Swinging Hinge With Damping Element For Low Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges for shower partitions, particularly those with pendulum and lifting/lowering movements, are complex and prone to high mechanical loads, noise, and damage when opened, due to inadequate damping and contact point design.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a limitation element with a damping material, positioned to create a defined contact point that absorbs forces and reduces mechanical stress, allowing for a larger opening angle while minimizing load on the hinge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hinge allows pendulum movement and lifting/lowering movement, then the door can open in two directions with enhanced functionality, but the hinge design becomes very complex requiring two parallel pivot axes and additional mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into two separate hinge elements (first hinge element and second hinge element) that can pivot independently relative to each other about a common axis of rotation, allowing pendulum movement and lifting/lowering movement without requiring two parallel pivot axes. This segmentation enables complex motion with simpler individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge elements are designed to be pivotable from a closed position in two directions relative to each other about the common axis of rotation, providing dynamic adaptability for the door to open both inwards and outwards while maintaining a relatively simple single-axis structure.
2Speed
If the door is opened forcefully into the end position, then the opening speed increases, but impermissibly high loads act on the hinge causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
A damping element is integrated into the limiting element to provide beforehand cushioning that absorbs impact energy when the door is opened forcefully into the end position. The damping element reduces the peak loads acting on the hinge during rapid opening, preventing damage while allowing high opening speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element acts as an intermediary between the limiting element and the hinge structure, mediating the impact forces during rapid door opening. It transforms the direct shock load into a controlled damping force, protecting the hinge from impermissibly high loads.
3Volume of moving object
If the contact point is close to the axis of rotation, then the hinge structure is compact, but high mechanical loads and noise occur during opening
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is specifically positioned at the contact point on the limiting element, providing localized quality enhancement at the critical impact zone. This local damping treatment reduces mechanical loads and noise during opening without requiring changes to the overall compact hinge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element changes the physical parameters at the contact point by introducing energy dissipation characteristics. This parameter change reduces the peak forces and noise during impact while maintaining the compact hinge design with the contact point close to the axis of rotation.
4Device complexity
If no damping mechanism is provided, then the hinge design remains simple, but shock loads and noise increase during opening movement
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is merged with the limiting element by integrating the damping element into the limiting element structure. This combination provides shock load reduction and noise damping without adding separate complex damping mechanisms, maintaining relative design simplicity while reducing harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element converts the harmful shock loads and noise generated during opening movement into beneficial energy dissipation through material damping. The impact energy that would otherwise cause damage and noise is transformed into heat through the damping material, turning a harmful effect into a protective function.
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 hinge ensures a low load on the hinge due to defined contact points, reduces shock loads and noise, and prevents damage by effectively damping the opening movement, thus providing a flexible and reliable solution for shower partitions.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one limiting element is a damping element... made of an elastic material or designed as a damping element to dampen the impact
Implementation Method 2
designed as a damping element to dampen the impact of a hinge element against the limiting element
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
To provide a hinge (4) with a first and a second hinge element (4a, 4b) that are pivotable relative to each other about a common axis of rotation (5), which ensures a pendulum pivoting movement and the lowest possible mechanical load on the hinge (4) with the simplest possible design, the invention provides for at least one limiting element (11) on an outer surface (8a) of the hinge element (4a) opposite the recess (9), and/or on an outer surface (8b) of the other hinge element (4b). In a first end position (E1) of the hinge (4), the limiting element (11) abuts the outer surface (8b) of the other hinge element (4b). A first contact point (KP1) is provided on the limiting element (11), which, in the first end position (E1) of the hinge (4), abuts the outer surface (8a, 8b) of the other hinge element (4a).4b) contacted and that the first contact point (KP1) is spaced at a first contact distance (LK1) from the axis of rotation (5) which is at least 5% of an axial extent (H) of the hinge (4), preferably at least 5mm.