Lid Swivel Joint with Adjustable Opening Angle for Commercial Kitchens
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In large commercial kitchens, lid swivel joints often unintentionally strike kitchen appliances when opened, leading to potential damage, and existing solutions are either complex or costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A compact and robust lid swivel joint design featuring a first and second bearing block with a center piece, a stationary cam element, and an integrated adjustment device on the bearing block, allowing for adjustable lid opening angles without additional installation space, using a form-fitting connection and blind hole openings for simple and cost-effective adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lid opening path is limited to prevent striking fixtures, then safety and damage prevention are improved, but the lid may not open sufficiently for operational needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the maximum lid opening angle to be changed according to different operational requirements. The adjustment device with rotatable adjustment disc and multiple opening positions enables the system to adapt between limiting the lid opening path for safety and allowing greater opening for operation, resolving the contradiction between fixed safety limits and flexible operational needs.
2Volume of moving object
If an adjustment device is integrated into the central piece, then space is saved, but the design becomes complex and manufacturing costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adjustment device into distinct components: an adjustment disc with multiple opening positions, a fixing pin, and a bearing block with corresponding openings. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using simple, cost-effective methods and then assembled, avoiding the complexity and high manufacturing costs that would result from integrating the adjustment mechanism directly into the central piece as a single complex component.
3Ease of operation
If the adjustment device uses through-holes in the central piece, then adjustment is simplified, but the design becomes less robust
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating through-holes in the central piece (which would compromise its structural integrity), the patent inverts the approach by providing openings in the bearing block and using a fixing pin that extends through the bearing block opening to engage with the adjustment disc. This inverted arrangement maintains the robustness of the central piece while still enabling simple adjustment through the bearing block's openings.
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 safe and easy opening and closing of heavy commercial kitchen lids with quick and precise adjustment of the lid's maximum opening angle, enhancing safety and reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a cam track (60) on the second cam element (6) which is in sliding engagement with a cam track (50) on the first cam element (5)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a cover swivel joint of a kitchen appliance for opening and closing a cover, comprising a first bearing block (2) and a second bearing block (3), a central piece (4) which is arranged so as to be rotatable between the first bearing block (2) and the second bearing block (3), a positionally fixed first cam element (5) which is connected to the first bearing block (2) and has a first cam track (50) and a stop (7), a second cam element (6) which is connected to the central piece (4) and has a second cam track (60), wherein the first and second cam elements (5, 6) are in sliding engagement by means of the first and second cam tracks (50, 60) and a maximum adjustment angle is defined by the stop (7), and an adjustment device (10) which is designed to determine a maximum adjustment angle between the central piece (4) and the first and second bearing blocks (2, 3).