Retractable Appliance Door Hinge Damping for Smooth Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances with retractable doors often result in hard stops and undesirably strong forces when moving between open and closed positions, leading to user discomfort and potential wear, as the door movement is not adequately damped.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a damping device connected to the door hinge, which allows the door to be lowered into the appliance smoothly and automatically, eliminating jerks and excessive force by damping the entire movement path between end positions, and utilizing an ejection element to facilitate automatic movement from a closed to an open position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is moved manually from closed to open position, then the door can be opened, but hard stops and excessive forces occur during movement
Solution Approach 1:
A damping device is integrated into the door hinge mechanism to provide cushioning throughout the entire door movement path. The damping device includes a damper element that is activated during door opening and closing operations, reducing impact forces and preventing hard stops at the fully open and fully closed positions. This beforehand cushioning protects the door and hinge mechanism from excessive forces while maintaining smooth operation.
2Reliability
If the door is moved manually, then user control is maintained, but wear and tear increases due to excessive forces
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is pre-configured within the hinge mechanism to automatically activate during door movement, providing protective cushioning before impact occurs. This reduces wear on the door, hinge, and surrounding structures by eliminating hard stops and excessive forces throughout the movement cycle.
3Extent of automation
If automatic door movement is implemented, then user effort is reduced, but additional control mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is designed to automatically regulate door movement without requiring external control systems. The damper element self-activates based on the door's position and movement velocity, providing automatic damping throughout the opening and closing cycle. This self-service approach achieves automation while avoiding additional complex control mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the damping device damps the entire movement path, then hard stops are prevented, but the door requires more force to initiate movement
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is designed to provide progressive damping throughout the door movement path. The damper element engages gradually as the door moves, providing minimal resistance during the initial phase of movement and increasing damping force as the door approaches the fully open or fully closed position. This partial action approach prevents hard stops while maintaining ease of movement initiation.
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 damping device ensures a user-friendly operation by reducing the effort required to open or close the door, allowing for complete automatic movement, thereby preventing hard stops and wear, and enabling the door to be moved from fully closed to fully open without manual actuation.
Implementation Method 1
The household appliance includes a damping device with which the movement of the door is damped. Such a configuration dampens the path of movement of the door between the two end positions
Data Source
AI summary
The domestic appliance (1) has a door (3) for opening and closing a receiving space. A damping unit (19) is arranged to move the door between the open and close end positions. The damping unit is sunk when the door is in the open state. The door is connected with the hinges (15,16). The damping unit is connected with the hinge hook (18). The rollers (22,23) are arranged relative to the hinge hook. An independent claim is included for method for operating door of domestic appliance.