Protected hinge assembly for mechanical accelerometer

• US 4,955,108 A
• Filed: 07/14/1989
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Pier, Nicholas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramsey, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US07/380,135
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 228/212, 228/213, 228/179, 219/91.2, 219/91.23, 219/94, 219/86.24, 29/428, 29/434, 73/514, 73/517 R, 73/517 B, 16/226, 16/374, 403/403, 403/272
• US Class Current: 16/226
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/00 Details of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

The invention is a hinge assembly made of two parts, specifically for an accelerometer. The first part is adapted to be attached, either directly or through a bracket, to an inertial acceleration sensor. The second part is adapted to be rigidly attached to an apparatus whose acceleration is to be measured. The two parts are connected by a flexible hinge.

The invention resides in the placement of the hinge and in the attaching means for the second part of the hinge frame as well as in the method for fabricating the novel attaching means.

The hinge is not attached to the center of the opposing edges of the first and second parts of the hinge frame. It is attached to one end of those opposing sides at a first region of the second part of the hinge frame. The hinge line is generally parallel to those opposing sides.

The second part of the hinge frame is clamped only in a second region away from the hinge. It is rigidly clamped between two tilted stops which are usually welded to the second part along a weld line that is generally perpendicular to the hinge line. The tilted stops extend into the first region of the second part with a predetermined small gap, depending upon the tilt, in that region to allow slight deflection of the first region of the hinge frame through the resilience of that region, but with the stops snubbing extensive excursions of the region. Thus, the motion of the region under extreme acceleration or shock absorbs enough energy to protect the hinge. The first region is thick enough and rigid enough that it does not deflect significantly when received accelerations are within the design range of the accelerometer.

The method of the invention uses struts to tip a stop relative to the hinge frame or the hinge frame relative to a stop and to hold the members in their relative tilted positions while they are fastened into place. The strut may be part of a spacer.

Claims

1. A protected hinge assembly comprising:

a hinge frame having first and second parts which have substantially flat opposite surfaces each having first and second juxtaposed regions near first and second substantially opposite side edges thereof, said first regions of said first and second parts being connected by a flexible hinge having a hinge line directed in a predetermined first direction;

first and second stops, substantially rigidly attached along second and third lines to opposite surfaces, in said second regions near and substantially parallel to the outer edges of said second parts of said surfaces and being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line;

said stops being tilted substantially about said second and third lines relative to said surfaces to allow slight movement of the first regions of said second part relative to said stops.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said first part of said hinge frame is adapted to attach to the movable sensing mass of an accelerometer, and said second part is adapted to be attached to apparatus whose acceleration is measured.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 and further comprising a servo-restored sensing mass attached to said first part.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 in which said parts of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, said first and second regions of said surfaces have a common boundary extending from one short edge to the other, said second and third lines are directed substantially parallel to and adjacent to the longer outside edges of the second regions of said parts, and said hinge is attached to the shorter edge of said parts with said hinge line directed substantially parallel to said shorter side of said parts.

5. A method for attaching metallic members comprising:

placing and temporarily attaching a first said member to a bench;

placing a second said member over said first member;

tilting said second member relative to said first member with one edge of said second member in contact with one surface of said first member along a fulcrum of tilt;

attaching said second member to said first member in the region of the line of contact between said first and second members.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 in which the facing surfaces of said first and second members conform.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 in which said surfaces are substantially planar.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 in which at least one edge of each of the facing surfaces of said members are substantially straight, and the line of contact between said facing surfaces is substantially along that line.

9. A method as recited in claim 5 in which said second member has a strut attached thereto;

said strut is clamped to said bench to tilt said second member relative to said first member; and

said two members are connected adjacent their common fulcrum of tilt.

56. A product made by the method of claim 5.

57. A product made by the method of claim 6.

58. A product made by the method of claim 7.

59. A product made by the method of claim 8.

60. A product made by the method of claim 9.

10. A method for attaching substantially planar metallic members comprising:

placing and temporarily attaching a first said member to a bench;

placing a second said member over said first member with first edges of first surfaces of each of said two members aligned to form a common edge;

tilting said second member relative to said first member about said common edge; and

rigidly attaching said tilted members at their said common edge.

