Appliance Door Hinge Structure for Wide-Angle Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers, have limited door opening angles due to the design of the hinge and opening-limiting bodies, which restrict the maximum opening angle and can lead to excessive stress on the door when opened, potentially causing damage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hinge element with a support arm and a bearing element that allows for a larger opening angle by creating a recess for the side wall of the receiving space, and an opening-limiting body that converts kinetic energy into spring energy, enabling an opening angle of over 130° while resiliently cushioning the door's opening and reducing stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a conventional hinge with support arm and bearing element is used, then the door can be opened, but the maximum opening angle is limited to just over 90° due to the side wall of the receiving space
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is divided into separate functional components: the hinge element (with mounting section and support arm), the bearing element (bearing sleeve), and the opening-limiting body. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the bearing element provides rotation capability while the opening-limiting body with clearance allows greater angular displacement without interfering with the hinge mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening-limiting body acts as an intermediary element between the door and the receiving space. By positioning this body to engage with the side wall at a controlled distance (with clearance), it mediates the interaction between the door movement and the structural constraints, enabling a larger opening angle while still providing necessary limits and support.
2Ease of operation
If an opening-limiting body is added to restrict the maximum opening angle, then the door opening angle can be controlled, but the maximum opening angle is greatly reduced due to the space required for both the opening-limiting body and the side wall
Solution Approach 1:
The opening-limiting body is pre-positioned on the support arm at a specific distance from the bearing element. This preliminary positioning establishes the clearance and engagement geometry before the door is opened, allowing the side wall to engage with the opening-limiting body at the optimal point that maximizes the opening angle while maintaining control.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the limiting function from a two-dimensional constraint (side wall directly contacting the door) to a three-dimensional arrangement where the opening-limiting body extends along the support arm, creating clearance in the radial direction while maintaining angular control. This dimensional change allows greater opening angles.
3Length of moving object
If the door is opened beyond the limited angle, then more space is available, but excessive stress is applied to the door potentially causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The opening-limiting body is designed to engage with the side wall before excessive stress can develop in the door. This preliminary engagement acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs and distributes forces, preventing the door from being subjected to damaging stress levels while still allowing a large opening angle of over 130°.
4Ease of manufacture
If the side wall is formed by the outer or inner wall of the door, then the door structure is simple, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised due to the visible connecting piece
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is formed by integrating the connecting piece with either the outer wall or inner wall of the door, merging multiple structural functions into a single unified component. This integration eliminates visible seams or discontinuities, creating a uniform aesthetic outer surface while maintaining the structural simplicity of having the connecting piece form part of the wall 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
This solution allows for a significantly larger door opening angle while ensuring the door's structural integrity by distributing forces effectively and preventing damage through elastic deformation of the opening-limiting body, providing a more aesthetically pleasing uniform outer surface.
Implementation Method 1
an opening-limiting body that converts kinetic energy into spring energy, enabling an opening angle of over 130° while resiliently cushioning the door's opening and reducing stress
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a carcass (4) and a door (2) which is hinged to the carcass by means of at least one hinge and has an external wall (5) and an internal wall (6) that are fitted with a connection piece (7) at the transverse edges. On the side facing the carcass (4), the connection piece (7) has at least one receiving space (8) which is used for accommodating a hinge element (10) and is delimited by a sidewall (28). A recess (52) for accommodating at least part of an opening limiting member (30) is arranged within the sidewall (28, 51).