Hinge device having tension maintaining function

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Hinge devices for dishwashers and ovens face challenges in safely and smoothly opening and closing heavy doors, often requiring excessive force and generating noise due to uneven door operation and weight, leading to a need for a tension maintaining function.

Innovation Solution

A hinge device incorporating a winding member, tension member, leaf spring, and synchronization bar to apply continuous tension and synchronize door opening and closing, ensuring balanced operation and reducing noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hinge device is used to facilitate door opening and closing, then the door can be opened and closed more easily, but the door may not be safely opened or smoothly closed due to lack of tension control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of door opening and closingVSAvoidsafety and smooth operation of door

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a tension member with adjustable tension and a leaf spring that maintains continuous tension on the door. The tension force can be adjusted to optimize both ease of operation and safety, resolving the contradiction between making the door easy to open while ensuring safe and smooth operation throughout the door's movement range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The leaf spring performs preliminary action by maintaining continuous tension on the door before the door is opened or closed. This pre-applied tension ensures that the door is ready for smooth operation from the start, preventing sudden movements or unsafe conditions during door opening and closing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the door has considerable weight to ensure tight closure, then the door can be tightly closed without gaps, but the user consumes considerable force to open or close the door

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetight closure of doorVSAvoidforce required to open or close door

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tension member and leaf spring system acts as a counterweight mechanism by applying continuous tension to the door. This tension compensates for the door's weight and gravitational forces, reducing the effort users need to apply to open or close the heavy door while maintaining its considerable weight for tight closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the force parameter by introducing a tension member with adjustable tension and a leaf spring that provides continuous force assistance. This allows the door to maintain its heavy weight for secure closure while the applied tension reduces the operational force required by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If hinge devices are individually operated on both sides of the door, then each side can be independently controlled, but a posture distortion occurs when there is a difference in opening and closing degrees

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent control of each hingeVSAvoidposture stability of door

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization bar merges the operation of the two independently controlled hinges by mechanically linking them together. When one hinge moves, the synchronization bar ensures the other hinge moves correspondingly, maintaining consistent door posture and preventing distortion while still allowing independent control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the door is opened or closed with uneven operation, then individual hinge operation is simple, but noise is generated due to pinching operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of individual hinge operationVSAvoidnoise from pinching operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization bar merges the motion of both hinges to ensure they operate in unison. This coordinated operation prevents pinching between the door and frame by maintaining proper alignment throughout the opening and closing process, thereby eliminating noise while keeping the individual hinge operations simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 device ensures synchronized door operation, reduces noise and jamming, and facilitates easy coupling and decoupling by maintaining tension through the leaf spring and tension member, enhancing user safety and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a leaf spring mounted on the winding member and configured to add a force for closing the door by maintaining a tension of the tension member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11781358B2Hinge device having tension maintaining function

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 SEGOS

AI summary

Proposed is a hinge device having tension maintaining function, the hinge device including: a winding member affixed to a main body of a mounted structure having an inner space formed therein; a hinge member affixed to a door that opens or closes the inner space and mounted on the winding member so as to enable the door to be pivotable; and a tension member having one end affixed to the winding member and the other end affixed to the hinge member, such that the tension member transmits a tension to the door when opening and closing the door.