Plastic Latching Device Eliminates Metal Filings in Automotive Hinge Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door stop devices for vehicle hinges require heat and surface treatments, generate metal filings during use, and necessitate cleaning, complicating the manufacturing process and leading to wear and deposition of particles on vehicle surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A latching device made from non-metallic materials, such as plastic, that is easy to manufacture, wear-resistant, and does not produce filings, allowing for snap-fastening of the hinge knuckles without the need for heat or surface treatments, and can be easily detached and reused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal door stops are used to hold the hinge in open position, then the hinge can be reliably fixed during manufacturing, but heat and surface treatments are required and metal filings are generated during repeated snapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable plastic door stop that is used temporarily during manufacturing and then discarded. This single-use approach eliminates the need for durable metal construction, avoiding both the harmful metal filings generated during repeated metal snapping and the complex heat/surface treatments required for metal durability. The plastic door stop performs its function reliably during the manufacturing process without the long-term durability requirements that would necessitate metal material and its associated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the properties of the door stop. This material substitution eliminates the generation of metal filings during snapping operations while maintaining sufficient mechanical properties for temporary use during manufacturing. The plastic material requires no heat or surface treatments, simplifying the manufacturing process while still providing reliable hinge fixation.
2Strength
If metal door stops are used, then sufficient mechanical strength is achieved, but heat treatments and surface treatments are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable object principle by using a plastic door stop intended for temporary use during manufacturing only. This approach allows the use of simpler plastic materials that do not require heat treatments or surface treatments, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity. The door stop provides sufficient mechanical strength for its temporary purpose without needing the enhanced durability properties that would require complex metal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, which fundamentally simplifies the manufacturing process. Plastic materials can be molded directly into the required shape without heat treatments or surface treatments, eliminating multiple manufacturing steps. This material substitution maintains adequate mechanical strength for temporary hinge fixation while dramatically reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If metal door stops are used, then the hinge can be held in open position, but particles are deposited on vehicle surfaces during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a disposable plastic door stop that eliminates particle deposition issues during manufacturing. The plastic material does not generate metal filings or particles that would contaminate the vehicle body during cataphoresis or painting operations. The door stop fulfills its temporary function of holding the hinge in open position without creating the contamination problems associated with metal materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, which eliminates the generation of particles and filings during snapping operations. This material substitution prevents contamination of the vehicle body with metal particles during manufacturing processes such as cataphoresis and painting, while still providing reliable hinge positioning throughout the manufacturing sequence.
4Ease of manufacture
If non-metallic materials are used for the door stop, then manufacturing is simplified and no filings are generated, but wear resistance must be sufficient for repeated snapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable object principle by designing the plastic door stop for temporary use during manufacturing only. This approach allows the use of plastic materials with adequate but not excessive wear resistance. The door stop undergoes limited snapping cycles during manufacturing before being discarded, so high long-term wear resistance is not required. This enables manufacturing simplicity while providing sufficient reliability for the intended temporary application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, which simplifies manufacturing by eliminating heat and surface treatments. The selected plastic material provides sufficient wear resistance for the limited number of snapping operations required during manufacturing, without needing the enhanced wear properties of metal. This parameter change achieves the balance between manufacturing simplicity and adequate wear resistance for temporary use.
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 simplifies the manufacturing process, eliminates the need for cleaning, and ensures reliable fixation of the hinge knuckles while preventing metal filings and particle deposition on vehicle surfaces, enhancing the durability and cleanliness of the manufacturing environment.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting hole 67 has an adjusted diameter, so as to be able to be tightly mounted on the end portion 69 of the pivot shaft 7 by adhesion, thus being retained axially along the mounting axis X67
Implementation Method 2
The elastic hooking member comprises an arm cooperating with the surface of the pin by a retaining notch to temporarily hold the hinge in the open position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
This snap-on device (9), for a vehicle hinge (1), comprises a mounting hole (67) for mounting on a pivot shaft (7) of the hinge, a stop (71), configured to engage with a first knuckle (5) of the hinge mounted on the pivot shaft, the stop thus rotatably linking the snap-on device with the first knuckle, and a snap-on member (73) for engaging with a second knuckle (3) of the hinge. The first knuckle and the second knuckle are mounted pivoting on the pivot shaft, between an opening orientation and a closing orientation about said pivot shaft, the snap-on member being configured to be engaged with the second knuckle when it is in the opening orientation, to thus attach the second knuckle and the snap-on device together in rotation. According to the invention, the snap-on device is free of metal material.