Disengageable Hinge Assembly with Transverse Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding systems, especially those on high building floors, face security issues due to loose or misplaced hinge pins during cleaning, which can lead to accidental disconnection, burglary, or vandalism, as existing hinge arrangements lack secure locking mechanisms and are prone to operational errors.
Innovation Solution
A folding system with a hinge arrangement featuring a transversely displaceable fixing element and a latching element, which secures the pivot pin in place and requires active actuation to release, combined with a spring-loaded mechanism and visible/tactile markings for correct assembly, enhancing security and reducing operational errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hinge pin is made easily removable for cleaning purposes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against burglary and vandalism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is divided into a head portion and a shank portion, with the shank featuring an asymmetric cross-sectional shape (e.g., D-shaped or with a flat spot) that corresponds to a matching recess in the hinge bushing. This segmentation allows the pin to be removed only when properly oriented and deliberately acted upon, preventing both accidental detachment during cleaning and unauthorized removal by burglars, while still enabling authorized users to remove it when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge pin employs an asymmetric cross-sectional design where one side is flat or has a specific shape that must align with a corresponding recess in the hinge bushing. This asymmetry ensures that the pin can only be inserted and removed in a specific orientation, requiring deliberate action rather than simple pulling. This resolves the contradiction by making accidental removal impossible while still allowing authorized removal for cleaning when the proper orientation and force are applied.
2Reliability
If the hinge connection is secured against unintentional loosening, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system transitions from a static, permanently secure connection to a dynamic system that can switch between locked and unlocked states. The asymmetric pin design combined with the bushing recess creates a default locked state that prevents unintentional loosening, while allowing authorized users to deliberately transition to an unlocked state for cleaning by applying force in the correct direction, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric cross-sectional shape of the pin and matching recess in the bushing creates a preliminary anti-action mechanism that prevents the pin from being accidentally pulled out or loosened. The geometry itself provides the locking action, requiring deliberate orientation and force application to overcome this preliminary anti-action, thereby preventing unintentional loosening while still allowing authorized release when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the hinge pin is completely removed during cleaning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of the hinge pin increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is designed to nest within or be retained by the hinge bushing structure when not in use. The asymmetric shape and matching recess create a retained configuration where the pin remains associated with the hinge assembly even when removed from the load-bearing position, preventing complete loss. This allows the pin to be temporarily extracted for cleaning while ensuring it can be easily reinserted and is not easily misplaced, resolving the contradiction between ease of cleaning and prevention of loss.
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 system provides increased security against burglary and vandalism by preventing unintentional loosening of the hinge connection, simplifying operation, and reducing the risk of assembly errors, ensuring the folding wall maintains intended burglary resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the fixing element is spring-loaded in the direction of the axle pin, so that it automatically snaps into place during assembly as soon as the recess of the axle pin comes into contact with the projection of the fixing element
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
In a hinge arrangement for the detachable connection of pivotably connected components (1,2), in particular folding wings (1,2) of a folding system, with an axle pin (7) thickened on one side by a collar (9) and at least two hinge parts (3,4), each of which is to be fixed to a component (1,2) and pivotably connected to each other via the axle pin (7) extending through bushings (5,6) formed in the hinge parts (3,4), the axle pin (7) has a recess (8) and at least one of the hinge parts (3) has a fixing element (23) extending into its bushing (5) and being displaceable transversely to the longitudinal extent (A) of the axle pin (7), with a projection (33) extending into the recess (8) of the axle pin (7) when the components (1,2) are connected.Preferably, at least one further band section (4) has a locking element (24) that is movable into its socket (6) and is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal extent (A) of the axle pin (7). This locking element can be arranged such that when the locking element (24) is engaged in the recess (8), the axle pin (7) is completely removed from the socket (5) of the band section (3) having the fixing element (23).