Hinge with tension-adjustable spiral torsion spring

• US 8,245,353 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S-Fasteners GmbH
• Original Assignee: S-Fasteners GmbH
• Inventors: Homner, Bernhard, Svyrsky, Dimitri, Bonfert, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US13/116,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20120005861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 16/54, 16/55, 16/50, 16298-301, 163/04, 163/07, 163/08
• US Class Current: 16/299
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2003/027 the end knuckles being mutually connected
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2005/102 Pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/10 Pins, sockets or sleeves; Removable pins E05D15/522 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1215 with a canted-coil torsion spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/224 Stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/492 Spring tensioners, tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/702 Spindles; Worms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/20 characterised by the movement transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/28 tubular
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/502 for aircraft

Abstract

A hinge has a pivoting leaf (2) and a fixed leaf (3), a hollow axle (7) fixedly connected to the pivoting leaf and rotatably connected to first and second journal bearings (5-1, 5-2) of the fixed hinge leaf, a spiral torsion spring (8) arranged in the hollow axle. One end of the spring is fixed to the hollow axle and the other end of the spring is fixed to a worm wheel (9) that is arranged in the first journal bearing. An endless screw (6) resides in the first journal bearing and engages with the worm wheel. Rotation of the endless screw drives the worm wheel and the spiral torsion spring to rotate, thereby adjusting the tension of the spring.

Claims

1. A hinge (1), comprising:

a pivoting hinge leaf (2) and a fixed hinge leaf (3);

a hollow hinge axle (7) common to said pivoting hinge leaf and said fixed hinge leaf;

a first journal bearing and a second journal bearing, said first journal bearing includes a first journal bearing body, and, said second journal bearing includes a second journal bearing body;

said hollow hinge axle includes an axis (4), said hollow hinge axle (7) connected unmovably to said pivoting hinge leaf (2) and mounted rotatably on said first and second journal bearings (5-1, 5-2);

said first journal bearing body of said first journal bearing and said second journal bearing body of said second journal bearing are rigidly connected with said fixed (3) hinge leaf;

a spiral torsion spring (8) residing in said hollow hinge axle (7);

said spiral torsion spring includes a first end (8-1) and a second end (8-2);

said first (8-1) end of said spiral torsion spring (8) is connected unmovably to said hinge axle (7);

a worm-gear unit includes a worm wheel (9) and an endless screw (6), said endless screw (6) resides in said first journal bearing body of said first journal bearing (5-1), and, said worm wheel includes teeth (9-10);

said second (8-2) end of said spiral torsion spring is connected to said worm wheel;

said endless screw (6) drives said worm wheel;

said second (8-2) end of said spiral torsion spring (8) rotates with said worm wheel;

said worm wheel (9) in said first journal bearing (5-1) rotates around said axis (4) of said hinge axle (7) and is unmovably fixed to said second (8-2) end of said spiral torsion spring (8);

said teeth of said worm wheel interengage said endless screw (6), and, rotation of said endless screw rotatably drives said worm wheel (9) and said spiral torsion spring adjusting tension of said spiral torsion spring (8).

2. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein said worm wheel is rotatable in a range of rotation and said range of rotation is limited.

3. A hinge according to claim 2 further comprising:

a closing element (10);

said first journal bearing (5-1) includes a through bore (5-3) and said through bore includes an opening (5-4), said opening residing distally away from said moving hinge leaf (2), said through bore and said opening receiving one end (7A) of said hinge axle (7) and receiving said worm wheel (9); and

,

said opening (5-4) of said first journal bearing is closed by said closing element (10).

4. A hinge according to claim 3, wherein:

said closing element includes concentric tappet-like elements (10-5);

said opening (5-4) of said through bore (5-3) includes edge recesses (5-5);

said tappet-like elements (10-5) therein engage said edge recesses (5-5).

5. A hinge according to claim 4, wherein said closing element is positionable within said opening (5-4).

6. a hinge according to claim 3, wherein:

said worm wheel includes limiting elements (9-6, 9-7) said limiting elements delimit at least one sector (9-3) of a circle corresponding to said limited range of rotation of said worm wheel;

said closing element includes at least one stop element (10-1);

said limiting elements of said worm wheel engage said stop element of said closing element when said worm wheel (9) is turned to its maximum extent within said sector of said circle (9-3).

7. A hinge according to claim 6, wherein said worm wheel (9) includes a plurality of sectors (9-2, 9-3, 9-4, 9-1) corresponding to said limited turning range delimited by limiting elements (9-5, 9-6, 9-7, 9-8) and that said closing element (10) includes a plurality of stop elements (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4) corresponding to said a plurality of sectors (9-3, 9-4, 9-1, 9-2).