Thermal Insulating Hinge Mounting with Plastic Locking Sleeves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge arrangements for thermal insulating profiles lack sufficient strength and effective thermal insulation while being costly to produce and assemble.
Innovation Solution
A screw mounting system with plastic locking sleeves and a torque locking plate is used to secure metal mounting bolts within thermal insulating profiles, preventing deformation and ensuring thermal insulation by forming a stiffening unit with rivet nuts and cylindrical locking sleeves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a screw mounting system with metal mounting bolts is used to secure hinge members to thermal insulating profile elements, then the strength and structural integrity of the hinge arrangement is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates due to thermal conduction through metal elements
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic locking sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal mounting bolt and the thermal insulating profile element. The sleeve receives the mounting bolt and prevents direct thermal contact, thereby maintaining thermal insulation while still providing mechanical fastening. The plastic material acts as a thermal barrier that breaks the thermal bridge formed by direct metal-to-profile contact.
2Stability of the object's composition
If plastic locking sleeves are used to prevent deformation of thermal insulating profile elements during mounting, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic locking sleeve combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides mechanical deformation prevention during mounting, secures the metal mounting bolt through engagement features, and maintains thermal insulation. By integrating these functions into one element rather than using separate components for each function, the overall device complexity is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic locking sleeve serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a deformation preventer, a bolt receiver/retainer, and a thermal insulator. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized components, thereby simplifying the overall mounting system while maintaining structural integrity during installation.
3Manufacturing precision
If a unitary stiffening member formed by pairing locking sleeves via a locking plate is used, then manufacturing precision and assembly ease are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking plate connects the two plastic locking sleeves to form a unitary stiffening member, merging them into a single functional assembly. This integration ensures precise relative positioning of the sleeves, improving manufacturing precision and assembly ease, while the locking plate itself serves as a simple connecting element that does not significantly increase overall complexity.
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 a strong and thermally insulated hinge arrangement with quick assembly, maintaining structural integrity and reducing production costs through the use of thermally isolated metal bolts and polyamide components.
Implementation Method 1
The plastic locking sleeves prevent deformation of the thermal insulating profile elements while the mounting screws are screwed into the rivet nuts
Implementation Method 2
at least one metal first box profile and at least one metal second box profile connected via at least one thermal insulating element defining an inner thermal insulating space
Implementation Method 3
The metal mounting bolts can therefore be elements that are thermally insulated from other metal elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5b
AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge arrangement (1), in particular a door or window hinge arrangement, comprising at least two pivotally connected hinge members (2), wherein at least one of said hinge members (2) has a mounting element (22) with at least two mounting orifices (23) and is attached to a thermal insulating profile element (3) of a frame (4) or sash (5) via a screw mounting system (7) including at least two mounting bolts (72) passing through the mounting orifices (23) in the mounting element (22) and through the mounting orifices (35) in the thermal insulating profile element (3), wherein the thermal insulating profile element (3) has at least one metal first box profile (31) and at least one metal second box profile (32) connected via at least one thermal insulating element (33) defining an inner thermal insulating space (34). In order to increase the strength and thermal insulation of the hinge arrangement, simplify its construction and reduce the cost of manufacturing, the screw mounting system (7) comprises at least two rivet nuts (71) fixed in the mounting orifices (35) of the thermal insulating profile element (3) from its axially outer side; at least two plastic locking sleeves (733) provided with seats (731) whose cross-sectional diameter at the outlet is greater than inside said seat (731) and with torque locking means (732), and slid into the mounting orifices (35) of the insulating element (3) from its axially inner side, wherein the mounting bolts (72) are screwed into said rivet nuts (71) and said seats (731) of said locking sleeves (733), in which they tap internal threads as they are screwed.