Elastomer-Bushed Door Hinge for Heavy-Door Impact Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Door hinge assemblies with hard stops can cause damage to doors or hinge mechanisms, particularly in vehicles with heavy doors, due to the inability to control the momentum of the door as it opens, leading to repair downtime.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly incorporating an elastomeric bushing with an interrupted disk and lobes that cushion the engagement between driving and driven members, using cams with ramped surfaces to absorb the impact and reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard stop is used in the hinge mechanism to stop the door at the open position, then the door can be reliably positioned, but damage occurs to the door or hinge assembly due to uncontrolled momentum
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric bushing is pre-installed between the driving member and driven member to provide cushioning before impact occurs. This cushioning element absorbs the shock of door closure, preventing damage to the hinge assembly and door while maintaining reliable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric bushing acts as an intermediary element between the driving member and driven member. This intermediate component absorbs impact forces and protects the critical hinge components from direct impact damage while still allowing the hinge to perform its positioning function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a gas spring is used to bias the door in the closing direction, then potential damage is avoided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex gas spring mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler elastomeric bushing that provides the necessary cushioning function. This extraction of the unnecessary complex component simplifies the overall hinge assembly while maintaining damage protection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the physical parameter of the cushioning element from a pressurized gas spring to a deformable elastomeric material. This parameter change maintains the protective function while significantly reducing device complexity and eliminating the need for complex mechanical spring mechanisms.
3Strength
If heavy doors are used, then the vehicle structure is more robust, but the momentum control becomes difficult and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy door's momentum, which is normally harmful, is converted into a beneficial force by the elastomeric bushing. The bushing absorbs and dissipates the kinetic energy of the heavy door through deformation, transforming the harmful impact into useful energy absorption that protects the hinge assembly.
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 elastomeric bushing cushions the engagement of door components, reducing damage and maintenance costs by absorbing the impact forces, thereby minimizing downtime and wear.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric bushing disposed between the driving member and the driven member to cushion engagement of the driving member with the driven member
Implementation Method 2
cams with ramped surfaces to absorb the impact and reduce friction
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge is disclosed for pivotably coupling a first structure to a second structure. The hinge includes a driving member, a driven member, and an elastomeric bushing disposed along a central axis. The driving member is configured for coupling to the first structure. The elastomeric bushing is disposed between the driving member and the driven member to cushion engagement of the driving member with the driven member.