Refrigerator Hinge With Articulated Piston Damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge arrangements for refrigerator doors are unsatisfactory in damping the pivoting movement, leading to potential door strikes when open and inadequate damping when closed, especially due to varying door weights.
Innovation Solution
A multi-joint hinge with a piston-cylinder damping unit is used, where the damping unit is articulated directly to one part, allowing for adjustable damping characteristics and attachment to an existing hinge without protruding, ensuring stable end positions in open and closed states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stop damper is used for refrigerator door damping, then damping is provided during closing, but the door is no longer connected to the damper from a certain opening angle and can strike adjacent walls
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is connected to a movable attachment arm that changes position with door opening angle. The attachment arm is articulated to the central hinge arm, allowing the damper to remain effective throughout the entire range of motion. As the door opens, the attachment arm rotates, maintaining the damping connection dynamically rather than having a fixed detachment point.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment arm serves as an intermediary element between the door and the damper. It translates the door's rotational motion into corresponding motion of the damper, ensuring continuous damping action. The attachment arm acts as a mechanical mediator that maintains the damping function while accommodating the door's full range of motion.
2Device complexity
If coil springs are used for damping, then the hinge structure is simple, but the damping characteristics cannot be adjusted well for varying door weights
Solution Approach 1:
A pneumatic damper is used instead of coil springs to provide adjustable damping characteristics. The damper contains a piston moving within a cylinder, creating controllable resistance to door motion. This pneumatic system allows for better adjustment of damping forces to accommodate varying door weights and loading conditions, while the attachment arm mechanism maintains reasonable structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the piston-cylinder damping unit is articulated directly to the door, then adjustable damping is achieved, but the attachment structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment arm is merged with the existing hinge structure, specifically articulating to the central hinge arm. This integration combines the damping attachment function with the hinge's existing components, avoiding the need for entirely separate mounting structures. The attachment arm leverages the hinge's motion to achieve damping while minimizing additional structural 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 consistent and adjustable damping for refrigerator doors of different weights, preventing door strikes and ensuring safe and gentle opening and closing, regardless of loading conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a piston-cylinder damping unit is provided, which is articulated directly at least on one part. The damping characteristics of the piston-cylinder damping unit can be adjusted much better
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge device, in particular for a refrigerator housing on which a refrigerator door is pivotally mounted, comprising a first part (2), a second part (4) which is pivotally swigs by means of a hinge (3, 3a) and a piston-cylinder damping unit (6) which is actively arranged between said first part (2) and second part (4) for damping the pivoting movement of the two parts (2, 4) with respect to each other and which is pivotable on at least one part (2, 4).