Hydraulic Hinge Damping for Heavy Hatch Closure Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic damping devices are often designed for lighter use and require complex assembly, making them unsuitable for heavy-duty applications, such as controlling the closure of heavy hatches, hoods, or doors in machinery, which can lead to hazardous situations.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic damping device with a compact design, featuring a housing with a cylindrical space, a movable piston, and a fluid tank connected via a fluid channel, allowing for controlled movement and damping of heavy loads, and a hinge arrangement that incorporates the damping device to absorb impact, with adjustable damping effects through flow rate and spring mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional hydraulic damping devices are used for heavy-duty applications, then the damping capacity is insufficient, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the hinge mechanism and hydraulic damping device into a single unified structure. The housing of the damping device forms part of the hinge assembly, and the piston rod is directly connected to the hinge arm. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets and fasteners, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining heavy-duty damping capacity through the integrated hydraulic cylinder and piston system.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping device is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a hinge mechanism for mounting the hatch/hood/door and a hydraulic damping system for controlling closure speed and absorbing impact. The single device replaces what would traditionally require separate hinge brackets and damping components, providing universal functionality for heavy-duty applications without increasing assembly complexity.
2Force
If damping devices are designed for heavy-duty applications, then the damping capacity is sufficient, but the device size and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rod is received within the hollow structure of the hinge arm, and the hydraulic cylinder is integrated into the housing that forms part of the hinge assembly. This nesting arrangement allows the damping components to be contained within the existing hinge structure rather than requiring additional external space, maintaining heavy-duty damping capacity while minimizing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the hinge structure and damping device into a single integrated unit, the patent eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets and external damping components. The housing serves dual purposes as both structural support and containment for the hydraulic system, reducing the total volume required compared to conventional separate-component designs.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional damping devices are used, then the assembly is straightforward, but the devices are exposed to damages and need extra space
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the damping device into the hinge structure provides inherent protection. The housing forms part of the hinge assembly and is positioned within the mechanical structure, shielding the hydraulic components from external impacts and environmental damage. This merged design maintains assembly simplicity while significantly improving damage resistance compared to externally mounted conventional devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic damping system inherently provides cushioning protection by controlling the closure speed and absorbing impact energy before the hatch/hood/door reaches the closed position. This prior cushioning action prevents sudden impacts that could damage the device or surrounding structures, enhancing reliability while maintaining the straightforward assembly of an integrated design.
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 effectively absorbs the impact of uncontrollable closure, providing a safe and compact solution for heavy-duty applications, such as in vehicles and machinery, by ensuring the damping device can handle heavy loads and adapt to various uses with ease.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid flow is achieved by pressing with the piston the fluid from the cylinder space to the fluid tank via the fluid channel
Implementation Method 2
a fluid flow is achieved by pressing with the piston the fluid from the cylinder space to the fluid tank
Implementation Method 3
the device comprises means for returning the piston to the extended position of the piston rod when the external force is not directed to the piston rod
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A hydraulic damping device comprising a housing (2) having a cylinder space (3) defined by a cylindrical inner wall (4) of the housing, a piston (7) arranged movably in the cylinder space (3), a piston rod (8) arranged to the piston (7) and extending to the outside of the housing (2), means for moving the piston (7) from a first position, in which the piston rod (8) is in a retracted position, to the second position, in which the piston rod (8) is in an extended position, and a fluid tank (20) operationally connected via fluid channel (19) to the cylinder space (3). The damping device (1) is configured to damp a movement of the piston (7) and the piston rod (8) from the extended position of the piston rod (8) to the retracted position of the piston rod (8) achieved by an external force directed to the piston rod (8), wherein a fluid flow is achieved by pressing the fluid with the piston (7) from the cylinder space (3) to the fluid tank (20) via the fluid channel (19), and the device comprises means for returning the piston (7) to the extended position of the piston rod (8) when the external force is not directed to the piston rod. The invention relates also to a hinge arrangement and a machine.