Adjustable Hinge Sleeve with Thrust Decomposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door and window hinges lack independent crosswise adjustments and effective slack recovery, leading to malfunctions and potential breakages, especially in heavy or large installations.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable hinge design featuring a sleeve with semicylindrical projections for continuous lateral adjustment and a locking mechanism that decomposes thrust along non-parallel directions to securely position the hinge components, allowing independent lateral, orthogonal, and vertical adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a toothed surface and base block mechanism is used for crosswise adjustment, then the hinge allows for adjustment of hinge body positions, but the structure becomes complicated and continuous adjustment is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the toothed surface and base block mechanism from the hinge design. Instead, it uses a simple sleeve that can rotate freely within the pin, allowing continuous crosswise adjustment without complex locking mechanisms. The sleeve's eccentric position relative to the pin axis provides the adjustment function without requiring teeth or engagement features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment capability by allowing the sleeve to rotate continuously within the pin without fixed engagement points. This enables smooth, continuous crosswise adjustment of the hinge bodies rather than discrete stepwise movement, improving adaptability while reducing structural complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a locking dowel is used to secure the sleeve position, then the sleeve can be locked in place, but slack in the coupling between housing and sleeve is not recovered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thrust component that acts in a direction orthogonal to the locking dowel's action. This additional dimensional force ensures that slack is recovered in all directions, not just along the locking dowel's line of action. The thrust component pushes the sleeve and housing together perpendicular to the dowel axis, eliminating gaps in the coupling comprehensively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thrust component that preemptively counteracts any potential slack or gap formation between the sleeve and housing. By continuously applying this orthogonal thrust, the design prevents coupling loosening before it can cause malfunction or breakage, enhancing reliability proactively rather than reactively.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sleeve is off-centre with respect to the pin axis, then crosswise adjustment is achieved through eccentricity, but the coupling between sleeve and housing becomes loose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a thrust component acting in a direction orthogonal to both the pin axis and the eccentricity direction. This third-dimensional force presses the sleeve and housing together, maintaining tight coupling despite the sleeve's off-center position. The thrust prevents lateral play and ensures reliable coupling while preserving the full crosswise adjustment range provided by the eccentric design.
4Device complexity
If simultaneous adjustment in both crosswise directions is the only option, then the hinge structure remains simple, but the range of allowable adjustments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adjustment function into two independent segments: one for lateral adjustment and one for orthogonal adjustment. Each direction has its own dedicated mechanism, allowing adjustments to be made independently rather than simultaneously. This segmentation doubles the effective adjustment range while keeping each individual mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment capability in both crosswise directions through the rotating sleeve mechanism. The sleeve can be positioned at any angle around the pin axis, enabling independent adjustment in lateral and orthogonal directions. This dynamic freedom of rotation provides comprehensive adjustment range without requiring complex multi-mechanism systems.
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 precise, continuous, and independent adjustments that effectively take up slack, enhancing durability and ensuring proper operation without malfunctions or breakages.
Implementation Method 1
a locking mechanism that decomposes thrust along non-parallel directions to securely position the hinge components
Implementation Method 2
a sleeve with semicylindrical projections for continuous lateral adjustment
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
An adjustable hinge for doors and windows, comprising: a) two hinge bodies (11, 12) for attaching respectively to the door frame (13) and door leaf (14); b) a revolving pin (15) suitable for mutually articulating the hinge bodies (11, 12); c) means (17) for adjusting the mutual positions of the two hinge bodies (11, 12) in a direction (Z) crosswise to the axis of the pin. The adjustment means (17) comprise a sleeve (20), axially associated with the pin (15), defining an external lateral coupling surface (20b) with a corresponding housing (22) defined in a first (11) of said hinge bodies (11, 12). The sleeve (20) is pivotally engaged with the housing (22) so that, while remaining constantly in contact with the walls (22a, 22b) of the cavity (22) during any rotation to change its position, it can occupy substantially any position required along a limited length of the crosswise adjustment direction (Z). Reversible locking means (25) are provided for locking the sleeve (20) in the positions it can occupy inside the housing (20) by means of a thrusting action in a defined locking direction (0). The sleeve (20) comprises at least three distinct portions (20b) of contact with the walls of the housing (22) spaced angularly with respect to one another. When the locking means (25) are in action, at least two of said distinct portions (20b) exert a thrusting force, in directions incident to one another, on respective parts (22a, 22b) of said walls so as to take up any slack in the coupling between the sleeve (20) and the housing (22) in directions incident to one another.