Hinge Retaining Split Tube for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges, such as socket type hinges, are not durable due to quick wear of friction portions, and improved designs requiring complex processing for manufacturing, which increases production time.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a pivot shaft with an annular locating groove and a resilient split retaining tube that engages with the barrel's inside wall, providing friction resistance and secure positioning through retaining strips, while allowing for easy assembly and lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction portions are used to hold the male hinge member in position, then positive positioning is achieved, but the friction portions wear quickly reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining tube is divided into multiple segments that can independently engage with the shaft body through retaining strips. This segmentation distributes the friction and wear across multiple contact points rather than a single friction portion, thereby extending the service life while maintaining reliable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining strips act as intermediary elements between the retaining tube and the shaft body. Instead of direct friction engagement, the retaining strips engage with annular grooves on the shaft body, providing a mechanical interlocking mechanism that reduces wear compared to continuous friction contact.
2Reliability
If an inside annular step is processed in the female hinge member to secure the male hinge member, then secure positioning is achieved, but the processing is complicated increasing manufacturing time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of processing the female hinge member (barrel) to create an inside annular step, the invention inverts the approach by adding retaining strips to the retaining tube that engage with annular grooves on the shaft body. This eliminates the need for complex internal processing of the barrel while achieving secure positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular grooves are created only at specific locations on the shaft body where engagement is needed, rather than processing the entire internal surface of the barrel. This localized approach reduces manufacturing complexity and time while providing secure positioning at the critical engagement points.
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 enhances durability and manufacturing efficiency by maintaining secure angular positioning without noise and reducing wear, while simplifying the manufacturing process through a more straightforward assembly method.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient retaining split tube is forced by the inside wall of the barrel into friction with the periphery of the shaft body of the pivot shaft
Implementation Method 2
The resilient retaining split tube is mounted in the receiving open chamber around the shaft body of the pivot shaft and forced by the inside wall of the barrel into friction with the periphery of the shaft body of the pivot shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge includes a pivot shaft affixed to a first member, a barrel affixed to a second member, a polygonal retaining split tube mounted in the barrel around the shaft body of the pivot shaft and hooked on an annular locating groove at the shaft body of the pivot shaft and forced by the inside wall of the barrel in friction engagement with the periphery of the shaft body of the pivot shaft.