Hinge Assemblies With Elastic Members For Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hinge assemblies in electronic devices experience wear and tear, leading to a loose fit between flanges and grooves, reducing stability and durability, which affects the ability to retain the display unit at a particular folded position.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating elastic members between hinge elements that compress or stretch depending on the direction of movement, providing counteracting forces for interlocking action and reducing frictional forces, thus enhancing stability and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hinge elements are interconnected with flanges and grooves to enable folding and unfolding, then the hinge assembly achieves mobility and flexibility, but wear and tear occurs between the flange and groove surfaces, leading to a loose fit and reduced stability
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic member is introduced as an intermediary element between the flange and groove of adjacent hinge elements. This elastic member deforms during folding and unfolding operations, absorbing wear and maintaining the interference fit between flange and groove surfaces, thereby preventing the loose fit problem while preserving mobility
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member changes its physical state (deformation) in response to the directional movement of the hinge assembly. During folding, the elastic member compresses; during unfolding, it expands. This parameter change allows the elastic member to dynamically adapt to movement while maintaining stable interlocking
2Device complexity
If the hinge assembly is designed with simple interconnected movable segments, then the device complexity is low, but the frictional forces between interfacing components increase wear and reduce durability
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member serves as a mediator between the flange and groove surfaces, reducing direct frictional contact. By deforming elastically during movement, it absorbs wear forces while maintaining the interference fit, thereby extending the durability of the hinge assembly without significantly increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-positioned between the flange and groove to provide cushioning against wear before damage occurs. This beforehand protection mechanism reduces frictional forces and wear during normal operation, extending the service life of the hinge 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 elastic members ensure greater stability and durability by balancing the movement of hinge elements during folding and unfolding, allowing the display unit to be retained at specific positions and reducing wear on the interfacing components.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic members get characteristically compressed/decompressed and stretched/destretched depending on a direction of movement of the hinge assembly
Implementation Method 2
providing counteracting forces for interlocking action and reducing frictional forces, thus enhancing stability and durability
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of hinge assemblies are described. In an example implementation, a hinge assembly includes hinge elements which are interconnected to move the hinge assembly between a folded position and an unfolded position. The hinge assembly further includes elastic members disposed between the hinge elements at a first side and a second side thereof. When the hinge assembly is moved from the unfolded position towards the folded position, elastic members at the first side are decompressed and elastic members at the second side are stretched. When the hinge assembly is moved from the folded position towards the unfolded position, elastic members at the first side are compressed and the elastic members at the second side are destretched.