Single Plate Hinge Mechanism for Vehicle Door Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hinge mechanisms for vehicle doors require additional manufacturing steps to ensure rigidity, leading to an increase in the number of manufacturing steps due to the use of separate members for the vehicle body side hinge member.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with a single plate-like structure side hinge member, featuring a pivot structure located between two attachment portions, which eliminates the need for joining separate members by using a single plate-like member for the vehicle body side hinge member, allowing it to be attached via two attachment portions and pivotably supporting the door side hinge member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the vehicle body side hinge member is made up of separate two members, then the rigidity of the hinge member is improved, but the number of manufacturing steps increases due to necessary joining steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate hinge members into a single integrated hinge member that includes both the first and second attachment portions. This integration eliminates the need for joining operations between separate members while maintaining the structural rigidity through the continuous plate-like configuration and strategic positioning of attachment portions.
Solution Approach 2:
While using a single member, the patent segments the hinge member into distinct functional portions (first attachment portion and second attachment portion) that are spatially separated. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimally positioned for its specific function while being part of a unified structure, achieving rigidity without requiring multiple separate components.
2Strength
If the vehicle body side hinge member is made up of separate two members, then the rigidity of the hinge member is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements into a single hinge member that can be manufactured as one piece. This merging eliminates complex joining processes such as welding or bolting between separate members, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the rigidity benefits of having multiple attachment portions.
3Device complexity
If a single plate-like member is used for the structure side hinge member, then the number of manufacturing steps is reduced, but the rigidity must be maintained through proper design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the spatial arrangement and dimensional positioning of the first and second attachment portions on the single plate-like member to achieve rigidity. By strategically positioning these portions at different locations and orientations on the plate, the design compensates for the potential weakness of a single-member construction while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism has: a structure side hinge member including a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, wherein the structure side hinge member is attached to a structural body via the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion; an opening and closing side hinge member attached to an opening and closing body; and a pivot structure that pivotably supports the structure side hinge member and the opening and closing side hinge member so that the structure side hinge member and the opening and closing side hinge member are allowed to pivot relative to each other. The structure side hinge member is made of a single plate-like member. The pivot structure is located between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion.