Modular Hinge Design for Simplified Household Appliance Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges for household appliances are difficult to mount due to complex assembly sequences and limited space, leading to installation challenges and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular hinge design with a separate drive device and hinge housing, featuring a threaded spindle and screw element, allows for independent handling and mounting of module parts, simplifying assembly and reducing space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional integrated hinge design is used, then the hinge structure is compact, but the assembly sequence becomes complex and mounting is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into separate module parts: a drive device module containing the electric motor and control electronics, and a hinge housing module containing the mechanical linkage components. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured and tested independently, then mounted separately on the appliance, significantly simplifying the overall assembly process and reducing mounting difficulty.
2Area of stationary object
If the hinge components are integrated into a single housing, then the structure is unified, but the space requirements increase and installation in tight spaces becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the drive device from the hinge housing into distinct modules, the overall envelope space required for installation is reduced. The modular configuration allows the components to be arranged in tighter configurations within the appliance structure, enabling installation in spaces that would be inaccessible to a monolithic hinge design.
3Loss of time
If the hinge is assembled as a complete unit before installation, then all components are pre-positioned, but the installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The modular hinge design allows critical sub-assembly operations to be performed in advance during manufacturing - such as pre-assembling the drive device module with its electronic components and the hinge housing module with its mechanical components. These pre-assembled modules can then be quickly installed on the appliance without requiring complex on-site assembly procedures, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining assembly simplicity.
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 modular design facilitates easy, time-saving, and cost-effective installation of the hinge, even in tight spaces, while maintaining convenient operation and reducing noise and temperature loads on the appliance.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded spindle which is accommodated at least partially, in particular at least predominantly or completely, in the hinge housing, which can be driven by means of the electric motor and is therefore rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the hinge housing
Implementation Method 2
a screw element which is screwed to the threaded spindle, in particular screwed onto the threaded spindle, which screw element is designed, for example, as a nut. The screw element is secured against rotation about the axis of rotation relative to the hinge housing, so that a relative rotation about the axis of rotation between the threaded spindle and the screw element can cause a translatory movement of the screw element relative to the hinge housing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge (10) for a household appliance, comprising a hinge housing (12), a pivot arm (14) which is pivotably mounted on the hinge housing (12), and a drive unit (20) which has an electric motor (22) by means of which the pivot arm (14) can be pivoted relative to the hinge housing (12), wherein the drive unit (20) comprises: a drive housing (38) formed separately from the hinge housing (12), additionally provided and following at least partially the hinge housing (12) in the longitudinal direction (40) of the hinge housing (12); a threaded spindle (42) received at least partially in the hinge housing (12); and at least one screw element (44) screwed to the threaded spindle (42).