Oven Door Hinge with Damping and Spring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oven door hinges lack a self-closing mechanism, requiring manual effort to open and close the door, resulting in a poor user experience and potential for door damage due to rapid closure.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design incorporating a main spring, damper assembly, and locking spring that allows the door to close automatically and gently by balancing the door's weight and utilizing a buffering effect to slow down the closing process, ensuring stable opening and closing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional hinge is used without damping mechanism, then the door can be opened and closed freely, but the door closes rapidly causing noise and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates a damping mechanism with a damper and damping element that activates during door closure to provide cushioning effect. The damping element is positioned to engage when the door approaches closed position, slowing down the closure speed and preventing rapid slamming that causes noise and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
A damper assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the door and hinge body. This damper includes a piston and damping element that mediates the closure motion, converting rapid direct closure into a controlled, gradual closing action through fluid resistance or friction-based damping.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a damping mechanism is added to slow down door closure, then noise and damage are prevented, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The damping mechanism is integrated into the hinge assembly by combining the damper with the hinge body or mounting bracket. The damper piston rod connects to the hinge arm, merging the damping function with the existing hinge structure rather than adding a completely separate assembly, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: providing the basic hinging rotation, supporting the door weight, and damping the closure motion. The spring element simultaneously supports the door weight and aids closure, while the damper provides noise reduction, creating a multi-functional component system that reduces the need for separate dedicated parts.
3Ease of operation
If a spring mechanism is added to enable automatic door closure, then user effort is reduced, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is integrated within the hinge body or mounting bracket, combining the automatic closure function with the existing hinge structure. The spring is positioned to engage with the hinge arm or door, providing assistive force during door opening and automatic closure during door closing, merging multiple functions into unified components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element serves multiple purposes: supporting the door weight when the door is open, providing assistive force during door opening operation, and enabling automatic door closure when the door is released. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function.
4Ease of operation
If both spring and damping mechanisms are added for automatic closure and noise reduction, then user experience is improved, but the hinge structure and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism and damping mechanism are integrated into a unified hinge assembly where components share mounting locations and structural elements. The spring and damper are positioned to work together within the same space, with their connection points and mounting brackets merged or closely integrated, reducing the total number of discrete parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Each component in the hinge assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: the spring provides both weight support and closure assistance, the damper provides both noise reduction and controlled closure, and shared structural elements provide both mounting and mechanical linkage functions. This multi-functionality maximizes performance while minimizing part count.
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 hinge enables automatic, noise-free, and slow door closure, enhancing user experience and preventing door damage from rapid closure, while maintaining stable opening and closing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a main spring, a connecting piece, a damper assembly, a connecting assembly and a locking spring. The first assembly and the second assembly are configured to be fixed to a device body and a drop-down door respectively and rotatably connected by means of a first rotary shaft
Implementation Method 2
The damper assembly includes a damper body, an extending and retracting rod, a return spring, a position limiting piece and a third rotary shaft. The extending and retracting rod is retracted into the damper body, the main spring is in the stretched state and changes to a reset state
Implementation Method 3
The locking spring is fitted over the extending and retracting rod and disposed between the position limiting piece and the connecting assembly so as to allow the driven pulley to keep rotatable contact with the cam portion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A hinge providing a cushioning effect, comprising a first component (12), a second component (14), a main spring (16), a connecting piece (18), a damper component (20), a connecting component (22), and a locking spring (24). The second component (14) is pivotally connected to the first component (12) and is fixedly connected to a main body. The main spring (16) is connected to the connecting piece (18) arranged within the first component (12) and to the first component (12). The connecting piece (18) is connected to the main spring (16) and to the second component (14). The damper component (20) comprises a damper body (200), a telescoping rod (202), a return spring (204), a limiting piece (206), and a third rotary shaft (208).