Cam-Assisted Hinge Mechanism for Lower Contact Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices evolve towards lightness and thinness, the hinge mechanism faces increased contact stress due to reduced size, affecting structural strength and service life.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism is designed with a base, rotating assembly, and damping assembly. The damping assembly includes a transmission member, fastening parts, and an elastic member, converting axial elastic force into radial force to reduce contact stress and enhance damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the hinge mechanism size is reduced to match thin electronic devices, then the electronic device achieves lightness and thinness, but the contact stress of mechanical parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cam surface mechanism that converts radial movement into axial movement, effectively utilizing the axial dimension to increase contact area. The transmission member with cam surfaces abuts against the rotating arm, allowing force transmission in multiple dimensions and distributing stress more effectively across the hinge mechanism structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission member acts as an intermediary between the rotating arm and the damping assembly. It includes cam surfaces that abut against the rotating arm and converts the damping force from the elastic member into radial support force, effectively mediating the force transmission and distributing contact stress across multiple contact points.
2Length of moving object
If the hinge mechanism size is reduced, then the electronic device becomes thinner, but the structural strength of the hinge mechanism decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surface mechanism utilizes the axial dimension to amplify the contact area between mechanical parts. By converting radial displacement into axial displacement through the cam profile, the mechanism achieves greater effective contact area without increasing the overall radial size of the hinge mechanism, thereby maintaining structural strength in a compact form.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping assembly combines an elastic member (providing damping force) with a transmission member featuring cam surfaces (providing force transmission and mechanical advantage). This composite structure integrates multiple functional elements into a compact unit that delivers both damping and structural support functions without requiring large individual component sizes.
3Length of moving object
If the hinge mechanism size is reduced, then the electronic device becomes more compact, but the service life of the hinge mechanism is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surface mechanism distributes wear across both the cam surface and the abutting surface of the rotating arm, effectively utilizing the axial dimension to create larger contact areas. This distributes the mechanical stress and wear over a greater surface area, reducing wear rate per unit area and extending the service life of the hinge mechanism despite its compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission member with cam surfaces serves as a mediator that distributes and transforms forces between the rotating arm and the damping assembly. By providing a controlled mechanical interface with cam profiles, it distributes contact stresses more evenly and reduces peak stresses that would otherwise concentrate wear at single points, thereby extending component life.
4Force
If the elastic member size is increased to provide enough damping force, then the damping performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the damping function and the force transmission function into a single integrated damping assembly. The elastic member provides damping force while the transmission member with cam surfaces simultaneously transmits this force to the rotating arm. This consolidation achieves adequate damping performance without requiring separate, additional components that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission member serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural support element, a force transmission element through its cam surfaces, and a mechanical advantage element that converts axial elastic force into radial support force. This multi-functionality allows the damping assembly to provide sufficient damping force while maintaining a compact and simple overall structure.
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
The solution improves structural strength and prolongs the service life of the hinge mechanism by reducing contact stress and providing adequate damping, ensuring reliable support and operation of electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
The damping assembly may include a transmission member, a first fastening part, and an elastic member. The elastic member may be elastically limited between the transmission member and the first fastening part.
Implementation Method 2
One side that is of the first rotating arm and that is close to the base has a first cam surface. One side that is of the second rotating arm and that is close to the base has a second cam surface. Two sides of the transmission member abut against the first cam surface and the second cam surface respectively.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism includes a base, a rotating assembly, and a damping assembly. The rotating assembly includes a first rotating arm and a second rotating arm. The first rotating arm and the second rotating arm are rotatably connected to two sides of the base respectively. One side that is of the first rotating arm and that is close to the base has a first cam surface. One side that is of the second rotating arm and that is close to the base has a second cam surface. The damping assembly includes a transmission member, a first fastening part, and an elastic member. The transmission member is slidably disposed on the base in a first direction. The transmission member is located between the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm. Two sides of the transmission member abut against the first cam surface and the second cam surface respectively.