Hinge and refrigerator having the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hinges in refrigerators suffer from corrosion due to exposure in humid and cold environments, and they often have excessive fitting clearance and frictional forces between the hinge shaft and shaft sleeve, leading to alignment issues and structural damage.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a plastic-encapsulated hinge shaft with a protrusion on the plastic encapsulating case to reduce friction and clearance, and a supporting plate with a mounting hole for secure rivet fixation, enhancing structural strength and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional riveting is used to fit hinge plate and hinge shaft, then manufacturing process is simple, but fitting clearance is excessive and perpendicularity cannot meet requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic encapsulating case is introduced as an intermediary component between the hinge shaft and shaft sleeve. This plastic case is molded to precisely fit the hinge shaft and includes integrated protrusions that engage with the shaft sleeve, eliminating the need for traditional riveting while achieving precise perpendicularity and fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly combines metal (hinge shaft) with plastic (encapsulating case) materials. The plastic material provides precise dimensional control and integration features that metal riveting cannot achieve, while the composite structure maintains structural strength and precision.
2Ease of manufacture
If hinge shaft and shaft sleeve are fitted with clearance, then assembly is easy, but radial shaking occurs and hinge shaft is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic encapsulating case acts as a precision intermediary that eliminates radial clearance between the hinge shaft and shaft sleeve. The case is molded to precise dimensions and includes protrusions that fit into corresponding recesses in the shaft sleeve, preventing radial shaking while maintaining easy assembly through a single molding operation.
3Strength
If contact area between hinge shaft and shaft sleeve is increased, then structural strength is improved, but frictional force becomes excessive and damages hinge shaft
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing overall contact area, the design uses localized protrusions on the plastic encapsulating case that make point contact with the shaft sleeve. This localized contact provides sufficient structural strength and positioning while minimizing frictional force and wear on the hinge shaft.
4Reliability
If traditional corrosion prevention methods are used, then hinge corrosion is prevented, but process is complex or cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic encapsulating case serves as a protective intermediary that isolates the metal hinge shaft from the humid and cold environment. This physical barrier prevents corrosion of the hinge shaft without requiring complex corrosion prevention treatments or processes on the metal 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 effectively prevents corrosion, reduces frictional forces, and improves alignment, making the hinge more durable and cost-effective while minimizing radial shaking and manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the outside of the hinge shaft is plastic-encapsulated with a plastic encapsulating case, which can prevent corrosion of the hinge shaft
Implementation Method 2
a protrusion is provided on the plastic encapsulating case to cooperate with the shaft sleeve, which can reduce the fitting clearance between the hinge shaft and the shaft sleeve
Implementation Method 3
reduce the contact area between the hinge shaft and the shaft sleeve to reduce the frictional force therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a hinge and a refrigerator having the same. The hinge has a fixing plate, a supporting plate perpendicularly connected with the fixing plate, and a hinge shaft perpendicularly mounted on the supporting plate to cooperate with a shaft sleeve, wherein the outside of the hinge shaft is plastic-encapsulated with a plastic encapsulating case, the plastic encapsulating case is provided with a protrusion protruding horizontally outwards along the extension direction of the supporting plate, and the protrusion is integrally formed with the plastic encapsulating case.