Toggle Hinge Assembly with Angled Damping Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies for kitchen cupboards lack effective damping mechanisms to control the closing movement of doors, leading to unwanted noise and wear, as they rely on inefficient resistive forces that do not adequately utilize the available void spaces within the hinge structure.
Innovation Solution
A toggle-type hinge assembly incorporating a linearly reciprocable damping device with an actuating mechanism that converts hinging movement into actuation of the damping device, where the damping device is positioned at an acute angle within the void space of the hinge cup, utilizing an actuating lever and camming track to provide a controlled resistive force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a damping device is added to control closing movement, then noise and wear are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is nested within the existing hinge cup structure, utilizing the void space inside the hinge cup to house the damping mechanism. This integration allows the damping function to be added without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the damping components are contained within the existing hinge assembly rather than adding external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
An actuating lever serves as an intermediary mechanism that converts the rotational hinging movement into linear reciprocating motion of the damping device. This intermediary translation mechanism enables the damping device to be actuated by the existing hinge movement without requiring a complex direct coupling, thereby controlling noise and wear while managing complexity through functional decomposition.
2Volume of moving object
If the damping device is positioned at an acute angle within the void space, then space utilization is optimized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is positioned at an acute angle relative to the hinge cup flange, utilizing the void space in a non-traditional orientation. This angular positioning allows the damping device to be accommodated within the existing hinge cup volume, optimizing space utilization by changing the dimensional arrangement rather than simply adding the damping device in a conventional linear fashion.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating lever is designed with a camming track that preliminarily positions and guides the damping device during the hinge closing movement. This preliminary action through the camming track ensures that the damping device is correctly positioned and actuated at the appropriate moment, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements by providing built-in positioning guidance.
3Reliability
If the actuating lever converts hinging movement into damping actuation, then damping effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating lever is designed to be automatically actuated by the hinge closing movement itself, without requiring external power sources or complex control systems. The lever utilizes the existing mechanical energy of the hinge movement to drive the damping device, achieving reliable damping effectiveness while minimizing added complexity through self-actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational motion of the hinge is substituted into linear reciprocating motion of the damping device through the actuating lever and camming track mechanism. This mechanical substitution transforms the existing hinging motion into effective damping actuation, improving damping effectiveness by converting the motion type to match the damping device requirements while maintaining mechanical simplicity.
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 effectively reduces noise and wear by providing a controlled damped resistive force during door closure, optimizing the use of available space and allowing for adjustable damping characteristics to suit various operational needs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one linearly reciprocable damping device operable to produce a damped resistive force
Data Source
Figure 1~2c
Figure 3~5b
Figure 6a~6f
AI summary
A toggle type hinge assembly with an arm assembly anchorable in use to a first member and a hinge cup pivotally connected thereto for movement about a hinge axis and anchorable in use to a planar face of second member. A linearly reciprocable damping device operable to produce a damped resistive force, and a mechanism for converting hinging movement of the hinge assembly into actuation of the damping device, with the damping device being arranged within a void space in the second member. The axis of linear reciprocation of the damping device lying at an acute angle with respect to the planar face of the second member.