Multi-Link Hinge Design to Minimize Door Gap and Secure Opening Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door hinges for home appliances and furniture fail to minimize the gap between the door and the main body effectively, limiting the maximum opening angle and causing interference, while also lacking convenience in opening and closing operations and proper detection of the full-open state.
Innovation Solution
A multi-link hinge system comprising a cam, arm link, outer link, inner link, connection link, and an elastic member, which reduces the gap between the door and the main body, secures the maximum opening angle, and includes a tray driving part for sliding trays in conjunction with door motions, with a damper for shock absorption and a cam profile for full-open state detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between the door and the main body is reduced to minimize foreign substance inflow and improve design, then the gap size is improved, but the maximum opening angle of the door cannot be sufficiently secured due to interference between the door and the main body
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system employs multiple links (first link, second link, third link, fourth link) that can dynamically change their relative positions and angles during door operation. The links are connected through rotatable joints that allow the mechanism to adapt its configuration, enabling the door to achieve a larger opening angle without interfering with the main body while maintaining a small gap when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is divided into multiple separate links (first link, second link, third link, fourth link) rather than using a single rigid hinge. Each link can move independently through rotatable joints, allowing the system to navigate around obstacles and achieve the desired door opening angle while maintaining a small closed gap.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional hinge is used to allow door rotation, then the door can open and close, but the gap between the door and the main body cannot be sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-link hinge mechanism dynamically adjusts the door's path of motion. When the door is closed, the links are configured to minimize the gap between the door and main body. When opening, the links rotate and reposition to allow the door to swing open without maintaining the same constrained path, thus achieving both small gap and full opening capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple links act as intermediary elements between the door and the main body hinge point. These intermediate links transform the simple rotational motion of a conventional hinge into a more complex motion path that achieves both objectives: small closed gap and sufficient opening angle.
3Ease of operation
If the door is rotated to open, then the door can be opened, but an edge of the door moves toward the main body causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-link mechanism dynamically changes the door's trajectory during opening. Instead of a simple arc that brings the door edge toward the main body, the links rotate and reposition to guide the door along a path that avoids interference with the main body while still achieving full opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism introduces additional degrees of freedom by using multiple links connected through joints. This transforms the single-degree-of-freedom rotation of a conventional hinge into a multi-degree-of-freedom mechanism that can navigate around obstacles and avoid interference while maintaining the opening function.
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 multi-link hinge minimizes foreign substance inflow, enhances design quality, facilitates easy door operation, provides shock absorption, and allows users to recognize the full-open state, improving user convenience and product quality.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member provided at a lower portion of the cam, and having a first side portion rotatably coupled to the main body and a second side portion rotatably coupled to the cam, and configured to provide a pushing force toward the cam to push the cam so as to rotate the cam clockwise in response to a door opening motion and to push the cam so as to rotate the cam counterclockwise in response to a door closing motion
Implementation Method 2
A cam profile is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cam, and a tray driving cam profile defined as a portion between a portion coupled to the outer link and a portion coupled to the elastic member includes a concave portion and a convex portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-link hinge is proposed. The multi-link hinge is configured to facilitate closing and opening of a door, is capable of sufficiently securing a maximum opening angle of the door while decreasing a gap between the door and a main body, and is also capable of providing convenience to a user when the user opens and closes the door.