Hinge Link Mechanism with Coil Spring Transfer Arm to Reduce Cam Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinges with cam and cam follower mechanisms experience wear and loss of catch force due to sliding, making it difficult to maintain reliable opening and closing operations.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a coil spring and transfer arm that biases the door-side member in opening and closing directions without using a cam or sliding member, with the coil spring accommodated in a dedicated portion to prevent abrasion and improve airtightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cam and cam follower mechanism is used to achieve opening and closing operations, then the initial catch force can be maintained, but the sliding surfaces wear out and deform with repeated use, making it difficult to maintain reliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the cam and cam follower components from the hinge mechanism. By removing these sliding elements, the patent avoids the wear and deformation problems inherent in cam-based catch mechanisms, thereby extending service life while maintaining reliable opening and closing operations through alternative linkage geometry
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a cam profile to generate the catch force through sliding motion, the invention inverts the approach by using a link mechanism with strategically positioned connection points and a coil spring to directly generate the required torque. This inverts the mechanism from cam-based sliding to linkage-based rotational motion, eliminating wear surfaces
2Ease of operation
If a coil spring is exposed for catch mechanism operation, then the elastic restoring force can be applied, but accidental contact may cause injury or foreign objects may interfere
Solution Approach 1:
The coil spring is nested within a dedicated accommodating portion formed in the door-side member. This nesting arrangement allows the spring to be contained and protected while still enabling it to expand and contract to provide the necessary elastic restoring force for the catch mechanism operation, eliminating safety hazards from exposed springs
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 design ensures reliable opening and closing operations without cam-related wear, maintaining consistent catch force and enhancing door sealing performance, while preventing injuries from accidental contact with the coil spring.
Implementation Method 1
a transfer arm configured to transfer an elastic restoring force of the coil spring to an other side of the two members
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to reliably performing an opening portion operation and a closing operation without using a cam and a member sliding on the cam, by including a body-side member fixed to a box body; a door-side member fixed to a door, a link mechanism connecting the body-side member to the door-side member, and a catch mechanism interposed between the link mechanisms, between the body-side member and the link mechanism, or between the door-side member and the link mechanism, and configured to bias the door-side member in a closing direction or an opening portion direction, wherein the catch mechanism includes a coil spring provided on one side of two members that are connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other through a shaft member, and a transfer arm configured to transfer an elastic restoring force of the coil spring to an other side of the two members, and the transfer arm is connected to be rotatable at a point spaced apart from the shaft member on the other side of the two members.