11. The method of claim 10 in which said second member has a strut thereon that is pressed toward said bench to tilt said second member relative to said first member.

12. A method as recited in claim 10 and further comprising placing a third member over said second member with first edges of a first surface of said third member and of a second face of said second member aligned to form a second common edge;

tilting said third member relative to said second member about said second common edge; and

rigidly attaching said tilted members at their second common edge to permanently tilt said third member relative to said first and second members.

13. The method of claim 12 in which said third member has a strut thereon that is pressed toward said bench to tilt said third member relative to said first two members.

14. A method as recited in claim 10 and further comprising:

turning said first and second attached members over, and attaching said second member to said bench;

placing a third member over said first member with first edges of a first surface of said third member and of a second surface of said first member aligned to form a second common edge;

tilting said third member relative to said first member about said second common edge; and

rigidly attaching said tilted members at their second common edge to permanently tilt said third member relative to said first and second members.

15. The method of claim 14 in which said third member has a strut thereon that is pressed toward said bench to tilt said third member relative to said first two members.

61. A product made by the method of claim 10.

62. A product made by the method of claim 11.

63. A product made by the method of claim 12.

64. A product made by the method of claim 13.

65. A product made by the method of claim 14.

66. A product made by the method of claim 15.

16. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces;

making two lower stops spaced apart by a second spacer substantially the same length as said first spacer to form a lower stop assembly, and two upper stops spaced apart by a third spacer substantially the same length as said first two spacers to form an upper stop assembly, each said stop being configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of one of said hinge frames, at least the same surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions with said spacer being attached to said stops at said second regions;

placing and temporarily attaching said spaced apart lower stop assembly onto a bench;

positioning said hinge frame assembly over said lower stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of said second regions of said lower stops being substantially parallel;

clamping a portion of said hinge frame assembly spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames relative to said lower stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said lower stops;

attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop;

positioning said upper stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and of said second regions of the adjacent downwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops being substantially parallel;

clamping a portion of said upper stop spacer to said table to tilt said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops;

attaching together said upper stops and said hinge frames along attachment lines in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first region of one surface of said second part of each of said hinge frame and one surface of each said upper stop.

17. The method of claim 16 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

18. The method of claim 17 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped spacers have substantially planar-surfaced pads substantially at their center, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

19. The method of claim 17 and further compriising the steps of removing said spacers from said hinge frame assembly and said stop assemblies after such spacers are no longer needed for spacing or tilting said hinge frames and stops.

20. The method of claim 17 in which said attaching is welding.

67. A product made by the method of claim 16.

68. A product made by the method of claim 17.

69. A product made by the method of claim 18.

70. A product made by the method of claim 19.

71. A product made by the method of claim 20.

21. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces;

making two lower stops spaced apart by a second spacer substantially the same length as said first spacer to form a lower stop assembly, and two upper stops spaced apart by a third spacer substantially the same length as said first two spacers to form an upper stop assembly, each said stop being configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of one of said hinge frames, at least the same surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions with said spacer being attached to said stops at said second regions;

placing and temporarily attaching said spaced apart lower stop assembly onto a bench;

positioning said hinge frame assembly over said lower stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of said second regions of said lower stops being substantially parallel;

clamping a portion of said hinge frame assembly spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames relative to said lower stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said lower stops;

attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop;

positioning said upper stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and of said second regions of the adjacent downwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops being substantially parallel;

clamping a portion of said upper stop spacer to said table to tilt said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops;

attaching together said upper stops and said hinge frames along attachment lines in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first region of one surface of said second part of each of said hinge frame and one surface of each said upper stop

placing and temporarily attaching said upper stop assembly onto a bench;

positioning said hinge frame assembly over said upper stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops and the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line and to the lever arm of its said spacers;

clamping a portion of said hinge frame spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames and lower stops relative to said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops;

attaching together said hinge frames and upper stops near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted position to create gaps between the first regions of one face of said second part of said hinge frame and the first regions of said upper stops.

22. The method of claim 21 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

23. The method of claim 22 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped spacers have substantially planar-surfaced pads substantially at their center, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

24. The method of claim 22 and further comprising the steps of removing said spacers from said hinge frame assembly and said stop assemblies after such spacers are no longer needed for spacing or tilting said hinge frames and stops.

