Door Hinge Friction Mechanism for Wider Weight Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges for electrical appliance doors are limited in their ability to balance doors of varying weights, requiring multiple hinge types and adjustments for different door weights, which complicates manufacturing and user installation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a friction element with C-shaped cross-section and precompressed helical springs, along with a cam mechanism, to enhance the hinge's torque balance and adaptability to a wider range of door weights without modifying the elastic elements or adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spring force is increased to balance heavier doors, then the closing torque becomes positive causing violent door closing, but if the spring force is decreased to allow smooth closing, then the opening torque becomes negative requiring user braking action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the friction parameter by introducing a friction element between the rocker lever and the second element. This friction element can be adjusted or modified to change the friction coefficient, thereby adjusting the counterbalancing torque to accommodate different door weights without changing the spring force, resolving the contradiction between adapting to different weights and maintaining smooth operation
Solution Approach 2:
The friction element acts as an intermediary between the elastic element and the door mechanism. It provides an additional torque component that can be adjusted independently of the spring force, allowing the hinge to adapt to different door weights while maintaining smooth opening and closing operations without violent springback
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hinge types are used to balance different door weights, then the adaptability to various door weights improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single hinge design universal by adding a friction element that can be adjusted or replaced to accommodate different door weights. This allows one hinge type to perform multiple functions across a wide range of door weights, eliminating the need for multiple specialized hinge types and reducing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The friction element introduces a dynamic adjustment capability to the hinge system. The friction characteristic can be modified to change the counterbalancing torque, allowing the same hinge structure to adapt dynamically to different door weights without requiring multiple fixed designs
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 increases the hinge's versatility, allowing it to balance doors with weights differing by up to 1000g, ensuring smooth operation and hermetic closure without hindering door closing, while maintaining ease of movement and reducing sudden movements.
Implementation Method 1
One or more elastic elements are inserted between the two parts of the hinge... the elastic elements oppose, during a first step, the detachment of the door from the oven supporting frame... the elastic elements push the door towards the oven frame with sufficient force to guarantee its effective closing
Implementation Method 2
the hinge comprises friction means for increasing the internal frictions of the hinge... the friction means comprises a friction element arranged to form friction means between the rocker lever and the second element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A hinge for wings or doors, in particular of electrical appliances, comprises a first element (5), a second element (6) and a lever (7) for connecting the first and second elements (5, 6); the lever (7) pivots on the second element (6) and has a first arm (8) integral with the first element (5) to render the first and second elements (5, 6) movable relative to one another with a tilting action between a closed position and an open position; the second element (6) consisting of a substantially box-shaped body containing a spring (13), inserted between the second element (6) and a second arm (9) of the lever (7) so as to apply an elastic action to the lever. [Figure 2]