Patent Application
20140007376
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 12250132.3 filed Jul. 6, 2012, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Exemplary embodiments of this invention generally relate to hinges and, more particularly, to a composite flexible hinge mechanism.
Hinges connect two objects and allow for angular rotation of the connected objects relative to one another. The connected objects may generally rotate freely about a fixed axis of rotation. Conventional hinges, such as the hinge 10 illustrated in
Conventional hinges have many known drawbacks. Because conventional hinges include multiple moving parts, they are susceptible to wear over time. Frequent lubrication is often necessary to ensure consistent performance of the hinge. In addition, it is common for conventional hinges to become misaligned as a result of loading, extended use, and environmental conditions.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a hinge for use with movable components is provided including a generally rectangular body. The body includes a bend region, a first flange, and a second flange. The first flange and the second flange are positioned on opposing sides of the bend region. A portion of the bend region has a reduced thickness relative to the first flange and the second flange. A hinge axis is defined within the bend region. The first flange and the second flange rotate about the hinge axis.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Referring now to
When the hinge 20 is in a rest position, the first flange 24 and the second flange 26 are aligned within a plane. As illustrated in
The hinge body 22 is composed of a filler medium 34 having a minimal weight and a sufficient stiffness. Exemplary lightweight filler mediums 34 include paper, aluminum, foam and other materials known to a person skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the filler medium 34 has a honeycomb structure to reduce the weight of the hinge 20. The required thickness of the filler medium 34 is dependent on the intended loading and angle of operation of the hinge 20 and, therefore, will vary between hinge applications. An upper composite layer 30 and lower composite layer 32 are bonded to opposing edges of the filler medium 34, such as with a suitable adhesive, for example. Materials of the upper composite layer 30 and the lower composite layer 32 are selected based on the desired application of the hinge 20. Exemplary materials may include carbon fibers, glass fibers, and other materials known to a person skilled in the art.
Additives may also be included in the composite layers 30, 32 to enhance the operation of the hinge 20. For example, aramid fibers may be added to the composite layers 30, 32 when the hinge is intended for severe environments. The orientation of the fibers in the composite layers 30, 32 additionally affects the performance of the hinge 20. The upper and lower composite layers 30, 32 may include at least one layer of fibers positioned at 0 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees relative to the hinge axis A. In one embodiment, the upper and lower composite layers 30, 32 include a first layer of unidirectional composite fibers that are perpendicular to the hinge axis A. An additional layer of fibers having an alternate orientation may be added to the first layer. In one embodiment, these additional fibers are positioned at 0 degrees, or perpendicular to the fibers of the first layer, for reinforcement.
The bend region 28 of the hinge body 22 may be formed in various ways. Referring to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The exemplary hinge 20 illustrated in
The hinge 20 does not include moving parts, and therefore, has an increased fatigue life and improved reliability and the potential for misalignment is reduced. Similarly, because the hinge 20 is a single piece, the functionality of the hinge 20 will not be affected by contamination, such as with sand, dirt, and debris for example. The hinge 20 additionally has an improved corrosion resistance and therefore will not require occasional lubrication to maintain consistent functionality. Because the hinge 20 is a composite structure, the size and weight of the hinge are reduced compared to conventional hinges.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12250132.3 | Jul 2012 | EP | regional |
