Door Support Mechanism With Freewheel For Easy Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door opening and closing systems, such as those using gas struts or torque hinges, face issues like obstruction of access, maintenance challenges, and potential hazards in clean environments, while self-closing hinges fail to hold the door open at desired angles and have limited lifespan under user force.
Innovation Solution
A door support mechanism featuring a first shaft with an armature and a link module for easy opening and closing, a second shaft with a motion-resistant module, and a freewheel mechanism that allows the door to open without resistance and engage resistance for closing, ensuring the door can be fully closed under its own weight without external assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas struts are used to support the door, then the door can be held open, but the gas strut obstructs access and requires maintenance in hazardous environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gas strut from the system entirely and replaces it with a hinge-based mechanism that uses the door's own weight and a freewheel mechanism to hold the door open, eliminating the obstructing component while maintaining the door-holding function
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism uses the door's own weight and the freewheel mechanism to automatically hold the door open without requiring external gas struts or supplemental support devices, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating maintenance of external components
2Ease of operation
If torque hinges are used to enable easy opening, then the door can be opened with minimal effort, but the door cannot be fully closed under its own weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hinge mechanism into two separate shafts: a first shaft with a link module that provides resistance-free opening, and a second shaft with a motion-resistant module that enables complete closure under the door's own weight, allowing each segment to perform its specific function optimally
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism dynamically changes its characteristics during operation - providing no resistance during opening (via the freewheel mechanism) and engaging resistance during closing (via the motion-resistant module), allowing the door to be easily opened while still closing completely under its own weight
3Ease of operation
If self-closing hinges are used to close the door automatically, then the door closes under its own weight, but the door cannot be held open at desired angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hinge into two functional shafts that work together - the first shaft allows free rotation for opening and positioning, while the second shaft with the motion-resistant module engages only when needed to complete the closing action, enabling both open positioning and automatic closure
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism operates in periodic phases - during most of the rotation range the door can be held at any angle with minimal resistance, and only during the final closing phase does the motion-resistant module engage to provide the closing force, allowing flexible positioning followed by automatic closure
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 mechanism allows easy opening and complete closure of heavy doors with minimal effort, maintaining the door's open position without supplemental devices and lasting for at least 30,000 openings, addressing the limitations of existing systems by providing consistent performance and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a freewheel on the second shaft and coupled to the motion-resistant module, wherein the freewheel enables door opening without resistance and door closing engages the motion resisting motion on the second shaft
Implementation Method 2
ensuring the door can be fully closed under its own weight without external assistance
Data Source
AI summary
A door support includes a first shaft coupled to a door for rotating the door; a first armature on the first shaft; a second shaft with at least one module that resists motion; a second armature on the second shaft; a linkage that connects the armature on the first shaft with the armature on the second shaft; a freewheel on the second armature or on the second shaft that does not engage the module that resists motion thereby allowing the door to open without resistance, the freewheel engaging as the door is closed to provide a resistance as the door is closed, and the linkage positioned such that as the door is nearly closed that the resistance becomes negligible allowing the door to fully close.