Torque-Setting Hinge Assembly for Precise Holder Tightening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hinges with torque setting functions face difficulties in tightening holders with precision and ease, especially when using screws or caulking pins, due to angular movement restrictions that prevent accurate alignment and penetration into threaded holes.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a holder with a flat fixing portion and an adjusting member that reduces the diameter of the curvature portion by engaging with a latch portion, allowing the screw or caulking pin to move vertically and tighten the holder without angular movement constraints, enabling high-precision tightening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the curvature portion is expanded and contracted to insert the hinge shaft, then the holder can be assembled, but the screw cannot be tightened with high precision due to angular movement of the flat fixing portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidtightening precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is divided into two functional parts: the curvature portion (for embracing the hinge shaft) and the flat fixing portion (for screw tightening). This segmentation allows the curvature portion to expand/contract independently during assembly while the flat fixing portion remains stable for precise screw tightening, resolving the contradiction between assembly ease and tightening precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The brake member serves as an intermediary element that is first inserted into the curvature portion, providing a stable reference surface. The flat fixing portion then engages with this intermediary structure, allowing the screw to tighten precisely without being affected by the angular movement of the curvature portion during hinge shaft insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If an elongated hole is used to allow horizontal movement of the screw, then the screw can penetrate the threaded hole, but the screw cannot be tightened effectively while moving within the elongated hole

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepenetration easeVSAvoidtightening reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flat fixing portion is designed to be positioned and aligned before the screw tightening operation. The curvature portion is first expanded to accommodate the hinge shaft and brake member, establishing a stable base. Only after this preliminary positioning is complete does the screw engagement occur, ensuring that the threaded hole is properly aligned and the screw can be tightened reliably without movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If a caulking pin is used instead of a screw, then the holder can be tightened by caulking, but the caulking pin cannot tighten the holder while moving within an elongated hole

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetightening method simplicityVSAvoidcaulking precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the curvature portion from the flat fixing portion, the design enables the use of simple caulking pins without elongated holes. The flat fixing portion provides a stable, non-moving surface for the caulking pin to engage, allowing precise caulking operation while the curvature portion handles the hinge shaft embracing function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2535605B1Hinge with torque setting function
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 SUGATSUNE IND CO LTD
  • EP2535605B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1E
  • EP2535605B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2535605B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(C)

AI summary

There is provided a hinge with torque setting function for connecting two objects by a hinge shaft adapted to be assembled with precision and to be tightened easily. In order to reduce the diameter of the curvature portion 42 of the holder 40 through the brake member 30 on the hinge shaft 20, there is attached by the screw the adjusting member 46 which can vertically move within the latch portions (vertical grooves) 42G of the curvature portion 42 individually from an angular movement of the curvature portion 42 when it is tightened. The screw 5 can be tightened by vertical movement thereof without being restrained by the angular movement of the curvature portion 42 and therefore, the tightening of the holder 40 can be carried out with high precision and effectiveness of operation.