Damping Hinge with Axial Actuating Rod for Low-Wear Door Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing damping hinges for foldable doors are complex, prone to wear, and require numerous parts, leading to high production costs and limited damping effectiveness, especially when handling larger and heavier elements.
Innovation Solution
A simplified damping hinge design with a reduced number of robust components, including a first and second hinge lever, a hinge shaft, and a damping device actuated by an axially displaced actuating rod, which interacts with a guide element in the second lever sleeve to provide adjustable damping over a longer distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional damping hinge with a spindle and fluid chamber is used, then damping functionality is achieved, but the device becomes complex and susceptible to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential damping function from the complex spindle-chamber system and implements it through a simplified lever mechanism with guide elements. The damping effect is achieved through the interaction of the actuating rod with the guide elements in the lever sleeve, eliminating the need for spindles, fluid chambers, and complex sealing systems while maintaining reliable damping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional fluid-based damping mechanism with a mechanical lever system. Instead of using fluid resistance through a spindle in a chamber, the damping is achieved through the mechanical interaction between the actuating rod and the guide elements (spiral grooves or cam surfaces) in the lever sleeve, providing a more robust and maintainable system.
2Extent of automation
If a force accumulator is used to assist door folding, then automatic door operation is achieved, but high forces cause impact noises and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a drive spring that dynamically assists the door folding process. The spring is coupled to the hinge levers and provides controlled mechanical assistance during the folding motion, enabling automatic door operation without the need for high-force accumulators that cause impact noises. The spring's elastic energy is released gradually throughout the folding stroke, providing smooth and quiet operation.
3Reliability
If a damping device with spiral elements is used, then damping is achieved, but the door is lifted vertically which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the damping function from the lifting function by using distinct mechanical elements. The guide elements (spiral grooves or cam surfaces) in the lever sleeve provide damping through controlled friction and geometry, while the hinge shaft and lever mechanism independently handle the rotational motion. This segmentation allows damping to be achieved without the vertical lifting effect that would result from using spiral elements that also serve as lift mechanisms.
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 design allows for efficient damping of larger separating elements with minimal wear, reduced space requirements, and adjustable damping effects, while maintaining robustness and enabling automatic door operation without increasing overall size.
Implementation Method 1
a damping device (26) which can be actuated by a mutual rotation of the two hinge levers (21, 22)
Data Source
AI summary
A damping hinge includes a first hinge lever; a second hinge lever, rotatable about a hinge axis relative to the first hinge lever and connected or connectable to a second installation part or directly to a second separating element; a hinge shaft in a first and second lever sleeve; and a damping device with an actuating element actuated by a mutual rotation of the two hinge levers. The second lever sleeve has at least one guide element; and that an actuating rod is displaceably held by the hinge shaft. The actuating rod includes a rod element and at least one track element that is connected to the rod element. The track element interacts with the guide element in such a way that the actuating rod is displaceable axially against the actuating element of the damping device when the two hinge levers are rotated relative to one another.