Motor Vehicle Hinge Segmented Metal Plastic Insert

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle hinges are heavy due to their solid design, requiring extensive machining and resulting in material wastage, with large diameters that increase weight and create unwanted torques during assembly, and are complex and costly to produce.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle hinge design that separates the load-bearing supporting structure and the locking device into distinct parts, where the supporting structure is made of metal and the insert is made of lightweight, easily machined plastic, allowing for a lighter and more efficient construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the hinge half is designed as a solid metal part with integrated locking device, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the weight increases and material wastage occurs due to extensive machining

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidhinge weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge half is divided into two separate components: a supporting structure made of metal and an insert made of lightweight plastic. The insert is fixed within the supporting structure, creating a composite assembly that maintains structural integrity while reducing weight. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire hinge half to be heavy solid metal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge half combines two different materials: a metal supporting structure providing strength and load-bearing capacity, and a plastic insert providing the locking device housing and reducing overall weight. This composite construction achieves the desired structural strength while significantly reducing weight compared to a solid metal design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the hinge half is designed as a solid metal part with integrated locking device, then the structural stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to extensive machining

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge half is divided into two separate components: a supporting structure made of metal and an insert made of lightweight plastic. The insert is fixed within the supporting structure, creating a composite assembly that maintains structural integrity while reducing weight. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire hinge half to be heavy solid metal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge half combines two different materials: a metal supporting structure providing strength and load-bearing capacity, and a plastic insert providing the locking device housing and reducing overall weight. This composite construction achieves the desired structural strength while significantly reducing weight compared to a solid metal design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If the locking device components are housed within hollow spaces machined into the solid hinge half, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the manufacturing time and material wastage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge half is divided into two separate components: a supporting structure made of metal and an insert made of lightweight plastic. The insert is fixed within the supporting structure, creating a composite assembly that maintains structural integrity while reducing weight. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire hinge half to be heavy solid metal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

This principle is not applicable to the given patent. The patent does not involve any color changes or optical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS10487552B2Motor vehicle hinge

Publication Date: 2019.11.26 EDSCHA ENG GMBH

AI summary

A motor vehicle hinge is provided. The motor vehicle hinge includes a first hinge half which can be fastened to one of motor vehicle door and door frame, and a second hinge half which can be fastened to the other of motor vehicle door and door frame, and a hinge pin which connects the two hinge halves in an articulated manner. At least one of the two hinge halves has a supporting structure and an insert and the supporting structure and the insert are fixed with respect to one another. The hinge pin is mounted on at least one eye of the supporting structure.