Hinge Joint with Selective Partial Locks and Symmetric Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge technologies face issues with stress distribution, increased size and complexity, and assembly difficulties, particularly when dealing with large or heavy doors/leaves and high cycle counts, and require rigid springs for stability, complicating design and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A hinge joint with integrated angular locking and selective partial locks, featuring a strut, abutment, engagement slots, and a pressing element, such as an elastically deformable body or tape spring, to facilitate stable intermediate opening positions and simplify assembly by distributing stresses symmetrically and reducing component complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a double-pin hinge with rolling friction interposition elements is used to achieve stable intermediate opening positions, then the door can be held in multiple partial opening configurations, but the internal stresses on the hinge components increase and the hinge size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into distinct functional modules: a pressing element module that applies force, an abutment module that receives the force, and an engagement slot module that provides positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing element is extracted as a separate, simple component that can be independently designed and positioned. This extraction allows the complex stabilizing function to be achieved through a dedicated element rather than through the complexity of the entire hinge structure.
2Reliability
If rigid springs are used to maintain elastic forces for stability, then the hinge can maintain partial opening conditions, but the design and assembly become more complicated and the hinge size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing element is designed with specific geometric parameters (shape, size, material properties) that allow it to provide the necessary elastic forces without requiring complex spring mechanisms. By optimizing these parameters, the hinge achieves reliable partial opening maintenance with simpler components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hinge components are positioned to achieve stable intermediate openings, then the door can be held firmly, but the assembly process becomes difficult requiring partial disassembly and specialized tool access
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing element and abutment are pre-positioned and pre-assembled in their final functional configurations during hinge manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that the stable intermediate opening positions are achieved through the inherent geometry of the assembled hinge, eliminating the need for complex field adjustments or partial disassembly during installation.
4Duration of action of moving object
If the hinge is designed for high cycle counts with large or heavy doors, then the hinge can handle demanding applications, but the encumbrances and sizing of the hinge increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge components are designed using composite construction approaches, combining different materials and structural forms to achieve high strength and durability for demanding applications. This allows the hinge to handle high cycle counts with heavy doors while minimizing the overall size and encumbrances of the hinge assembly.
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 high reliability, easy assembly, reduced encumbrances, and optimized production costs, enabling stable intermediate opening positions with reduced mechanical wear and improved stress distribution, making it suitable for compact designs and efficient use in vehicles and furniture.
Implementation Method 1
the pressing element (8), which is configured between the base body (4) and the strut (5) and comprises at least one elastically deformable body
Implementation Method 2
the pressing element (8), which is configured between the base body (4) and the strut (5) and comprises at least one tape spring
Data Source
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AI summary
A hinge joint comprises a main portion and an auxiliary portion respectively connectable to a fixed and a movable part of a complex object, and partial opening means operatively active between the main portion and the auxiliary portion to position the movable part in different intermediate or partial opening configurations with respect to the fixed part; said partial opening means comprise a strut connecting the main portion and the auxiliary portion, an abutment adapted to translate relatively with respect to the strut in a plurality of relative engagement positions and a plurality of engagement slots obtained on the strut and adapted to selectively receive the abutment, to each of the engagement slots corresponding to a partial opening condition of the movable part with respect to the fixed part.