25. The method of claim 22 in which said attaching is welding.

72. A product made by the method of claim 21.

73. A product made by the method of claim 22.

74. A product made by the method of claim 23.

75. A product made by the method of claim 24.

76. A product made by the method of claim 25.

26. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces;

placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame assembly onto a bench;

positioning said lower stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of the second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said lower stops being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge lines and to the lever arm of its said spacer;

clamping a portion of said lower stop spacer to said table to tilt said lower stops relative to said hinge frames about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and lower stops;

attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop;

placing and temporarily attaching said upper stop assembly onto a bench;

positioning said hinge frame assembly over said upper stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops and the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line and to the lever arm of its said spacers;

clamping a portion of said hinge frame spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames and lower stops relative to said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops;

attaching together said hinge frames and upper stops near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted position to create gaps between the first regions of one face of said second part of said hinge frame and the first regions of said upper stops.

27. The method of claim 26 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

28. The method of claim 27 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped spacers have substantially planar-surfaced pads substantially at their center, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

29. The method of claim 27 and further comprising the steps of removing said spacers from said hinge frame assembly and said stop assemblies after such spacers are no longer needed for spacing or tilting said hinge frames and stops.

30. The method of claim 27 in which said attaching is welding.

77. A product made by the method of claim 26.

78. A product made by the method of claim 27.

79. A product made by the method of claim 28.

80. A product made by the method of claim 29.

81. A product made by the method of claim 30.

31. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces;

making two lower stops spaced apart by a second spacer substantially the same length as said first spacer to form a lower stop assembly, and two upper stops spaced apart by a third spacer substantially the same length as said first two spacers to form an upper stop assembly, each said stop being configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of one of said hinge frames, at least the same surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions with said spacer being attached to said stops at said second regions;

placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame assembly onto a bench;

positioning said lower stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of the second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said lower stops being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge lines and to the lever arm of its said spacer;

clamping a portion of said lower stop spacer to said table to tilt said lower stops relative to said hinge frames about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and lower stops;

attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop;

removing said attached hinge frame and lower stop assemblies from said bench, and turning them over to place said hinge frame assembly on top;

positioning said upper stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and of said second regions of the adjacent downwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops being substantially parallel;

clamping a portion of said upper stop spacer to said table to tilt said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops;

attaching together said upper stops and said hinge frames along attachment lines in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first region of one surface of said second part of each of said hinge frame and one surface of each said upper stop.

32. The method of claim 31 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

33. The method of claim 32 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped spacers have substantially planar-surfaced pads substantially at their center, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

34. The method of claim 32 and further compriising the steps of removing said spacers from said hinge frame assembly and said stop assemblies after such spacers are no longer needed for spacing or tilting said hinge frames and stops.

35. The method of claim 32 in which said attaching is welding.

82. A product made by the method of claim 31.

83. A product made by the method of claim 32.

84. A product made by the method of claim 33.

85. A product made by the method of claim 34.

86. A product made by the method of claim 35.

36. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part;

making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame;

placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame onto a bench;

positioning said lower stop over said hinge frame with at least said first pair of outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said lower stop having a second strut whose lever arm extends from the outer edge of one of said first pair of opposite edges at the second region of said lower stops;

clamping a portion of the end of said second strut to said bench to tilt said lower stop relative to said hinge frame about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first of said opposite edges to which said second strut is attached;

attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the hinge frame and lower stop;

releasing said welded hinge frame and lower stop from said bench;

placing and attaching said upper stop onto said bench;

positioning said hinge frame and lower stop over said upper stop with said hinge frame adjacent said upper stop and at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line;

clamping a portion of the outer end of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame and lower stop relative to said upper stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of said hinge frame and said upper stop;

attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frame in their relative tilted position.

37. The method of claim 36 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

38. The method of claim 37 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped spacers have substantially planar-surfaced pads substantially at their center, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

39. The method of claim 37 and further comprising the steps of removing said spacers from said hinge frame assembly and said stop assemblies after such spacers are no longer needed for spacing or tilting said hinge frames and stops.

