Laboratory Instrument Door Hinge With Inclined Track Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory instrument door hinges require additional space for gas springs and restrict the movement of door leaves to restricted angles, limiting flexibility and efficiency in accessing the instrument's interior.
Innovation Solution
A door hinge design featuring a hollow body with an inclined track and a linear guiding element, allowing for compact construction and flexible movement of the door leaf, utilizing a force generator like a spring to automate the opening and closing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gas springs are used to facilitate door movement, then door movement is facilitated, but additional space is required and movement flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of the hollow body and linear guiding element into a single integrated hinge assembly, eliminating the need for separate gas spring mechanisms. The inclined track within the hollow body directly guides the protruding pin, converting linear movement into rotation without requiring additional space-consuming components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural housing, contains the inclined track for guiding motion, and enables rotational movement through its interaction with the linear guiding element. This multi-functionality replaces the need for dedicated gas spring components while achieving the same door facilitation effect.
2Ease of operation
If gas springs are used to facilitate door movement, then door movement is facilitated, but movement flexibility and pivot angle are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly allows dynamic adaptation of the door's movement path through the inclined track geometry. The track's angle can be adjusted or designed to accommodate different pivot requirements, enabling the system to adapt to various door weights, sizes, and desired movement angles without being restricted by fixed gas spring pre-loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the track is a key parameter that can be modified to change the movement characteristics. By adjusting the track's inclination, the system can optimize door movement facilitation for different applications while maintaining full movement flexibility and unrestricted pivot angles.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact door hinge design is implemented, then space requirements are reduced, but structural integrity and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow body is designed with a curved, hollow structure that provides high structural strength-to-volume ratio. The curved geometry naturally resists bending and deformation forces, maintaining reliability while minimizing material usage and overall size. The curvature distributes stresses more effectively than straight-line designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear guiding element is nested within the hollow body, with the protruding pin moving along the inclined track inside the hollow structure. This nested arrangement maximizes space efficiency by placing components within each other's volumes, achieving compactness without compromising the structural integrity of either component.
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
Enables high movement flexibility of door leaves, reducing space requirements and facilitating efficient access to the instrument's interior without the need for additional locks, while allowing for manual or automated operation.
Implementation Method 1
The linear guiding element and the hollow body are rotatable against each other. The body is movably attached to the linear guiding element so that the body is movable in two opposite directions along the second longitudinal axis and the protruding pin is movable on the track
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A door hinge for a laboratory instrument door is presented. The door hinge comprises a hollow body with a first longitudinal axis and a curved side wall comprising a track. At least a part of the track is inclined relative to the first longitudinal axis. The door hinge further comprises a linear guiding element with a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis. At least a part of the linear guiding element is arranged in the hollow. The linear guiding element and the hollow body are rotatable against each other. The door hinge further comprises a body comprising a protruding pin. The body is movably attached to the linear guiding element so that the body is movable in two opposite directions along the second longitudinal axis and the protruding pin is movable on the track. A laboratory instrument door, a laboratory instrument, a laboratory instrument door assembling kit, and a method for assembling the laboratory instrument door assembling kit are also disclosed.