Vehicle Door Hinge With Angle-Dependent Holding Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door hinges for vehicles do not effectively manage varying holding torque based on the door's opening angle, leading to increased wear and limited adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A door hinge design featuring retaining disks and brake disks that engage with each other, with a circular arc-shaped contour and holding arms that exert a clamping force varying with the door's angle, allowing for adjustable holding torque and reduced wear through a modular design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stop mechanism with brake insert and stopping element is used to hold the door in desired positions, then the door can be held in open/closed positions without additional locking means, but the structure becomes complex with multiple components (brake insert, stopping element, adjusting unit, set screw)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the holding arm, brake disks, and retaining disks into an integrated assembly that rotates together on the hinge axis. This merging of components simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the door holding capability, as the integrated assembly self-regulates the holding torque through the contour geometry without requiring separate adjusting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding arm assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the stopping mechanism to hold the door in desired positions, generates variable holding torque based on opening angle through the contour interaction, and eliminates the need for separate locking means. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a fixed holding torque is applied by the stop mechanism, then the door can be held securely in position, but wear increases on the braking surfaces due to constant friction contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic holding torque that automatically varies with the door opening angle through the contour interaction. The holding torque is higher when the door is nearly closed (providing stability) and lower when the door is more open (reducing wear). This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for fixed high-torque braking that causes excessive wear, extending component service life while maintaining position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contour geometry on the holding arm is designed to change the contact force parameters with the braking surface based on the rotation angle. As the holding arm rotates with the door, the contour profile modulates the normal force between the brake disks and retaining disks, creating variable holding torque that reduces wear while maintaining securing capability at critical positions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the holding arm is supported on the contour with at least one section, then a varying holding torque can be generated dependent on the opening angle, but the design becomes more complex compared to simple stop mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The contour is segmented into distinct geometric features (elevations, depressions, inclined surfaces) that correspond to different door opening angles. Each segment of the contour provides a specific holding torque characteristic, allowing the mechanism to adapt to different operational requirements without complex control systems. The segmentation of the contour geometry enables versatile holding torque adjustment through simple geometric design.
4Adaptability or versatility
If brake disks and retaining disks are engaged to generate holding torque, then the door hinge can manage varying torque requirements, but the device size increases due to multiple disk components
Solution Approach 1:
The brake disks and retaining disks are arranged in a nested configuration where they engage with each other in a compact radial arrangement around the hinge axis. This nesting allows multiple functional components to occupy minimal space while still providing the necessary holding torque variation. The compact nested design achieves versatile torque management without significantly increasing the overall door hinge volume.
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 provides a holding torque that adapts to the door's opening angle, reducing wear and enabling adjustable haptic feedback, while maintaining a compact size and optimal structural space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
brake disks (6), which are arranged adjacent to the contour and engage into the retaining disks (4)... generate a holding torque, which is dependent on the opening angle of the door
Data Source
AI summary
A door hinge with at least one hinge axis, at least one holding arm that engages on the hinge axis and at least one contour, in which the at least one holding arm is supported on the contour with at least one section, retaining disks are arranged adjacent to the at least one holding arm and brake disks are arranged adjacent to the contour in order to generate a holding torque that is dependent on the opening angle, wherein the retaining disks and the brake disks engage into one another, and wherein at least the first holding arm, which is supported on the contour, is or can be stressed at least relative to the contour by a basic clamping force.