Horizontal Appliance Door Hinge With Tilting Spring Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horizontal hinges for domestic appliance doors, particularly oven doors, suffer from friction and noise issues due to the bending of compression springs against lifting rods during door rotation, leading to force losses and unwanted noise.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal hinge design featuring a tilting element that adapts to the angular changes of the lifting rod, keeping the compression spring straight and reducing friction, combined with a plastic intermediate element for noise reduction and wear prevention, and a terminal element for precise spring support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compression spring is used to counterbalance the door weight in a horizontal hinge, then the door can be held in various positions, but the spring bends against the lifting rod during door rotation causing friction and force losses
Solution Approach 1:
A tilting element is introduced as an intermediary component between the compression spring and the lifting rod. This tilting element pivots about a horizontal axis to accommodate the angular changes of the lifting rod during door rotation, allowing the compression spring to remain substantially straight while still providing the necessary counterbalancing force, thereby eliminating friction and force losses
Solution Approach 2:
The tilting element is made pivotable about a horizontal axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its angle in response to the lifting rod's angular changes during door rotation. This dynamic adaptation ensures the compression spring maintains its straight configuration throughout the door's movement range, preventing bending and friction
2Force
If the compression spring is held under compressive stress between the hinge housing and the lifting rod, then the spring provides continuous counterbalancing force, but the spring bends and produces noise during door rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting element serves as a mediator that decouples the lifting rod's rotational movement from the compression spring. By pivoting independently, the tilting element allows the spring to remain straight and prevents direct contact between the spring and the moving lifting rod, thereby eliminating noise generated by spring sliding
Solution Approach 2:
The force transmission path is segmented into distinct functional components: the lifting rod handles angular movement, the tilting element adapts to angular changes through pivoting, and the compression spring provides pure axial counterbalancing force. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with others, preventing noise
3Ease of operation
If the lifting rod rotates with the hinge arm during door opening and closing, then the hinge mechanism functions properly, but the compression spring bends against the lifting rod causing friction
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting element is designed to pivot dynamically as the lifting rod rotates during door operation. This pivoting motion allows the tilting element to maintain the compression spring in a straight configuration throughout the entire range of motion, eliminating friction while preserving the ease of door opening and closing
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a new degree of freedom by allowing the tilting element to pivot about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the lifting rod's rotation plane. This additional dimensional movement enables the system to accommodate the lifting rod's angular changes without bending the compression spring, thus eliminating friction during door operation
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 solution ensures the compression spring remains straight and friction-free, reducing noise and force losses, while maintaining mechanical stability and ease of movement, enhancing the operational efficiency and longevity of the hinge mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring (109) placed over the lifting rod (107) outside the hinge housing (105) and held under compressive stress between the hinge housing (105) and a bearing portion of the lifting rod (107)
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal hinge for a cooking appliance door includes a hinge housing having a front face and a rear face. A rotatable hinge arm protrudes from the front face of the hinge housing for retaining the cooking appliance door. Protruding from the rear face of the hinge housing is a lifting rod which is coupled to the hinge arm and pivotable when the hinge arm is caused to rotate. Placed over the lifting rod outside the hinge housing is a compression spring which is held under compressive stress between the hinge housing and a bearing portion of the lifting rod. A tilting element tiltably bears against the hinge housing between the compression spring and the hinge housing.