Double-Axle Hinge Structure for Dynamic Clearance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double-axle hinges in foldable electronic devices have excessive clearance that can hinder proper operation and usage, leading to adverse effects during opening and closing.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a base frame unit with guideways and shaft sliding slots, along with rotatable axle units that include hinge shafts, rotary members, support brackets, frictional plates, and elastomeric pads, allowing for synchronized rotation and reduced clearance between casing parts, enabling efficient opening and closing of foldable electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional double-axle hinge design is used with clearance between casing parts, then collision between casing parts is prevented, but excessive clearance occurs that hinders proper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge shafts are designed to slide within the shaft sliding slots during rotation, allowing the distance between casing parts to dynamically adjust. In the initial position, casing parts are spaced apart for collision prevention; during opening/closing operations, the hinge shafts slide to reduce clearance and improve operational precision; in the folded position, casing parts are closely aligned
Solution Approach 2:
The guideways are designed with different segments (upright segment and arcuate segment) that change the geometric parameters of the hinge mechanism during rotation. The upright segment allows vertical movement of guide keys while the arcuate segment enables lateral sliding of hinge shafts, transforming the clearance parameter from fixed to variable throughout the rotation range
2Stability of the object's composition
If hinge shafts are positioned at outer ends of shaft sliding slots in initial position, then casing parts are spaced apart, but clearance is excessive during opened states
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism transitions from a static clearance design to a dynamic one where the distance between casing parts changes during operation. The shaft sliding slots enable the hinge shafts to move laterally, reducing the distance between casing parts in opened states while maintaining adequate spacing in the initial position for stability
Solution Approach 2:
The guideways introduce a lateral dimension of movement to the traditional rotational hinge. The hinge shafts not only rotate but also slide laterally within the shaft sliding slots, adding a degree of freedom that reduces clearance in opened states without compromising the vertical spacing stability in the initial position
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 proposed hinge design reduces the excess clearance between casing parts, enhancing the operational efficiency and usability of foldable electronic devices by allowing synchronized rotation and precise alignment of the casing parts, thereby improving the overall device performance.
Implementation Method 1
a guide key which extends in the axial direction and which is slidably engaged in a respective one of the guideways
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric pad that is non-rotatably fitted to the hinge shaft and interposed between the base frame unit and the support bracket
Implementation Method 3
a frictional plate that is sleeved on the hinge shaft and interposed between the base frame unit and the support bracket
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge includes a base frame unit and two rotatable axle units. The base frame unit includes abase seat having two guideways and two shaft sliding slots. Each guideway includes an upright segment and an arcuate segment extending arcuately and laterally from an upper end of the upright segment. Each axle unit includes a hinge shaft rotatably extending through the shaft sliding slot, a rotary member fitted to the hinge shaft and having a guide key slidably engaged in the guideway, and a support bracket fitted to the hinge shaft to be connected to a casing part of an electronic device.