Modular Piston Hinge for Controlled Door Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closing or damping hinges face challenges with complex and costly manufacturing processes, particularly due to the difficult deburring and threading required for the plunger member, which complicates maintenance and increases overall dimensions, and require high-quality materials to ensure functionality and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A hinge device and piston device assembly with a simplified design that allows for easy insertion and removal of the piston device within the hinge body, utilizing a tubular structure with a cam element and elastic contrast means to control door movement, enabling automatic closing and controlled rotation with minimal parts and reduced dimensions, facilitating maintenance and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plunger member is inserted in the rear portion of the hinge body with internal threading, then the closing or damping function is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and expensive due to difficult deburring and threading operations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device is divided into separate modular components: the hinge body, the plunger member, and the closure cap. The plunger member is inserted through the hinge body from the front rather than being threaded from the rear, eliminating the need for complex internal threading and deburring operations on the hinge body.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of inserting the plunger member from the rear of the hinge body as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the insertion direction by introducing the plunger member from the front through a simplified opening, reversing the traditional assembly sequence to achieve easier manufacturing.
2Reliability
If high-quality materials are used for the hinge body, then functionality and reliability are ensured, but maintenance and replacement of internal mechanical members become extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device is segmented into replaceable modules, with the plunger member and closure cap forming a separable assembly that can be removed and replaced independently from the hinge body, facilitating easy maintenance without replacing the entire hinge or disassembling complex internal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger member and closure cap are extracted as a separate removable assembly from the hinge body. This allows the hydraulic components to be easily removed for maintenance or replacement without affecting the structural hinge body, reversing the conventional approach where the plunger is permanently integrated.
3Reliability
If the closure cap is present in the hinge body, then the plunger member can be secured, but the overall dimensions of the hinge device are strongly influenced and increased
Solution Approach 1:
The closure cap is merged with the plunger member to form an integrated assembly, eliminating the need for separate securing mechanisms and reducing the overall volume required for the hinge device while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure cap serves multiple functions: it secures the plunger member in place, seals the hydraulic chamber, and provides a mounting surface for the actuating head. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional components that would increase the hinge device dimensions.
4Reliability
If the plunger member moves in an oil bath, then hydraulic damping is achieved, but machining tolerances must be very low increasing manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger member and closure cap are extracted as a separate removable assembly containing the oil bath and hydraulic components. This modular extraction allows for easier assembly with larger tolerances, as the precision hydraulic chamber can be manufactured separately and installed without requiring extremely tight tolerances on the main hinge body.
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 cost-effective, reliable, and compact hinge system capable of handling heavy doors and windows with automatic closing and controlled movement, simplifying maintenance and installation while ensuring precise closing positions and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a working fluid, usually oil, adapted to hydraulically counteract the action of the elastic contrast means
Implementation Method 2
elastic contrast means acting on the plunger member
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A piston device for the controlled rotatable movement of a closing element (D) anchored to a stationary support structure (W) including a tubular body (10) removably insertable into at least one seat (S) of a hinge device (H), an actuating head (20) external to the tubular body (10), a plunger member (30) slidably movable unitary with the actuating head (20) between a retracted end position and an extended end position, elastic contrast means (50) acting on said plunger member (30) for the returning thereof from the retracted end position to the extended end position and a working fluid acting on the plunger member (30) to hydraulically counteract the action thereof. A hinge device in which the piston device is removably insertable.