Motorized Hinge with Reversible Coupling for Manual Override
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized hinges for connecting doors to household appliance compartments, such as oven compartments, require large and expensive motors with high energy consumption, and can malfunction or get stuck without electric power, causing issues with door operation and potential food damage.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a fastening bracket, a movable support, and an activating arm with a reversible connecting mechanism that allows the electric motor to be coupled and decoupled from the activating arm, enabling manual door movement and reducing motor size and energy consumption, with elastic means to assist in closing the door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a large electric motor is used to fully move the door autonomously between open and closed positions, then the door can be moved against the elastic means, but the motor size, cost, and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is designed to provide only partial action by moving the activating arm through a limited angular range (e.g., 45-60 degrees) rather than moving the door through its full range. The elastic means then completes the remaining door movement, allowing the motor to be smaller and consume less energy while still achieving the desired door positioning function
Solution Approach 2:
The activating arm serves as an intermediary mechanism between the motor and the door. The motor moves the activating arm, which in turn moves the door through the hinge mechanism. This intermediary allows the motor to operate at lower torque requirements since it only needs to move the lightweight activating arm rather than directly moving the heavy door against elastic resistance
2Extent of automation
If the motor is always coupled to the activating arm, then automated door movement is achieved, but manual door movement becomes difficult or impossible when electric power is absent
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting mechanism between the motor and activating arm is made dynamic rather than fixed. It can automatically transition between coupled and decoupled states based on operational conditions. When electric power is available, the mechanism couples to enable automated operation; when power is absent or during manual operation, it decouples to allow free manual movement of the door
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting mechanism is designed to automatically detect and respond to power availability conditions without external control. It self-manages the coupling/decoupling state based on whether the motor is energized, eliminating the need for manual switching or complex control systems while maintaining both automated and manual operation capabilities
3Productivity
If the motor is sized to fully move the door autonomously, then complete door movement is achieved, but the motor becomes large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The motor performs only the partial action of moving the activating arm through a limited angle, rather than being responsible for the complete door movement. This division of labor allows the motor to be much smaller while the overall system (motor + activating arm + elastic means) still achieves complete door movement functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The activating arm acts as a mechanical intermediary that amplifies the motor's limited movement into effective door positioning. By moving the activating arm a small angle, the hinge mechanism translates this into meaningful door movement, allowing a small motor to control a large door
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 allows for efficient, energy-saving motorized door operation with manual override, preventing door jams and food damage by decoupling the motor when not needed, ensuring smooth operation even without electric power.
Implementation Method 1
movement means (6) suitable for moving the activating arm (5) between an open position of the door (40) and a closed position of the door (40)
Implementation Method 2
elastic means for bringing the door towards the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge for connecting a door to a household appliance compartment is described, having a fastening bracket suitable for being fastened to the compartment of the household appliance, a movable support to rotatably constrain the door to the fastening bracket, an activating arm coupled to the fastening bracket, movement means suitable for moving the activating arm, the activating arm having a first end portion suitable for being constrained to the door, and a second end portion suitable for being coupled to the movement means to move the activating arm between an open position and a closed position of the door, the movement means having an electric motor and reversible connecting means to couple and decouple selectively the electric motor to/from the second end portion, the hinge being configured so that when the electric motor is coupled to the second end portion, the electric motor causes the movement of the activating arm, while when the electric motor is decoupled from the second end portion, the movement of the first end portion occurs independently of the electric motor to allow a user to freely move the door.