Damper for a rotary motion, in particular of a toilet lid or seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary dampers for toilet lids and seats lack flexibility in adjusting damping resistance, often requiring tool-based mechanisms and are prone to leaks or mechanical failures due to axial movement during adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable adjustment element with an adjustable opening in the flow path that overlaps with a covering edge, allowing for rotation-based adjustment without axial displacement, combined with a bidirectional threaded engagement between damper elements to displace the damping medium, and a valve element to control flow direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tool-based mechanism with axial displacement is used for adjustment, then the flow cross-section can be changed, but the device complexity increases and mechanical failures due to axial movement occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using axial displacement to adjust the flow cross-section as in conventional screw mechanisms, this invention inverts the approach by using rotational movement of an adjusting element with an adjusting opening that overlaps with a covering edge. The rotation changes the overlap extent between the opening and edge, thereby adjusting the flow cross-section without axial movement, simplifying the mechanism and reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional axial adjustment to two-dimensional rotational adjustment. The adjusting element rotates around the rotational axis, and its adjusting opening overlaps with the covering edge in a radial direction, creating a new dimension for adjustment. This rotational approach in the radial plane replaces the conventional axial displacement method.
2Adaptability or versatility
If axial displacement during rotation is used for adjustment, then the flow cross-section can be modified, but leaks and mechanical failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates axial displacement during adjustment by inverting the conventional mechanism. The adjusting element rotates purely in the radial direction around the rotational axis, changing the overlap between its adjusting opening and the covering edge. This pure rotation without axial movement prevents the mechanical failures and leaks associated with threaded engagement and axial displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the problematic axial displacement component from the adjustment mechanism. By using only rotational movement to change the overlap extent between the adjusting opening and covering edge, the design removes the source of leaks and mechanical failures associated with axial movement and threaded engagement.
3Reliability
If multiple damper types are used for different masses, then the damping performance is optimized, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustability to a previously static damper system. The adjusting element can rotate to change the overlap between its opening and the covering edge, dynamically modifying the flow cross-section and damping resistance. This allows a single damper design to adapt to different masses and applications, eliminating the need for multiple fixed damping variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables parameter changes in the damping resistance by rotating the adjusting element. The rotation changes the extent of overlap between the adjusting opening and covering edge, thereby varying the flow cross-section area. This parameter adjustment allows optimization of damping performance for different masses using a single damper type rather than requiring multiple fixed variants.
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
Provides flexible and reliable damping adjustment, minimizing leaks and mechanical failures, allowing for a single damper type to accommodate various masses and applications with minimal damping medium variations.
Implementation Method 1
a viscous damping medium, two damper elements which are movable relative to one another, the relative movement of which leads to a displacement of the damping medium and forces the damping medium through a flow path
Implementation Method 2
which is associated with a viscosity-dependent flow resistance of the damping medium, which generates the actual damping effect
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rotary damper, in particular for toilet lids and seats, with a rotatable adjusting element (12) for adjusting a flow cross-section for a viscous damping medium, wherein the flow cross-section is changed by adjusting the extent of the overlap of an adjusting opening movable by rotation and a cover edge (26).