Double-Action Spring Hinge with Polymer Bushes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Double-action spring hinges for doors face issues with excessive return speed and mechanical stress due to varying spring loads, leading to potential safety hazards and protruding parts that can cause accidents, especially in frequently used swing doors that require wide opening.
Innovation Solution
A double-action spring hinge design featuring a central body with curved arms and tubular elements containing helical springs, sliding anti-friction polymer bushes, and U-shaped spacers made of engineering polymer, which provides a smooth, silent operation and reduces protrusions by integrating components for precise adjustment and damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional spring hinges are used to provide return spring force, then the door can be opened and closed, but the return speed becomes excessive causing mechanical stress and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into two separate parallel hinges sharing a common central body, each with its own spring mechanism. This segmentation allows independent control and distribution of spring forces, enabling better management of return speed and mechanical stress on each individual spring and wing assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring load parameters are adjusted and optimized to control the return speed. By carefully selecting spring constants and preload forces, the hinge achieves a balanced return motion that prevents excessive speed while maintaining reliable operation under varying door weights and usage conditions.
2Ease of operation
If double-action hinges with two wings are used for swing doors, then wide opening is achieved, but the weight of the panel increases the spring load requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The total spring load requirement is segmented between two separate springs, each acting on one wing. This distribution reduces the load on each individual spring, making the system more manageable and reliable while still supporting the wide opening capability required for swing doors.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism acts as a counterweight system, providing opposing force to balance the door panel weight. This allows the door to be easily opened and closed while maintaining stability at various positions, including the fully open position required for swing door applications.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional hinge components are used, then the hinge functions, but protruding parts create accidental hooking points
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into a compact integrated design where the two wings, central body, and spring mechanisms are arranged to eliminate protruding elements. The flanges and mounting surfaces are designed to be flush or recessed, removing accidental hooking points while maintaining all necessary hinge functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge components are arranged in a planar configuration with all critical elements contained within a flattened profile. By optimizing the spatial arrangement in two dimensions, the design eliminates three-dimensional protrusions that could create hooking hazards, while preserving the full mechanical functionality of the double-action hinge.
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 design enhances safety by reducing mechanical stress and noise, ensuring smooth operation, and maintaining a clean, linear appearance with minimal encumbrance, effectively addressing the issues of excessive return speed and protruding parts.
Implementation Method 1
sliding cylindrical bushes provided at an end of a flange which extends outwardly, positioned externally to each tubular element, wherein said sliding bushes are arranged in pairs with said flanges head to head
Implementation Method 2
a pair of tubular elements each suitable for containing a helical spring and receiving end caps, which are positioned at opposite ends of each tubular element and receive opposite ends of each spring
Implementation Method 3
all of said arms being curved to define cylindrical slots
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A double-action spring hinge for door panels and the like (11) comprising a central body (12) to which two wings (13,14) are rotatably connected on opposite sides, wherein one wing (13) of said two wings (13, 14) is destined for being fixed to an upright (15) of a door and the other wing (14) to a panel (16) of a door; wherein the central body (12) comprises a substantially rectangular intermediate portion (17) from which two pairs of arms (18,19 and 18',19') extend on opposite sides, and wherein the two wings (13,14) have a substantially rectangular portion (21) from a side of which two arms (22,23 and 22',23' respectively) extend, wherein the two arms (22,23 and 22',23') of the two wings (13,14) are formed spaced from each other in such a position as to allow them to be arranged between the arms (18,19 and 18',19' respectively) of the central body (12); all of the arms (18,19 and 18' 19'; 22,23 and 22',23') being curved to form cylindrical slots; a pair of tubular elements (20) each suitable for containing a helical spring (25) and receiving end caps (36), which are positioned at opposite ends of each tubular element (20) and receive opposite ends (29) of each spring (25); sliding cylindrical bushes (26) provided with an end of a flange (27) which extends outwardly, positioned externally to each tubular element (20), wherein the bushes (26) are arranged in pairs with the flanges (27) head to head, and wherein the pairs of bushes (26) thus arranged are positioned between consecutive aligned cylindrical slots of arms (18,22,19 and 23) of one side of the hinge (11) and consecutive aligned cylindrical slots of arms (18',22',19' and 23') respectively of another side of the hinge (11); the sliding bushes (26) being formed in an antifriction engineering polymer and the central body (12) and the two wings (13,14) being produced in cold-pressed steel.