Removable Hinge Assemblies With Lockable Pin Retainer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies for large enclosures require disassembly to remove doors, which is time-consuming and risks losing parts.
Innovation Solution
Concealable hinge assemblies with a lockable pin retainer assembly allow the hinge lid leaf to be removed from the hinge tub knuckle, enabling the enclosure door to be taken off without disassembling the entire hinge assembly, using a hinge pin that can be locked in closed or open positions and completely removed if needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire hinge assembly is disassembled to remove the enclosure door, then the door can be removed from the enclosure, but the process becomes time-consuming and parts may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into separate functional components: the hinge pin assembly (with retainer) and the hinge body. This segmentation allows the door to be removed by manipulating only the pin assembly rather than disassembling the entire hinge, significantly reducing removal time and preventing loss of hinge body parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer assembly is extracted as a separate removable component from the hinge pin assembly. This extraction allows the pin to be quickly released from the hinge body without removing the entire hinge assembly, enabling fast door removal while the retained hinge body remains in place.
2Ease of operation
If the hinge pin assembly is completely removed to take off the enclosure door, then the door can be removed, but the risk of losing the hinge pin assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer assembly is nested within the hinge pin assembly structure, with the retainer holding the pin in place. This nested configuration ensures that when the door is removed, the pin assembly remains contained and secured by the retainer, preventing loss of the pin while still allowing door removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer assembly acts as an intermediary component between the hinge pin and the hinge body. It mediates the connection by holding the pin in place during operation and allowing controlled release during removal, ensuring the pin assembly is not lost while enabling door removal.
3Reliability
If a lockable pin retainer assembly is used to couple the lid leaf to the tub knuckle, then the hinge parts are secured and less likely to be lost, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer assembly is merged with the hinge pin to form an integrated pin assembly unit. This combination ensures the retainer and pin move together as one component, simplifying handling and reducing the number of separate parts that could be lost, while the integrated design minimizes the increase in overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Hinge assemblies having a tub knuckle, a lid leaf and a hinge pin assembly are provided. The tub knuckle has a base, a first pin holder extending from the base and a second pin holder extending from the base and spaced from the first pin holder. The lid leaf has a mounting plate and a pin holder. The hinge pin assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position, and includes a hinge pin and a retainer assembly that can be used to lock the hinge pin assembly in the closed and open positions.