Integrated Door Hinge Check Plate for Vehicle Door Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door hinges in vehicles lack an integrated door check mechanism, leading to increased complexity, cost, weight, assembly, and maintenance, while also being limited by size constraints and mechanical limitations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door hinge with an integrated door check mechanism, featuring a hinge pin with bearings and a door check plate that provides variable resistance and retention positions through a resiliently compressible bias, allowing the door to stabilize at intermediate positions without a discrete door check assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate door check assembly is used, then door retention function is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the door check functionality into the hinge assembly by integrating a check plate with the hinge pin and bracket structure. The check plate is positioned within the hinge assembly and engages with the hinge pin to provide retention positions, eliminating the need for a separate door check assembly while maintaining the door retention function.
2Reliability
If a separate door check assembly is used, then door retention function is provided, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The check plate is integrated into the hinge assembly structure, combining the weight of the door check mechanism with the existing hinge components. This integration eliminates the need for additional separate door check assemblies, thereby reducing the total weight of the moving door assembly while maintaining retention functionality.
3Reliability
If a separate door check assembly is used, then door retention function is provided, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The check plate is manufactured as part of the hinge assembly, allowing for integrated production processes. This merging of components reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked, thereby lowering overall manufacturing costs while maintaining the door retention function.
4Reliability
If a separate door check assembly is used, then door retention function is provided, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated hinge assembly with check plate reduces the number of separate components that can fail or require maintenance. The check plate is positioned within the hinge assembly and shares the same maintenance cycle as the hinge components, simplifying service procedures and reducing overall maintenance requirements while maintaining reliable door retention.
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
Reduces complexity, cost, weight, and maintenance by integrating door check functionality into the hinge, while maintaining stability and functionality, and can be applied to various types of doors and objects with rotational connections.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently compressible bias positioned to axially bias the bearing engagement surface against the bearings
Data Source
AI summary
A door hinge with integrated door check is disclosed herein. The door hinge includes a first and second bracket connected by a hinge pin and rotatable relative to first bracket about an axis, and a door check plate. The hinge pin includes a plurality of bearings distributed about the axis. The door check plate has a bearing engagement surface axially opposed to the bearings, defining a plurality of curved paths, where the number of curved paths equals number of bearings, each curved path has a path length and an elevation profile of variable elevation that is substantially identical for all curved paths. A resiliently compressible bias is positioned in contact with the door check plate to axially bias the bearing engagement surface against the bearings so each bearing travels along the elevation profile of a respective curved path when the second bracket rotates relative to the first bracket.