Flexible Hinge Joint Sealing for Deflection-Resistant Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pin-based hinge joints are prone to failure under deflecting forces, difficult to repair, and lack effective sealing capabilities, especially in applications requiring weather resistance.
Innovation Solution
A hinge joint design featuring intermeshing profiles and a flexible member with protuberant edges and channels, allowing relative movement while providing a sealing effect, and including a sealing member to inhibit weather ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a hinge joint with clearance between the pin and the hole is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the precision of positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge joint transitions from a static clearance fit to a dynamic interference fit. The elastic deformable portion allows the pin to elastically deform during insertion, enabling the joint to accommodate manufacturing tolerances while achieving precise positioning through elastic recovery. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by allowing easy manufacture with clearance holes while maintaining positioning precision through the elastic mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the elastic deformable portion are specifically designed to change the physical state during assembly. The elastic material undergoes temporary deformation under insertion force, then recovers to provide precise positioning. This parameter change (from deformable during insertion to rigid in service) allows the joint to achieve both ease of manufacture and positioning precision.
2Ease of operation
If the hinge joint is made loose to facilitate assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to play or gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic deformable portion acts as a pre-designed cushioning element that absorbs the insertion force and prevents impact damage during assembly. The elastic material deforms beforehand to accommodate the pin insertion, then recovers to eliminate gaps and play. This beforehand cushioning allows loose assembly while maintaining reliability by preventing impact damage and eliminating operational gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion force that could potentially cause impact damage or misalignment is converted into a beneficial elastic deformation. The elastic material uses the insertion force to deform and then recover, transforming what could be harmful impact into a precise positioning mechanism. This converts the potential harm of loose assembly into the benefit of gap-free, reliable operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rigid hinge joint is used to maintain precision, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to tight tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge joint is segmented into two functional parts: a rigid pin and an elastic deformable portion. The rigid pin provides the structural framework, while the elastic portion provides the precision positioning function. This segmentation allows the rigid components to be manufactured with standard tolerances while the elastic component compensates for any gaps, achieving high positioning precision without requiring tight tolerances on all parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformable portion acts as an intermediary between the rigid pin and the rigid hole. Instead of requiring the pin and hole to fit together with tight tolerances, the elastic material mediates the connection, deforming to accommodate standard tolerance holes and then recovering to provide precise positioning. This intermediary eliminates the need for tight manufacturing tolerances while maintaining positioning precision.
4Reliability
If the hinge joint is designed with tight tolerances to eliminate play, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge joint uses dynamic elastic deformation during assembly to eliminate the need for tight tolerances. The elastic deformable portion dynamically adapts to the pin during insertion, expanding or deforming to accommodate the pin and then recovering to eliminate play. This dynamic behavior provides reliable, play-free operation while maintaining easy assembly with standard tolerance components.
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 durability by resisting deflection-induced failure and provides effective weather sealing, facilitating easy replacement and alignment without additional force, suitable for foldable structures.
Implementation Method 1
a) an elastic deformable portion (142) having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be permanently connected to the pin (120), the second end configured to be permanently connected to the hole (110), wherein the elastic deformable portion (142) is deformable in a first direction to facilitate insertion of the pin (120) into the hole (110) and deformable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to maintain the permanent connection between the pin (120) and the hole (110)
Implementation Method 2
the elastic deformable portion (142) is deformable in a first direction to facilitate insertion of the pin (120) into the hole (110) and deformable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to maintain the permanent connection between the pin (120) and the hole (110)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A hinge joint is disclosed. In an embodiment, the hinge joint includes a first hinge component, a second hinge component and a flexible member linking the first and second hinge components to support relative movement of the first hinge component and the second hinge component between an abutting relationship and a non-abutting relationship. A foldable shelter including a hinge joint according to an embodiment of the disclosure is also disclosed.