Long-Stroke Front-Panel Hinge With Rack-and-Ring-Gear Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge devices for dishwasher door panels in kitchen furniture have insufficient stroke length, limited design flexibility, and require complete redesign to change the panel movement or transmission ratio.
Innovation Solution
A hinge device with a first member fixed to the appliance and a second member fixed to the door, featuring a hinge pin, connection means for panel translation, and a kinematic system with a ring gear and racks that allow for adjustable transmission ratio and increased panel stroke, enabling greater design freedom and avoiding interference with kitchen elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If known hinges with leverages or gears are used to convert door rotary motion into panel translation, then the panel can be lifted during door rotation, but the panel stroke is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device employs a dynamic kinematic means with a movable end in the first member and a pivoted end connected to the second member, allowing the mechanism to adapt its configuration during door rotation. This dynamic structure enables the panel to achieve a long reciprocating stroke while maintaining design flexibility, as the kinematic means can adjust its position and orientation throughout the motion cycle rather than being constrained by fixed leverages or gears.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of the hinge mechanism by replacing traditional leverages or gears with a kinematic means that includes a movable end and a pivoted end with a ring gear. This parameter change allows the panel stroke to be extended significantly while also enabling easy adjustment of the transmission ratio between door rotation and panel translation, thereby improving both panel stroke and design flexibility simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If known hinges with leverages or gears are used to convert door rotary motion into panel translation, then the panel can be lifted during door rotation, but the shapes and proportions are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device is segmented into distinct functional components: a first member fixed to the appliance, a second member fixed to the door, a hinge pin for rotation, connection means for panel attachment, and a kinematic means with movable and pivoted ends. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy modification of the transmission ratio or panel movement characteristics without requiring complete redesign of the entire hinge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The kinematic means serves multiple functions: it converts door rotary motion into panel translation, provides adjustable transmission ratio, enables long panel stroke, and allows easy reconfiguration for different design requirements. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms, while simultaneously improving design freedom.
3Ease of operation
If known hinges are used to lift the panel during door rotation, then interference with kitchen toe kick boards can be avoided, but complete redesign is required to change panel movement or transmission ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The kinematic means with its movable end in the first member and pivoted end connected to the second member creates a dynamically adjustable mechanism. The transmission ratio between door rotation and panel translation can be easily modified by adjusting the position of the movable end or changing the pivot point location, without requiring complete redesign. This dynamic configuration allows simple reconfiguration for different panel movement requirements while maintaining the ability to lift the panel and avoid interference with kitchen elements.
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 provides a hinge device with a long reciprocating stroke, allowing for greater design flexibility and easy adjustment of the transmission ratio, effectively preventing panel interference with kitchen elements during door opening and closing.
Implementation Method 1
such device further comprises kinematic means having one end movable in the first member and the opposite end centrally and rotatably pivoted to the second member or to an element fixed to the latter, by means of a respective first pivot pin
Data Source
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
Hinge device with long reciprocating stroke of a front panel (P) and having a first member (3) assigned to be fixed to an appliance (A) and a second member (5) assigned to be fixed to a door (D) of the appliance (A); the second member (5) is pivoted to the first member (3) by means of a hinge pin (7). such device (1) is also equipped with a connection means (9) assigned to be fixed to the front panel (P) for actuating the translation thereof along the door (D) during the rotation of the latter between its extreme closing (C) and opening (O) conditions. Said device (1) comprises kinematic means (11) having one end movable in the first member (3) and the opposite end provided with a ring gear (13) centrally and rotatably pivoted to the second member (5) or to an element fixed to the latter (5), by means of a respective first pivot pin (15). said ring gear (13) is geared with a first rack (17) engaged by a pinion (19) having a second rotation pin (21) whose axis of rotation is fixed with respect to the second member (5). This second rotation pin (21) bears a toothed wheel (23) geared with a second rack (25) sliding parallel to the front panel (P) and connected to the latter by means of said connection means (9). The relationship between the rotation angle of the door (D) and length of the translation of the front panel (P) depends on the operative radius of the ring gear (13) and on the ratio of the operative radiuses of the pinion (19) and of the toothed wheel (23).