Oven Door Hinge Locking for Precise Release and Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oven door hinge systems often inadvertently release the oven door, leading to potential safety hazards and loss of precise positioning, which compromises the tightness between the door and the oven cavity.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a safety pin system with a saddle bracket that secures the moveable hinge part to the door column, allowing for a locked and unlocked state, and a stepped pin or set screw configuration to ensure the oven door's exact position and secure attachment to the hinge system, preventing accidental release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the oven door is made releasable from the moveable hinge part for cleaning purposes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of inadvertent release

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of door removal for cleaningVSAvoidrisk of inadvertent release
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A safety pin is introduced as an intermediary element between the moveable hinge part and the door column. The safety pin acts as a mediator that physically blocks inadvertent release while allowing intentional removal when needed for cleaning, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The door hinge system is segmented into distinct functional components: the moveable hinge part, the door column, and the safety pin. This segmentation allows the safety pin to be independently manipulated to control the connection state, enabling easy removal when needed while preventing accidental release during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the door hinge system allows easy release for cleaning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to loss of exact positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of door detachmentVSAvoidexact position of oven door
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The safety pin is preliminarily positioned in a blocking configuration that prevents movement of the door relative to the hinge system. This preliminary positioning action ensures exact alignment is maintained during operation, while allowing controlled removal when cleaning is required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3404181B1Oven door of a cooking oven with a door hinge system
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
  • EP3404181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3404181B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3404181B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a door hinge system (10) for an oven door (20) of a cooking oven. The door hinge system (10) comprises a stationary hinge part (12) insertable into or attachable at an oven chassis (30) of the cooking oven. The door hinge system (10) comprises an elongated moveable hinge part (14) insertable into or attachable at an oven door (20) of the cooking oven. The moveable hinge part (14) includes at least one saddle bracket (16) engageable with a door column (22) of the oven door (20). The saddle bracket (16) is pivoting at the moveable hinge part (14) between a locked state and an unlocked state. The saddle bracket (16) is engageable with the door column (22) of the oven door (20) in the locked state.