and of the pin (20) around the rotation axis (X). Furthermore, the hinge body (30) includes a seat (50) for the mutual movement of the pin (20) and of the hinge body (30) around the rotation axis (X). The seat (50) includes damping means (54) interacting directly by friction with the pin (20) to dampen - in a differentiated manner - the rotation of the latter and of the hinge body (30). The invention also relates to a system for fixing the closing element (A) to a horizontal stationary supporting structure. The system comprises the aforementioned hinge device (1) and a pair of clamping elements (40) for fixing the closing element (A).