40. The method of claim 37 in which said attaching is welding.

87. A product made by the method of claim 36.

88. A product made by the method of claim 37.

89. A product made by the method of claim 38.

90. A product made by the method of claim 39.

91. A product made by the method of claim 40.

41. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part;

making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame;

placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame onto a bench;

positioning said lower stop over said hinge frame with at least said first pair of outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said lower stop having a second strut whose lever arm extends from the outer edge of one of said first pair of opposite edges at the second region of said lower stops;

clamping a portion of the end of said second strut to said bench to tilt said lower stop relative to said hinge frame about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first of said opposite edges to which said second strut is attached;

attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the hinge frame and lower stop;

releasing said welded hinge frame and lower stop from said bench;

placing and attaching said upper stop onto said bench;

positioning said hinge frame and lower stop over said upper stop with said hinge frame adjacent said upper stop and at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line;

clamping a portion of the outer end of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame and lower stop relative to said upper stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of said hinge frame and said upper stop;

attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frame in their relative tilted position.

42. The method of claim 41 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

43. The method of claim 42 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped struts have substantially planar surfaced pads on their outer ends, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

44. The method of claim 42 and further comprising the steps of removing said struts from said hinge frames and said stops after such spacers are no longer needed for tilting said hinge frames and stops.

45. The method of claim 42 in which said attaching is welding.

92. A product made by the method of claim 41.

93. A product made by the method of claim 42.

94. A product made by the method of claim 43.

95. A product made by the method of claim 44.

96. A product made by the method of claim 45.

46. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part;

making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame;

placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame onto a bench;

positioning said lower stop over said hinge frame with at least said first pair of outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said lower stop having a second strut whose lever arm extends from the outer edge of one of said first pair of opposite edges at the second region of said lower stops;

clamping a portion of the end of said second strut to said bench to tilt said lower stop relative to said hinge frame about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first of said opposite edges to which said second strut is attached;

attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the hinge frame and lower stop;

releasing said connected-together hinge frame and lower stop from said bench, turning it over and re-attaching said lower stop onto said bench.

positioning said upper stop over said hinge frame with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said upper stop having a second strut thereon, positioned to extend from the outer edge of said first pair of opposite edges at said second region of said upper stop;

clamping a portion of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame relative to said lower stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first opposite outer edges of said upper stop and said hinge frame;

attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frames in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the surfaces of said upper stop and hinge frames.

47. The method of claim 46 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

48. The method of claim 47 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped struts have substantially planar surfaced pads on their outer ends, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

49. The method of claim 47 and further comprising the steps of removing said struts from said hinge frames and said stops after such spacers are no longer needed for tilting said hinge frames and stops.

50. The method of claim 47 in which said attaching is welding.

97. A product made by the method of claim 46.

98. A product made by the method of claim 47.

99. A product made by the method of claim 48.

100. A product made by the method of claim 49.

101. A product made by the method of claim 50.

51. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:

making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part;

making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame;

placing and temporarily attaching said lower stop onto a bench;

positioning said hinge frame over said lower stop with at least the said pair of opposite outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned;

clamping a portion of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame relative to said lower stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first edges to which said strut is attached;

attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of said hinge frame and lower stop;

releasing said attached hinge frame and lower stop from said bench;

placing and attaching said upper stop onto said bench;

positioning said hinge frame and lower stop over said upper stop with said hinge frame adjacent said upper stop and at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line;

clamping a portion of the outer end of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame and lower stop relative to said upper stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of said hinge frame and said upper stop;

attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frame in their relative tilted position.

52. The method of claim 51 in which at least said stops and said second part of said hinge frame are substantially rectangular, and the common boundaries of said regions of each said surface extend from one of its short sides to the other.

53. The method of claim 52 in which said bench surface is substantially flat, said clamped struts have substantially planar surfaced pads on their outer ends, and said clamping is between said pads and said bench.

54. The method of claim 52 and further comprising the steps of removing said struts from said hinge frames and said stops after such spacers are no longer needed for tilting said hinge frames and stops.

55. The method of claim 52 in which said attaching is welding.

102. A product made by the method of claim 51.

103. A product made by the method of claim 52.

104. A product made by the method of claim 53.

105. A product made by the method of claim 54.

106. A product made by the method of claim 55.