Double-Shear Anti-Sag Hinge for Lift-Off Refrigerator Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial refrigerator and freezer doors often experience sag due to hinge wear and structural shifting, leading to operational issues such as difficulty in opening and sealing, which existing single shear cantilever hinges fail to address effectively without extensive repair.
Innovation Solution
A double shear type anti-sag hinge with a flange assembly and strap assembly, featuring a removable upper hinge barrel and a cam mechanism, providing stability and allowing easy lifting and alignment of the door, while maintaining sanitary standards through removable covers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single shear cantilever hinges are used to allow lift-off for cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to hinge wear and door sag
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into separate components including a flange assembly, strap assembly, and removable barrel, allowing the door to be lifted off for cleaning while distributing mechanical loads across multiple elements to reduce wear on individual components
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge transitions from a single shear plane to a double shear configuration, adding a dimensional element that distributes forces across two separate shear planes, thereby reducing wear and improving reliability while maintaining the lift-off capability
2Strength
If heavy door weight is supported by traditional hinges, then structural strength is sufficient, but door sag occurs due to hinge wear and mounting screw shifting
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates a double shear configuration that adds a dimensional element to force distribution, spreading the load across two separate shear planes rather than one, which reduces wear on mounting screws and maintains door alignment stability over time
Solution Approach 2:
The flange assembly and strap assembly are combined into an integrated unit with a removable barrel, creating a unified structure that distributes door weight and operational forces across multiple connection points, preventing the mounting screws from shifting and maintaining door stability
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed an anti-sag hinge (10) which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The mounting flange assembly includes a mounting flange (16) having four mounting holes (17) therethrough, a lower hinge barrel (18) extending from the mounting flange, and a removably mated upper hinge barrel (19) extending from the mounting flange. The upper and lower hinge barrels provide for a dual or double shear system (two positions wherein a shearing force is provided between the strap assembly and the flange assembly 12) that provides a stable connection between the strap assembly (15) and the flange assembly (12). The strap assembly includes a strap (31) extending from a cylinder portion (32).