Vehicle Hinge Assembly With Frictional Contact Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle hinge assemblies are costly to manufacture and prone to failure due to their complex components, and simpler designs often fail to provide consistent friction/torque throughout the pivotal range of motion, leading to inconsistent movement control of vehicle closure members.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle hinge assembly featuring a first and second hinge member with contact members that provide frictional resistance, where the static friction between the contact surfaces varies by less than 20% over the pivotal range, ensuring consistent motion control and reduced wear, using circular washers and tubular structures for uniform contact and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hinge assemblies include various components such as links, rollers, torque rods, and springs, then the motion control and support functionality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and the assembly becomes prone to failure, stress, and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple traditional hinge components (links, rollers, torque rods, springs) into a single integrated hinge assembly structure. The first and second hinge members are pivotally connected with contact members incorporated directly into the hinge members themselves, eliminating the need for separate links, rollers, and torque rods. This merging reduces component count while maintaining motion control functionality through the frictional engagement between contact members.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge members are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the first hinge member serves as both a structural support element and a friction control element through its contact member. The contact members provide both the mechanical connection and the friction-based motion control that would traditionally require separate components. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If simpler hinge assemblies with fewer components are used, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the friction/torque consistency throughout the pivotal range of motion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact members are designed with specific surface characteristics and geometries optimized for frictional engagement. The first contact member has a first surface and the second contact member has a second surface with specific local properties that ensure consistent frictional resistance. This localized optimization of surface quality at the contact interfaces ensures friction consistency without requiring complex overall assembly design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the friction parameter by designing the contact surfaces with specific geometric parameters and material properties. The arrangement of contact members and their surface characteristics are optimized to maintain consistent frictional resistance throughout the pivotal range of motion. By carefully selecting and controlling these parameters, the hinge achieves reliable friction-based motion control with a simple component structure.
3Reliability
If contact members with uniform contact surfaces are used, then the frictional resistance consistency is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is segmented into distinct first and second hinge members with their respective contact members. This segmentation allows each contact member to be independently manufactured and optimized for its specific frictional engagement function. The modular design enables focused precision manufacturing of contact surfaces while keeping overall assembly complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact members are designed with curved or rounded contact surfaces that naturally accommodate variations in manufacturing tolerances. The curved geometry of the contact surfaces ensures that frictional engagement remains consistent throughout the pivotal range, as the curved surfaces can maintain uniform contact pressure even with slight manufacturing variations. This geometric approach reduces the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining friction consistency.
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 solution provides consistent frictional resistance and reduced wear, enabling controlled pivotal movement of vehicle closure members while maintaining cost-effectiveness and reliability by minimizing component complexity and ensuring uniform contact surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
the first contact member and the second contact member are arranged with the first and second surfaces frictionally engaged such that relative motion of the vehicle closure panel between an open position and a closed position causes relative motion between the first contact member and the second contact member to provide a frictional resistance for controlling the movement of the vehicle closure member
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle hinge assembly is provided including a first hinge member (16) mounted to a vehicle body or a vehicle closure panel and a second hinge member (18) mounted to the other of the vehicle body or the vehicle closure panel. A first contact member (38) is fixed to the first hinge member and a second contact member (40) is fixed to the second hinge member. The first contact member and the second contact member have first and second surfaces (39,41), respectively, that frictionally engage each other. The first contact member and the second contact member are arranged between the first hinge member and the second hinge member such that relative motion of the vehicle closure panel between an open position and a closed position causes relative frictional motion between the first contact member and the second contact member to provide a resistance for controlling the movement of the vehicle closure member.