Furniture Hinge Damping Device Spatial Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge designs for movable furniture parts with damping devices are complex and prone to faults due to the integration of damping and reset functions within a common structural unit, limiting reliability and tolerance.
Innovation Solution
The damping device and return mechanism are spatially separated, with the damping device on one side wall of the hinge cup and the return mechanism on the opposite side wall, allowing for larger structural components and a stable design that prevents one-sided loading of the actuating element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the damping device and return mechanism are integrated in a common structural unit, then the construction is more compact, but the reliability decreases and the components are more prone to faults
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into separate functional units: the damping device (5) with damper housing (13) is mounted on one side wall of the hinge cup (4a), while the return mechanism (6) with reset housing (19) is mounted on the opposite side wall. This segmentation allows each unit to be independently designed and dimensioned larger for increased stability and reliability, while avoiding the faults associated with integrated designs.
2Reliability
If the damping device components are dimensioned larger for stability, then the reliability increases, but the hinge cup space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the volume of a single integrated unit, the patent distributes the damping device and return mechanism to opposite side walls of the hinge cup. This spatial arrangement in different dimensions allows each component to be dimensioned larger for stability while efficiently utilizing the available space through optimized spatial distribution rather than increasing overall volume.
3Reliability
If the actuating element is subjected to one-sided loading during damping, then the damping function is effective, but the actuating element is more prone to faults
Solution Approach 1:
The return mechanism (6) with restoring element (15) and spring device (18) acts as a counterbalancing system to the damping device (5). During the damping stroke, the actuating element (7) experiences one-sided loading for effective damping. During the return stroke, the restoring element provides counteracting force to move the actuating element back to the starting position, balancing the one-sided loading and reducing fault susceptibility.
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
This separation enhances the reliability and stability of the damping and reset functions, ensuring effective damping and reliable resetting of the actuating element, reducing the risk of faults and improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device (18), by which the restoring element (15) can be moved into a starting position for the next damping stroke after damping has taken place
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A hinge (1), particularly for movable pieces of furniture (2), having at least two stop parts (3, 4) connected in an articulated manner, which is to say a hinge arm and a hinge cup, for fastening to pieces of furniture (8, 2), having a damping device (5) for damping the hinge movement, and having a restoring mechanism (6), by which an actuating element (7) of the damping device (5) can be moved into a starting position for the next damping stroke after damping has taken place, the damping device (5) and the restoring mechanism (6) being disposed as separate components on the hinge cup (4a), characterized in that the damping device (5), which has no restoring mechanism, is disposed on a lateral wall of the hinge cup (4a), and that the restoring mechanism (6) is disposed on an opposing lateral wall of the hinge cup (4a).