Die Cast Hinge Recess with Straight Guide Strip

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Solution Overview

Problem

In door hinge production, components manufactured by die casting with sloping side walls result in variable play during adjustment, leading to imprecise guidance due to the funnel-like depression, which complicates shaping and assembly.

Innovation Solution

A straight guide strip is formed on the sloping side wall of the first component, ensuring constant distance and precise guidance during adjustment, while maintaining the draft angle for problem-free shaping, with the straight area being less than 50% of the total surface area and preferably formed as an elongate guide strip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the side wall of the recess has a draft bevel for easy removal from the die casting mold, then the component can be easily shaped without material jamming, but the guidance precision deteriorates due to variable play during adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of removal from moldVSAvoidguidance precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall of the recess is segmented into two distinct zones: an upper draft bevel zone for easy mold removal and a lower straight guide strip zone for precise guidance. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and guidance precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the side wall are given different geometric properties: the upper region has a draft bevel for manufacturing ease, while the lower region has a straight surface for precise guidance. This local differentiation of quality allows the component to satisfy both contradictory requirements in different spatial locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the recess has a funnel-like shape with sloping walls for easy casting, then material does not jam during shaping, but the distance between the inserted part and side wall varies causing play during adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproblem-free shapingVSAvoiduniform guidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The recess geometry is segmented vertically: the upper portion maintains the funnel-like draft bevel for easy casting and material flow, while the lower portion incorporates a straight guide strip that ensures constant distance and uniform guidance throughout the adjustment range, eliminating play.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The straight guide strip is pre-formed as an integral part of the recess geometry during die casting. This preliminary action ensures that the guidance function is built-in from the start, preventing variable play before assembly and adjustment takes place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If a straight guide strip is added to ensure precise guidance, then guidance precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional geometric features

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance precisionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The straight guide strip is merged with the side wall of the recess as an integrated geometric feature rather than a separate component. This combining approach maintains guidance precision while avoiding the complexity of additional parts, fasteners, or assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The side wall of the recess serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables easy mold removal through the draft bevel, and ensures precise guidance through the straight guide strip. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate elements, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration ensures precise guidance without variable play over the entire adjustment range, allowing for problem-free shaping and assembly, preventing material jamming, and enabling easy adjustment with minimal additional inaccuracies.

Implementation Method 1

molten metal is pressed into a die-casting mold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The draft angle is a deviation from the vertical in model and mold making. It allows the finished model to be lifted out of the mold without damaging it. This prevents the material from jamming or galling.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2514895B1Assembly of two components, in particular hinge parts
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 SIMONSWERK GMBH
  • EP2514895B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2514895B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2514895B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The arrangement has a component (1) produced by pressure casting and comprising a recess (2) into which a portion of another component is adjustably fed. A side wall (3) of the recess is provided with a mold chamfer and a region (6) adjacent to the chamfer and comprising a surface linear in relation to the chamfer. The portion of the latter component is guided between the region and a linear counter surface (4), where a gap remains constant between the portions and the region remains constant during adjustment of a position of the components to each other. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a component with a recess.