Adjustable Snap-Acting Hinge With Variable Spring Preload
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snap-acting hinges require specific dimensioning of elastic means for different door leaf weights, leading to increased production costs and complexity in managing various components, as they do not adapt uniformly to different door leaves without substituting the elastic means.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable snap-acting hinge that varies its elastic force by using a contrast element with locking means and a graduated scale to adjust the preloading of elastic means, allowing for standardized opening angles without replacing the elastic components, and includes an adjustment mechanism to prevent collisions with ceiling elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional snap-acting hinges use fixed elastic means for a specific door leaf weight, then the hinge provides stable closed position and controlled opening/closing movement, but it requires substitution of elastic means for different door leaf weights, increasing production costs and component management complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the elastic preloading force to be dynamically changed without replacing components. The adjustment spindle with threaded engagement enables continuous modification of the elastic means preloading, transforming a static hinge into a dynamically adaptable system that maintains reliability across different door leaf weights.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of elastic preloading force through mechanical adjustment. By rotating the adjustment spindle, the preloading of the spring is modified, which directly alters the elastic force exerted by the elastic means, allowing the same hinge to accommodate different door leaf weights without component substitution.
2Manufacturing precision
If elastic means are dimensioned for each specific door leaf weight to standardize opening angle, then uniform opening angle is achieved, but production costs and inventory management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is designed as a universal component that can serve multiple door leaf weights through adjustment. The adjustment mechanism with graduated scale allows a single hinge model to be configured for different applications, eliminating the need for multiple specialized hinge variants and simplifying both manufacturing and inventory management.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge allows preliminary adjustment of the elastic preloading force during installation or maintenance. The adjustment spindle enables the user to pre-set the appropriate force level before the hinge is put into service, ensuring correct operation for the specific door leaf weight without requiring custom-manufactured components.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge structure is simplified to reduce production costs, then ease of manufacture improves, but the ability to adjust elastic force for different door leaves is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the adjustment spindle, the threaded engagement element, the contrast element, and the locking means. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard machining processes, keeping production costs low while maintaining the overall adaptability of the hinge system.
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 adaptation to different door leaf weights with the same elastic means, providing uniform opening angles and preventing accidental closures or collisions, while being economically competitive and easy to implement.
Implementation Method 1
elastic means that can be suitably arranged and dimensioned, as described in EP1653029, for keeping the door leaf in the stable closed position
Implementation Method 2
Hinge (1a, 1b) comprises elastic means (8) provided with two opposite ends that can move toward or away from each other
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An adjustable snap-acting hinge (1a, 1b), comprising a first articulated quadrilateral (2) and a second articulated quadrilateral (3), which can move on a working plane and share a first lever (4) and a second lever (5) and are provided respectively with a plate (6) for coupling to a first element (101) and with a plate (7) for fixing to a second element (102); further comprising elastic means (8) provided with two opposite ends that can move toward or away from each other and act between a point of the first lever (4) and a contrast element (9) associated with the coupling plate (6); the contrast element (9) can be arranged in at least one position for use, which lies between a first position in which the contrast element (9) is arranged at a maximum distance from the point of the first lever (4), and a second position in which the contrast element (9) is arranged at a minimum distance from the point of the first lever (4) in order to vary the preloading of the elastic means (8); the hinge (1a, 1b) also comprises locking means (10) for keeping the contrast element (9) in the position for use.