Interlocking Hinge Assembly for Vehicle Trim Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge arrangements in rail vehicles face challenges with large gaps between cladding elements and the vehicle structure, requiring additional sealing and complex mechanisms for access, and often necessitate additional holding forces to maintain closure flaps in open positions.
Innovation Solution
A hinge arrangement design where the two hinge parts interlock when pivoted, allowing the component to be suspended and held without additional aids, enabling a large pivoting angle and automatic engagement, thus maintaining the component on the vehicle and facilitating easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a cylindrical axis element is used to define the rotation axis of the panel element, then the hinge assembly is simple in design, but a relatively large gap is created between the panel element and the adjacent vehicle part, requiring additional sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The first hinge part with its cavity and the second hinge part with its cavity are nested into each other when the component is in the second end position. The first hinge part is inserted into the second cavity, and the second hinge part is inserted into the first cavity, creating an interlocking state that eliminates gaps without requiring additional sealing elements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a web with low height is inserted into a groove to define the rotation axis, then sealing is improved through labyrinthine gap, but the component detaches from the vehicle when the opening angle exceeds 90°, requiring additional holding means
Solution Approach 1:
The reciprocal nesting of the first hinge part into the second cavity and the second hinge part into the first cavity creates an interlocking mechanism that provides both sealing and stable attachment. This nested configuration maintains component attachment even at large opening angles exceeding 90°, eliminating the need for additional holding means while preserving sealing effectiveness.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional means are used to generate holding force for the closure flap, then the component remains attached at large opening angles, but the hinge arrangement becomes more complex and requires additional aids
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge arrangement is designed to be self-sufficient through the automatic interlocking mechanism. When the component is pivoted to the second end position, the first and second hinge parts automatically engage in an interlocking state where each hinge part engages in the cavity of the other hinge part, generating the necessary holding force without additional aids or retaining elements.
4Ease of operation
If the hinge parts are designed to interlock automatically through pivoting, then ease of operation is improved, but the hinge parts must be precisely configured to prevent disengagement during rapid pivoting
Solution Approach 1:
The nested cavity design provides inherent reliability by creating an interlocking mechanism that is tolerant of pivoting speed variations. The first hinge part engages in the second cavity while the second hinge part engages in the first cavity, forming a mechanically robust connection that maintains engagement even during rapid pivoting, provided the operator maintains moderate pivoting speed to avoid excessive dynamic forces.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a hinge arrangement for the movable support of a component (104), in particular a trim element, on a vehicle (101), comprising a component-side first hinge part (106) and a vehicle-side second hinge part (107). The first hinge part (106) and the second hinge part (107) are configured to interact to define a first end position and a second end position of the component (104) that differs from the first end position. The first hinge part (106) and the second hinge part (107) are further configured to define an instantaneous axis of rotation (105.1) of the component (104) during movement between the first end position and the second end position. The first hinge part (106) has a first joint section (106.1) which is hook-shaped in a plane perpendicular to the instantaneous axis of rotation (105.1), wherein the first joint section (106.1) has a first outer surface (106.3) and a first inner surface (106.4) which forms a first cavity (106.5). The first hinge section (106.1) is inserted in the first end position into a second cavity (107.5) of the second hinge part (107) such that a second inner surface (107.4) of the second hinge part (107), forming the second cavity (107.5), supports the first hinge part (106) against the direction of the weight force via the first outer surface (106.3) of the first hinge section (106.1). The first hinge part (106) and the second hinge part (107) are designed to interlock in the second end position of the component (104) via the first cavity (106.5) and the second cavity (107.5) in such a way that they hold the component (104) against the weight force of the component (104) in the second end position.