Door hinge assembly for an appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door hinge assemblies with vertically oriented cam risers require additional vertical space, which is impractical for compact appliances and aesthetically unsuitable for limited spaces, such as those with door-in-door configurations.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a ramped surface that allows the door to be raised or lowered through its swing arc, minimizing vertical span by using a cam projection that engages a ramped surface on the hinge bracket, enabling smooth operation without the need for excessive vertical space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional vertically oriented cam risers are used, then the door can be raised or lowered through its swing arc, but additional vertical space is required which is impractical for compact appliances and door-in-door configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention reorients the cam riser from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation, extending the cam surfaces in the lateral direction rather than the vertical direction. This dimensional change allows the door to be raised and lowered through the swing arc while minimizing vertical space requirements, making the hinge assembly suitable for compact appliances and door-in-door configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket features an asymmetric design where the cam surfaces are positioned and oriented differently relative to the hinge axis. The first and second cam surfaces are arranged to engage with corresponding cam followers at different lateral positions, creating an asymmetric cam mechanism that achieves door elevation without requiring vertical space.
2Ease of operation
If vertically oriented cam risers are used, then door operation is facilitated, but additional materials are needed which increases construction complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates the cam riser function directly into the hinge bracket structure, merging what would traditionally be separate components (cam riser and hinge bracket) into a single integrated unit. This consolidation reduces the total quantity of materials needed while maintaining the door raising and lowering capability throughout the swing arc.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides the hinge pivot point, contains the cam surfaces for door elevation, and serves as the mounting structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components and materials, achieving door operation facilitation with minimal material usage.
3Ease of operation
If vertically oriented cam risers are used, then door swing arc operation is achieved, but the design is unsightly and impractical for limited spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is reconfigured to operate in the lateral dimension rather than the vertical dimension. The cam surfaces extend horizontally from the hinge bracket, engaging cam followers that move laterally as the door swings, thereby achieving door elevation through lateral motion instead of vertical motion. This results in a compact vertical profile suitable for limited spaces and aesthetically pleasing designs.
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 allows for efficient door movement in limited spaces while maintaining a compact design, reducing material usage and enhancing aesthetics by minimizing the vertical space required for door operation.
Implementation Method 1
The hinge bracket includes a ramped surface extending outward from the housing and sloped in the vertical direction as the ramped surface extends outward from the housing. The cam projection engages the ramped surface as the door is rotated through at least a portion of the swing arc of the door such that the door is moved along the vertical direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly for an appliance includes features that allow for a door rotatably hinged to the appliance to be raised or lowered through various phases of the swing arc of the door by utilizing a ramped surface of a bracket of the hinge assembly as the working surface. In one exemplary aspect, a hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket having a pivot pin and a ramped surface. The door hinge assembly also includes a cam assembly coupled with the door and having a cam projection. As the door is swung about its swing arc, the cam projection engages the ramped surface of the hinge bracket. In this way, the door can be raised along the vertical direction as the door is rotated through its swing arc.