Hinge Strip Play Reduction via Oblique Guide Tracks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hinges suffer from play due to manufacturing tolerances, which negatively impact the perceived quality by allowing jamming and making relative movement difficult or impossible.

Innovation Solution

The hinge incorporates projections on the outer or inner lateral surfaces of the hinge bolt bushing and recess, along with guide links that run obliquely to the hinge axis, and a sliding bearing surface with a curved contact area, ensuring minimal play and preventing jamming by allowing smooth pivoting movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hinge pin bushing is guided parallel to the hinge axis with cam followers in inclined cams, then the hinge pin bushing can pivot around the adjusting spindle axis, but play occurs due to manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivoting movementVSAvoidplay in hinge pin bushing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding means are divided into multiple guide tracks (at least two guide tracks extending obliquely to the hinge axis) instead of using a single cam mechanism. This segmentation distributes the guiding function across multiple contact points, reducing the cumulative effect of manufacturing tolerances and minimizing play in the hinge pin bushing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A curved contact area is provided on the inner surface of the recess, and the hinge pin bushing is designed to engage with this curved surface. The curvature allows for smooth pivoting movement while maintaining continuous contact, reducing play caused by manufacturing tolerances in the guiding means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the hinge pin bushing is fixed in the direction of the hinge axis within the recess, then displacement is prevented, but jamming occurs and relative movement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing in hinge axis directionVSAvoidrelative movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding means are designed with specific local geometries - guide tracks extending obliquely to the hinge axis and a curved contact area - that provide different functional qualities in different regions. The oblique guide tracks prevent displacement in the hinge axis direction while allowing pivoting movement, and the curved contact area facilitates smooth relative movement during pivoting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 ensures the hinge bolt bushing has little or no play over the entire pivoting range, preventing jamming and maintaining mechanical load-bearing capacity, with a sufficient pivoting range ensured by a minimum clearance angle of 20°.

Implementation Method 1

an adjusting spindle (9) having an axis of rotation and an external thread (8) which is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

adjusting spindle (9) having an axis of rotation and an external thread (8) which is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 3

means (15) for guiding the hinge pin bushing (4) which cause the hinge pin bushing (4), when displaced in the direction of the hinge axis within a pivoting range, to perform a pivoting movement about the axis of rotation of the adjusting spindle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPivoting: Hinge

Implementation Method 4

The guiding means preferably comprise at least one guide track (16, 17) that runs obliquely to the hinge axis and is provided either in the inner surface of the recess (2) or in the outer surface of the hinge pin bushing (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGuided movement:

Implementation Method 5

a sliding bearing surface with a curved contact area, ensuring minimal play and preventing jamming by allowing smooth pivoting movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP3631131B1Hinge strip for the pivotal connection of a wing to a frame around a hinge axis
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 HAHN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3631131B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3631131B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3
  • EP3631131B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a hinge having a hinge part, which comprises a recess (2) extending in the direction of a hinge axis and comprising an inner lateral surface (3), and having an adjustment spindle (9), which has an axis of rotation (X) and an external screw thread (8), wherein at least one protrusion (25, 26) is provided on both sides of the adjustment spindle (9) either on the outer lateral surface (6) of the hinge pin bushing (4) or on the inner lateral surface (3) of the recess (2), of which protrusions at least one is always in engagement with a trough (27, 28) provided in the inner lateral surface (3) of the recess (2) or in the outer lateral surface (6) of the hinge pin bushing (4) within the pivoting range (B).