Adjustable Offset Hinge for Varying Cold Room Door Thickness

Solution Overview

Problem

The varying thicknesses of doors in walk-in cold rooms require multiple offset-sized hinges for proper mounting, increasing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

An offset adjustable hinge with a mounting flange assembly and cam assembly allows for adjustable offset positioning via pivot pin mounting holes and cam followers, enabling the hinge to accommodate different door sizes by determining the offset through pivot pin placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple offset-sized hinges are designed and produced to accommodate different door thicknesses, then proper mounting and sealing of various door sizes is achieved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different door thicknessesVSAvoidnumber of hinge variants

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge is designed with multiple pivot pin mounting holes in the flange, allowing a single hinge design to serve multiple offset positions. This universal design enables one hinge to accommodate different door thicknesses by selecting appropriate pivot pin locations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized hinge variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge incorporates adjustable pivot pin mounting holes that allow the offset position to be changed based on door thickness requirements. This dynamic adjustability enables the hinge to adapt its functional characteristics (offset distance) to match different application requirements, transforming a static single-function hinge into a multi-functional adjustable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple offset-sized hinges are designed and produced to accommodate different door thicknesses, then proper mounting and sealing of various door sizes is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different door thicknessesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge is designed with multiple pivot pin mounting holes in the flange, allowing a single hinge design to serve multiple offset positions. This universal design enables one hinge to accommodate different door thicknesses by selecting appropriate pivot pin locations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized hinge variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple hinge offset configurations into a single physical hinge unit by providing multiple pivot pin mounting holes. Instead of producing separate hinge types for different offsets, the design merges these variations into one adjustable component, simplifying production and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If a single hinge design is used for all door sizes, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but proper sealing and closure for different door thicknesses cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddoor sealing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge incorporates adjustable pivot pin mounting holes that allow the offset position to be changed based on door thickness requirements. This dynamic adjustability enables the hinge to adapt its functional characteristics (offset distance) to match different application requirements, transforming a static single-function hinge into a multi-functional adjustable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows modification of the hinge's geometric parameter (offset distance) by selecting different pivot pin mounting hole positions. This parameter adjustment capability enables the single hinge design to maintain proper sealing performance across different door thicknesses while keeping the manufacturing process simple and unified.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9140045B1Offset adjustable hinge

Publication Date: 2015.09.22 KASON IND INC

AI summary

There is disclosed a hinge (10) which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The mounting flange assembly has a lower hinge flange (18) which includes a cam recess (19) having multiple pivot pin mounting holes (25). A cam follower (30) mounted to the mounting flange assembly includes a cam portion (35), seating plate (34) configured to nest within the flange recess, and a mounting post (38). A pivot pin channel (44) extends through the seating plate. A pivot pin (45) is mounted to one of the three pivot pin mounting holes depending upon the desired offset of the strap assembly. The hinge includes three different cam followers each having a unique configuration and positioning of the cam portion, cam follower mounting post, and position of the pivot pin channel.