Folding Door Hinge Spring Assembly for Compact High-Force Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding door hinges require complex designs, numerous components, and significant space, making them difficult to install and operate with high spring constants, leading to space inefficiency and potential design limitations.
Innovation Solution
A folding door hinge with two hinge levers connected by a drive spring, featuring helical spring assemblies that are easily mounted and integrated into the hinge structure, allowing high force transmission over a large rotation range without additional space and friction, using detent elements for easy assembly and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional folding door hinges with separate bearing components are used, then the door can function, but the number of parts is high and assembly is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bearing support and the hinge pin into a single integrated hinge body. The bearing is formed as an integral part of the hinge body, eliminating the need for separate bearing components and reducing the total number of parts while maintaining the door's folding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, acts as the pivot point for folding, and incorporates the bearing function within its integrated design. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used in the hinge, then the door can be assembled, but the assembly process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the bearing and hinge pin into one piece, the assembly process is simplified from multiple component assemblies to a single unit installation, significantly reducing assembly time and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is designed as a modular unit that can be manufactured separately and then installed as a complete assembly, separating the complex manufacturing process from the simpler installation process.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge body is made as a single piece, then manufacturing is simpler, but adjusting the bearing clearance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge body is designed with adjustable features that allow the bearing clearance to be modified after manufacturing. This dynamic adjustability compensates for the initial single-piece manufacturing approach, enabling maintenance and optimization of the bearing clearance throughout the product lifecycle.
4Ease of manufacture
If the hinge pin is separate from the hinge body, then the bearing can be pressed onto the pin, but the hinge requires more parts and complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is integrated directly into the hinge body structure, eliminating the need for a separate hinge pin. This merging reduces the number of parts while the bearing installation is simplified through the integrated design that allows direct pressing or forming of the bearing into the hinge body.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a folding door hinge (3) comprising: a first hinge lever (31) having a first lever end piece (311) with at least one bearing opening (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140) and a second lever end piece (312) which is connected or can be connected to a first assembly part (39); a second hinge lever (32) having a first lever end piece (311) with at least one bearing opening (3210) and a second lever end piece (312) which is connected or can be connected to a second assembly part (39); a hinge shaft (33) which is held in the bearing openings (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140; 3210) of the hinge levers (31, 32) and hinges together the two hinge levers (31, 32); and a moving spring (34) which at one end abuts the first hinge lever (31) and at the other end abuts the second hinge lever (32). The first lever end piece (311) of the first hinge lever (31) comprises: two first and second inner bearing arms (3112, 3113) which are mutually spaced and are provided with associated bearing openings (31120, 31130) and between which the first end piece (321) of the second bearing arm (32) is held; and two first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) which are spaced from the inner bearing arms (3112, 3113). The moving spring (34) comprises two spring assemblies (341, 342) which are penetrated by the hinge shaft (33) and which are interconnected at the mutually facing ends by a spring center piece (343) abutting the second hinge lever (32), and of which the first spring assembly (341), which is located between the first inner bearing arm (3112) and the first outer bearing arm (3111), has, at an end remote from the spring center piece (343), a first spring end piece (3411) abutting the first outer bearing arm (3111), and of which the second spring assembly (342), which is located between the second inner bearing arm (3113) and the second outer bearing arm (3114), has, at an end remote from the spring center piece (343), a second spring end piece (3421) abutting the second outer bearing arm (3114). According to the invention, the two spring end pieces (3411, 3421) are each held by a holding element (314) of the first hinge lever (31) and/or the spring center piece (343) is held by a holding part (324) of the second hinge lever (32).