Self-Contained Door Hinge with Friction Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle design, particularly for electric vehicles, is limited by traditional frame sizes, shapes, and materials, which do not fully utilize new technologies and power sources, often requiring unnecessary components that add weight and complexity, such as engines and transmissions, and lack flexible access solutions for panels.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained hinge mechanism that integrates all necessary movement and behavior components within the hinge package, allowing for adjustable and tunable friction control, eliminating the need for external door movement mechanisms and enabling infinite holding positions, using modular components and force members like springs or actuators to provide consistent movement feel and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional vehicle design uses traditional frame sizes and shapes with external door movement mechanisms, then structural stability is maintained, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the door movement mechanism, friction control, and holding position functionality into a single integrated hinge assembly. The hinge contains internal components including a motor, friction control mechanism, and mounting structures, eliminating the need for separate external door actuators and linkages. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining structural stability through the hinge's integrated design that directly couples movement control to the door mounting structure.
2Weight of moving object
If external door movement mechanisms are used, then structural stability is maintained, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly merges multiple functions (movement actuation, friction control, position holding) into a single compact unit that is directly mounted to the door, eliminating heavy external linkages and separate actuators. The integrated motor and friction mechanism are housed within the hinge structure itself, reducing overall weight while maintaining structural integrity through direct mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the door movement functionality from traditional external mechanisms and relocates it directly into the hinge assembly. By taking out the motor and friction control components from separate external installations and integrating them into the hinge, the design reduces weight while maintaining the necessary structural stability for door operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hinge mechanisms are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability and adjustment capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates a dynamic friction control mechanism that allows adjustment of friction levels during operation. The friction control assembly includes components that can be adjusted to change the friction characteristic, enabling the hinge to adapt to different door weights, sizes, and operational requirements. This dynamic adjustability is integrated into the manufacturing process through adjustable components and mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate different door configurations and applications. The integrated motor, friction control, and mounting structures can be adjusted to suit various door weights and sizes, making the same hinge design adaptable across multiple vehicle types and door styles while maintaining reasonable manufacturing simplicity through standardized components.
4Device complexity
If integrated self-contained hinge is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge merges motor mounting, friction control, and door attachment functions into a single integrated assembly. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and interfaces that would otherwise require precise alignment between multiple parts. The integrated design allows for precision to be achieved within the hinge manufacturing process itself, rather than requiring precise field assembly of multiple separate components.
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 self-contained hinge mechanism provides enhanced movement behavior and reduced complexity by integrating all necessary components within the hinge, offering adjustable friction and infinite holding positions, improving the design efficiency and accessibility of vehicle panels while reducing weight and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a first friction ring in the plurality of friction rings provides friction-based resistance to rotational movement of the shaft relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
The opposing force members provide a clamp force compressing the friction rings between the pressure contact disks
Data Source
AI summary
A self-contained hinge mechanism is provided including a hinge movement control assembly. The hinge movement control assembly includes a number of stacked alternating friction rings and pressure disks providing a tunable pivoting resistance. As the hinge mechanism is actuated, an internal shaft and a set of friction rings rotationally-locked to the internal shaft and door moves relative to a set of pressure disks rotationally-locked to a fixed hinge mechanism housing and mount frame. A resistance to the pivoting of the hinge mechanism elements is provided by the clamping force of multiple force members moving the pressure disks along axial translation guides of the housing closer to one another and sandwiching the friction rings closer together.