Hinge Lever Mechanism for Dampening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges with elastic means and dampeners face challenges in providing effective dampening action across various angular ranges without bulkiness, jamming, or requiring custom-made, expensive dampeners, which can lead to reduced effectiveness over time due to mechanical clearance.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design incorporating a lever mechanism between two sliders to vary the motion transmission, allowing for a larger displacement of the dampener actuating element, reducing bulk and the need for custom dampeners, and minimizing jamming by amplifying the displacement of the first slider with respect to the second, thus ensuring effective dampening throughout the hinge's life-span.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dampener is continuously stressed during the entire opening or closing stroke of the door, then effective dampening action is achieved, but the dampener may jam or require custom-made designs that increase device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The dampener is activated periodically rather than continuously - specifically during the closing stroke when the door approaches the closed position. The slider engages with the fixed body only in the vicinity of the closed position, providing dampening action when needed while avoiding continuous stress that would cause jamming or require complex custom designs.
2Volume of moving object
If the dampener actuation range is limited to a small angular range near the closed position, then the hinge size is reduced, but the slider translation stroke becomes particularly reduced requiring expensive custom dampeners
Solution Approach 1:
A lever is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the slider and the dampener. The lever converts the limited translation stroke of the slider into sufficient rotational motion of the dampener actuating element. This mechanical advantage allows standard dampeners to be used even with small angular ranges, avoiding the need for expensive custom-made dampeners.
3Volume of moving object
If mechanical clearance develops in the dampener over time, then the hinge bulk dimensions may be reduced initially, but the dampening action becomes reduced over time
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism provides a mechanical feedback system where the position and motion of the slider are continuously translated into corresponding dampener actuation. This leveraged connection ensures that even small movements are effectively transmitted, compensating for wear and clearance that develops over time and maintaining dampening effectiveness throughout the hinge's life-span.
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 hinge achieves efficient dampening action across a range of angular movements without bulkiness or jamming, maintaining effectiveness over time by optimizing the displacement of the dampener actuating element and reducing the need for custom-made components.
Implementation Method 1
a dampener, generally of a fluidic cylinder-piston type, which is configured to exert a further braking action during the respective motion
Implementation Method 2
one of the two bodies houses appropriate elastic means, usually consisting of a cylindrical helical spring, acting on the other hinge body so as to counteract, or facilitate, the motion
Implementation Method 3
constraining means between the first and second slider that comprise at least one lever pivoted to the second hinge body such that the first and second slider are constrained at least in rotation to said lever
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A hinge for a closing door of a compartment, of the type comprising a first (1) and a second body (2), respectively integral to said door and to the frame of the corresponding compartment, or vice versa, and mutually hinged by at least one pin (3), first elastic means (4) mounted on said second body (2) and acting upon said first body (1 ), and at least one dampening device (5) fixed to the second body (2), acting upon the first body (1) and actuated by at least a first slider (6), functionally connected to the dampener (5), and by at least a second slider (7), configured for engaging, directly or indirectly, the aforesaid first body (1) in correspondence of at least a certain angular range assumed by said first body (1) with respect to said second body (2) during their relative rotation, whereby said second slider (7) is actuated in translation by the first body (1 ) when engaged therewith, as well as constraining means between the first slider and the second slider. Advantagiously, the aforesaid constraining means comprise at least a lever (8) pivoted to the second body (2), and the aforesaid first and second slider (6, 7) are constrained at least in rotation to said at least one lever (8).