Door Hinge with Integral Housing and Adjustment Spindles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door hinges have complex structures that lead to high production costs and potential play due to multiple parts, with riveting processes being laborious and adjustments requiring separate fastening elements.
Innovation Solution
A door hinge design featuring two sheet-metal parts with laterally projecting tabs and slots forming a compact, integral housing, allowing for easy assembly and adjustment with rotatable spindles, and optional screws for additional stability, eliminating play and reducing material requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If two sheet-metal parts are riveted together to form a housing, then the housing can be assembled, but the riveting process is laborious and increases production complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two sheet-metal parts into a single integral housing structure, eliminating the need for separate riveting operations. The housing is formed as one piece, combining functions that were previously separated into multiple components, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the riveting process entirely from the manufacturing sequence. By designing the housing as an integral structure, the complex riveting operation is removed from the production process, reducing labor requirements and simplifying manufacturing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate fastening elements are used for vertical adjustment, then adjustment is possible, but the structure becomes more complex and production expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the adjustment mechanism directly into the housing structure itself. The vertical adjustment functionality is integrated into the housing design, eliminating the need for separate fastening elements. This merging of functions reduces structural complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables vertical adjustment, and eliminates the need for separate fastening elements. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components required in the system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple parts are used in the hinge structure, then adjustment functionality is achieved, but play between parts occurs and stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate parts into an integral housing structure to eliminate play between components. By combining the housing into a single piece, the invention removes the interfaces between multiple parts that cause play, thereby improving stability and reliability while maintaining adjustment functionality.
4Ease of manufacture
If two sheet-metal parts are used to form the housing, then assembly flexibility is improved, but the central areas must be used for adjustment spindles leaving less space for other mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing into an integral structure that optimizes internal space arrangement. By designing the housing as one piece with built-in adjustment mechanisms, the invention maximizes the use of available volume and eliminates the need to reserve central areas for spindles, as the mechanisms are integrated into the housing structure itself.
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 results in a cost-effective, stable, and space-efficient door hinge with simplified assembly and adjustment capabilities, ensuring reliable connection and reduced production expenses.
Implementation Method 1
Each side flap is formed with at least one laterally projecting tab that extends past, is bent over, and bears against a lower face of the bottom part
Implementation Method 2
Two rotatable adjustment spindles are each journaled in the housing and threaded in the one leaf so that rotation of the spindles moves the one leaf in a first direction perpendicular to the hinge axis
Data Source
AI summary
A door hinge has two hinge leaves joined together at a knuckle defining a hinge axis about which the leaves are relatively pivotal. Top and bottom sheet-metal parts forming a housing surround one of the hinge leaves. The top part is formed with a plurality of downwardly projecting side flaps each projecting toward and bearing on an upper face of the bottom part. Each side flap is formed with at least one downward projecting tab that extends past, is bent over, and bears upward against a bottom face of the bottom part. Two rotatable adjustment spindles are each journaled in the housing and threaded in the one leaf so that rotation of the spindles moves the one leaf in a first direction perpendicular to the hinge axis.