Motor Vehicle Door Hinge With Elastic Energy Storage

Solution Overview

Problem

Motor vehicle doors are often difficult to close due to their weight or thick seals, leading passengers to slam them, which can cause damage over time.

Innovation Solution

A hinge with an elastically deformable stopper that stores energy when the door is opened and releases it to assist in closing the door smoothly, reducing the need for forceful closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the door is made heavy or equipped with thick weatherstripping, then the sealing and insulation performance is improved, but the door becomes difficult to close properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoiddoor closing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge performs preliminary action by automatically closing the door after opening, eliminating the need for the passenger to manually close it. The compression arm stores energy during door opening and releases it to assist closing, so the door closes itself without requiring passenger effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge acts as an intermediary mechanism between the door opening and closing actions. It includes a compression arm that compresses an elastically deformable stop during opening, storing energy that is then used to assist door closing, thereby mediating the contradiction between heavy door weight and closing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the passenger slams the door firmly to ensure proper closure, then the door closes properly, but the door and its components are damaged over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor closure assuranceVSAvoiddoor component durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge performs self-service by automatically assisting door closure through the elastic stop mechanism. The compression arm compresses the stop during opening and releases the stored energy to push the door closed, so the system serves itself without requiring forceful passenger action, thereby preventing damage from slamming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge converts the harmful effect of heavy door weight and thick seals (which make closing difficult) into a beneficial automatic closing assistance mechanism. The compression arm leverages the door's movement to compress the elastic stop, which then provides closing assistance, turning the difficulty of closing into an automatic closing feature that prevents slamming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If a hinge without assistance mechanism is used, then the device complexity is low, but the door cannot close properly when heavy or well-sealed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehinge structure simplicityVSAvoiddoor closing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge performs preliminary action by automatically closing the door after opening, eliminating the need for the passenger to manually close it. The compression arm stores energy during door opening and releases it to assist closing, so the door closes itself without requiring passenger effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge acts as an intermediary mechanism between the door opening and closing actions. It includes a compression arm that compresses an elastically deformable stop during opening, storing energy that is then used to assist door closing, thereby mediating the contradiction between heavy door weight and closing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ensures proper door closure without effort, minimizing wear and tear on the door and its components by controlling the closing motion.

Implementation Method 1

a compression arm (141) of said arm (140) mounted on said fixed element (110) so as to be mobile in rotation relative to said fixed element (110), the compression arm (141) having a bearing surface (141) intended, when the door is in its closed position, to be in contact with the stop (130) and to compress the stop (130) when the door is tilted relative to the closed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3114298B1Hinge for motor vehicle door

Publication Date: 2020.01.01 RENAULT SA

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Figure 4A~6
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AI summary

The invention relates to a hinge (100) for a motor vehicle door, having a fixed element (110) comprising means (111) for fixing to a chassis of said motor vehicle, and a movable element (120) comprising means (121) for fixing to said door, the fixed element (110) and movable element (120) being mounted so as to be able to rotate with respect to one another, by means of a hinge pin (101), between a closed position of said door and an open position of said door. According to the invention, provision is made of return means (122, 130, 140) that are designed to store a part of the energy developed in order to tilt said movable element with respect to said fixed element from the closed position of the door to the open position thereof, and to restore at least a part of the energy stored during the return of the door to the closed position thereof.