Automotive Door Hinge Cam Mechanism for Closure Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive door hinges face challenges in overcoming door closure resistance due to factors like interior cabin pressure, door mass, or seal compression, which traditional hinges do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a cam element and cam follower system with an energy storage mechanism, such as a spring, that stores energy during door opening and releases it to assist in closing, overcoming closure resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a traditional rigid hinge is used to connect the door and body, then the hinge structure is simple and reliable, but the hinge cannot overcome door closure resistance caused by cabin pressure, door mass, or seal compression
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is segmented into multiple functional components: a cam element with cam surface, a cam follower, and an energy storage means (spring). This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function - the cam element converts rotational motion to linear motion, the cam follower translates the cam surface profile into follower movement, and the spring stores and releases energy to assist door closure, collectively overcoming closure resistance while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage means (spring) is pre-loaded during door opening to store potential energy. This preliminary action of energy accumulation during the opening phase enables the hinge to automatically provide closing assistance without requiring additional power sources or complex control systems during the closing operation
2Use of energy by moving object
If the cam follower translates longitudinally to engage the cam surface, then energy is stored to assist door closure, but the hinge mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism transforms the static hinge connection into a dynamic system where the cam follower's longitudinal translation varies continuously with door rotation angle. The cam surface profile is specifically designed to control the follower's motion trajectory, enabling energy storage during opening and controlled release during closing, thereby adding functional complexity only where needed to solve the closure resistance problem
3Reliability
If the cam element and cam follower are used to store and release energy, then door closure assistance is provided, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is designed as a self-contained, passive system that automatically stores and releases energy based on door position without requiring external control systems, sensors, or active components. The cam surface profile inherently controls the timing and magnitude of energy release, making the system reliable and relatively simple to manufacture compared to active door closure assistance systems
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 hinge effectively assists in closing vehicle doors by providing additional energy to overcome resistance, ensuring complete closure even in challenging conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage means adapted to store energy when the cam follower longitudinally translates in a first direction and to release energy when the cam follower longitudinally translates in a second direction opposite to the first direction
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An automotive door hinge comprises first and second brackets mountable selectively to one of the door and the body. A cam element, non-rotationally mounted to the second bracket, comprises a cam surface adapted to engage with a cam follower non-rotationally housed within a first housing of the first bracket. An energy storage means respectively stores and releases energy when the cam follower longitudinally translates within the first housing in a first direction and then in a second direction opposite the first direction. Relative rotation of the first bracket in relation to the second bracket within a predetermined angular range causes longitudinal translation of the cam follower, wherein as the door is closed, the cam follower engages the cam surface and translates longitudinally in the second direction whereby the energy stored by the energy storage means is released to assist door closure.