Hinge assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hinge assemblies for rooftop ventilator lids are difficult to open and close safely and securely, often requiring workers to lift heavy assemblies and risk pinching their fingers, with lids also becoming misshapen over time, leading to imprecise fits and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly comprising upper and lower mounting brackets with U-shaped members and clamping plates, allowing for secure and adjustable attachment to the lid without irreversible modifications, enabling easier and safer operation by distributing weight and torque across multiple hinge leaves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid is hinged directly to the base housing without additional mounting structures, then the hinge assembly is simple in structure, but the lid becomes difficult to grasp and operate safely, requiring workers to lift edges with fingers and risking pinching injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces upper mounting brackets as intermediary components between the lid and the hinge mechanism. These brackets provide dedicated gripping surfaces and distribute operational forces, eliminating the need for workers to directly grasp the lid edges with their fingers. The brackets act as a mediator that improves safety and ease of operation while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is hinged without additional support structures, then the hinge assembly has fewer components, but the heavy fan and lid assembly becomes difficult to rotate and position during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hinge assembly into multiple independent components: lower mounting brackets attached to the base housing, upper mounting brackets attached to the lid, and hinge leaves connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the lower brackets providing stable mounting and the upper brackets facilitating easy gripping and rotation of the heavy assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds vertical dimension to the hinge assembly by introducing both lower and upper mounting brackets at different heights. This multi-level arrangement provides multiple attachment points and leverage opportunities, making it easier to rotate and position the heavy fan and lid assembly during maintenance operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lid is made flexible to accommodate installation variations, then the lid is easier to install, but it becomes deformed or misshapen over time, resulting in imprecise fit between lid and base housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustment mechanisms in the mounting brackets that allow for preliminary positioning and alignment before final tightening. This enables workers to install the lid without excessive flexibility, then make precise adjustments to ensure proper fit, thereby achieving both ease of installation and long-term dimensional stability.
4Reliability
If traditional hinge mounting is used without clamping plates, then the hinge assembly is simpler, but it cannot provide secure attachment to the lid without irreversible modifications like drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces clamping plates as intermediary components that provide a secure mounting surface on the lid without requiring irreversible modifications. The clamping plates can be attached using reversible methods and provide robust attachment points for the upper hinge leaves, ensuring reliable connection while preserving the lid integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly includes a pair of lower mounting brackets, at least two upper hinge leaves, and an axle pivotally coupling the upper hinge leaves to the lower mounting brackets. Each lower mounting bracket has a vertically oval-shaped axle hole. Each upper hinge leaf includes a U-shaped mounting member and a hook shaped clamping plate coupled to the U-shaped mounting member through threaded tension bolts. The upper hinge leaf also has a pair of axle holes. The axle extends through the elongated axle holes of the lower mounting bracket vertical flange and through the axle holes of the U-shaped member.