Damping Hinge Mechanism for Automatic Oven Door Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hinges for drop-down oven doors lack self-closing functionality, requiring manual effort for opening and closing and resulting in a poor user experience due to lack of door self-closing effect.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system incorporating a main spring and damper assembly that allows the door to close automatically and gently by balancing the door's weight with the spring's tension and utilizing a damper to slow down the closing process, featuring a connecting piece, damper assembly, and locking spring to manage the rotation stages for balanced, critical, and buffered-closing phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinge is applied to a drop-down door without self-closing effect, then the structure is simple, but manual effort is required for opening and closing resulting in poor user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The main spring is configured to balance the weight of the door assembly, creating a counterweight effect that enables the door to be easily opened and closed. The spring is connected between the first assembly (fixed to device body) and the connecting piece, which is linked to the second assembly (fixed to door). When the door moves, the spring expands or contracts to offset the gravitational force on the door, reducing the manual effort required for operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper assembly acts as an intermediary element between the door assembly and the hinge mechanism. It controls the closing speed of the door by providing damping force that resists the motion of the door during closing. The damper is connected to the second assembly and includes a damper body with an extending and retracting rod that regulates the flow of motion, enabling slow and gentle closing while preventing uncontrolled falling.
2Speed
If a damper assembly is added to achieve automatic slow closing, then the closing speed is controlled and noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damper assembly is integrated with the existing hinge structure by connecting it to the second assembly (which is already connected to the door). The damper body is positioned within the hinge mechanism, and the extending and retracting rod is connected to the cam portion and connecting piece. This merging approach allows the damper to control closing speed without requiring a completely separate mounting system, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a main spring is used to balance door weight, then stable opening and closing is achieved, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece serves multiple functions: it connects the main spring to the second assembly, transmits the damping force from the damper body, and links to the cam portion for stage transition control. By making the connecting piece a multi-functional component that handles spring attachment, damper force transmission, and cam engagement, the patent reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while achieving stable door positioning.
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 stable opening and automatic, slow, and noise-free closing of the door, enhancing user experience by balancing the door's weight and utilizing a damper to control the closing speed effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a main spring disposed in the first assembly and having a first end of the main spring fixedly connected with the second end of the first assembly
Implementation Method 2
the tensioning force produced by the main spring is balanced with a load weight of the hinge
Implementation Method 3
the damper body generates a reverse buffering force, the main spring is in the stretched state and changes to the reset state
Implementation Method 4
a locking spring fitted over the connecting body, and the driven pulley is configured to contact the cam portion
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Provided is a hinge having a damping effect, comprising a first assembly (12), a second assembly (14), a main spring (16), a connector (18), a damper assembly (20), and a connecting assembly (22); the second assembly (14) is pivotally connected to the first assembly (12), the second assembly (14) is fixedly connected to a main body, and the main spring (16) is connected to the connector (18) arranged inside the first assembly (12), and to the first assembly (12). The connector (18) connects the main spring (16) to the second assembly (14).