Modular Portable Hinge Mount for Reusable Core Swapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems face challenges in efficiently reusing and recycling hinge components due to wear estimation difficulties and the need for manual disassembly, which is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A modular hinge system with selectable rotational characteristics, including torque, stop orientation, and detent orientation, allows for automated disassembly and reuse of hinge components by coupling a hinge core to a mount with a wire bale and lever coupling device, enabling full rotation for improved access to system components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If traditional hinge designs are used in portable information handling systems, then the systems can maintain structural integrity and rotational functionality, but the difficulty and cost of disassembly for component reuse increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into separate modular components including a hinge body, hinge leaf, and hinge pin that can be independently removed and reused. This segmentation allows individual components to be harvested for recycling without requiring complete disassembly of the entire system, directly addressing the technical contradiction by enabling easier repair while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge pin is designed as a removable component that can be extracted from the hinge assembly without damaging other parts. This extraction capability enables the hinge components to be easily removed for reuse in other systems, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural complexity for functionality and enabling easy disassembly for component recovery.
2Ease of manufacture
If components are harvested from failed information handling systems for reuse, then environmental impact and costs are reduced, but the process of breaking down and reassembling systems becomes prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge components are pre-designed with standardized interfaces and removable features that facilitate quick identification and extraction during the harvesting process. This preliminary design consideration reduces the time and cost associated with breaking down failed systems, as technicians can quickly remove reusable hinge components without extensive disassembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular hinge design enables selective recovery of functional components (hinge body, hinge leaf, hinge pin) from failed systems while allowing only the necessary worn or damaged parts to be discarded. This approach maximizes component reuse and minimizes waste, directly addressing the contradiction between ease of manufacture and loss of time by making the recovery process more efficient.
3Reliability
If the hinge structure is made more robust to ensure durability, then the remaining components have substantial usable life after repair, but the difficulty and cost of accessing components for removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robust hinge structure is segmented into modular components that are securely connected during operation but can be easily separated when needed. This segmentation maintains reliability and durability during use while enabling easy component access for removal and reuse, resolving the contradiction between robustness and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge employs dynamic connection features that provide stable, durable connections during normal operation but allow for controlled disconnection when repair or harvesting is needed. This dynamic design enables the structure to be both robust for reliability and accessible for maintenance, addressing the technical contradiction effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system hinge has a modular and selectively separable core that couples to hinge mounts in an interchangeable manner so that core selection defines hinge characteristics, such as torque, detent orientation and stop orientation. A standardized mount accepts cores with different rotational characteristics for streamlined manufacture of information handling systems and improved reuse and recycling of hinge components. A wire bale couples to a latching assembly and over the hinge mount to couple the hinge mount to the housing in a removeable manner.