Hinge With Plunger And Spring For Controlled Door Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door hinges are prone to damage from sudden door impacts and lack control during both opening and closing, failing to maintain the exact closing position over time and being bulky and costly.

Innovation Solution

A hinge design featuring a box-shaped body and pivot mechanism with a sliding plunger member and elastic counteracting means, including a pinion and rack system, that controls the door's movement hydraulically to prevent impacts and ensure automatic closing, while being compact, safe, and easy to install.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a box-shaped hinge body with plunger member is used, then the hinge can control door movement, but the hinge becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor movement controlVSAvoidhinge bulkiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The plunger member is nested within the hinge body, and the spring mechanism is integrated into the same assembly. The pivot axis is positioned within the hinge body structure, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall volume while maintaining control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge combines multiple functions into a single integrated assembly: the hinge body provides structural support and housing, the plunger member provides movement control, the spring provides restoring force, and the pivot enables rotation. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components and minimizes bulk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If known hinges are used, then the door can rotate between open and closed positions, but the door may impact the frame and damage itself during sudden opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor rotationVSAvoiddoor impact damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to provide a restoring force that counteracts sudden door opening. The plunger member is positioned to engage with the frame, creating a mechanical stop that prevents the door from impacting the frame during sudden opening or closing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If known hinges are used, then the door can close, but the hinge fails to maintain the exact closing position with time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor closingVSAvoidclosing position maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mechanism provides continuous feedback by maintaining a pre-loaded restoring force that keeps the plunger member engaged with the frame. This feedback mechanism ensures the door returns to and maintains the exact closing position over time by continuously counteracting any positional drift.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Strength

If known hinges are used, then the hinge structure is provided, but the hinge is susceptible to damage from sudden door opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehinge structureVSAvoidhinge damage from impact

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to cushion sudden door opening by providing a restoring force that reduces impact shocks. The plunger member engages with the frame to absorb impact forces, protecting the hinge structure from damage during sudden opening or closing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 effectively prevents door impacts, maintains precise closing positions, supports heavy loads, and ensures consistent behavior over time, while being cost-effective and easy to install, with enhanced safety and control during both opening and closing.

Implementation Method 1

A hinge design featuring a box-shaped body and pivot mechanism with a sliding plunger member and elastic counteracting means

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

controls the door's movement hydraulically to prevent impacts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic control: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3043015B1Hinge for the rotatable movement of a door, a door leaf or the like

Publication Date: 2020.02.26 OLMI SRL

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Figure 4a~4b

AI summary

A hinge for the controlled rotatable movement of at least one closing element, such as a door, a door leaf or the like, anchored to a stationary support structure, such as a wall, a floor, a frame or the like. The hinge comprising a hinge body (10) and a pivot (20) defining a first axis (X) reciprocally coupled to allow the at least one closing element to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The hinge further comprises a working chamber (40) defining a second axis (Y) substantially perpendicular to said first axis (X) and a plunger element (50) sliding in the working chamber (40) along said second axis (Y) between a position proximal to said bottom wall (45) of the working chamber (40) and a position distal therefrom.