Rolling Hinge Assembly with Oblique Bias for Debris Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinge assemblies with spring biasing mechanisms in foot switches face issues with debris accumulation and corrosion under the pedal, as the bias direction is perpendicular to the movement, making these areas difficult to clean and prone to mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a friction reducing member biased against a surface, allowing the pivoting body to move in a direction other than perpendicular to the movement, featuring a rolling surface with inclined portions that expose areas underneath the pedal for cleaning and reduce mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring biasing mechanism is used perpendicular to the pedal movement direction, then the pedal can be biased into the rest position, but debris accumulates and corrosion occurs underneath the pedal because these areas are concealed and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional spring biasing approach by placing the spring at an angle oblique to the pedal movement direction rather than perpendicular. This angular arrangement allows the spring to bias the pedal into the rest position while simultaneously exposing the area underneath the pedal, preventing debris accumulation and corrosion by making these areas accessible for cleaning.
2Device complexity
If the bias direction is perpendicular to the movement direction, then the pedal structure is simple, but mechanical stress increases and the pivoting motion becomes less smooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angular parameter of the spring biasing direction from perpendicular (90 degrees) to oblique (an angle other than 90 degrees relative to the pedal movement direction). This parameter change reduces mechanical stress on the hinge assembly and smooths the pivoting motion while maintaining the structural simplicity of the overall design.
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 enables easy cleaning of concealed areas under the pedal, reduces mechanical stress, and provides a smoother pivoting motion, enhancing user comfort and maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The pivoting body is pivotable about the axis in a first direction from the intermediate position to a lowered position with the bearing rolling along the lower ramp
Implementation Method 2
a friction reducing member that is biased against the front surface of the base. The friction reducing member is retractable relative to the pivoting body
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly includes a pivoting body attached to a base with a front surface. The pivoting body has a front end and rear end and at least one friction reducing member biased rearwardly against the front surface of the body. The friction reducing member is retractable relative to the pivoting body substantially parallel to the direction of the bias. The front surface has an inclined portion and an apex. When the pivoting body is in a rest position the at least one friction reducing member is maintained at the apex. The pivoting body is pivotable in a first direction to an activation that causes the friction reducing member to roll along the inclined portion with the friction reducing member retracting in the forward direction against the bias. When force is removed from the pivoting body in the activation position, the bias against the contoured front surface returns the pivoting body to the rest position via indirect forces.