The invention relates to a hinge comprising a biasable flat spiral spring of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.
The spring tension of a hinge of this type determines the spring force-induced automatic opening of a closure flap. Conventional airplane luggage compartments are usually equipped with this type of spring in order to move the closure flap automatically from its closed position to a completely opened position.
Luggage compartments are often equipped with gas springs to facilitate opening the flaps and to retain the flaps in the open position. The disadvantage of gas springs is their sensitivity to low temperatures, which may make it difficult to open storage compartments in an airplane that has been cooled down very much, for example. Moreover, because the springs of the hinge are located inside the luggage compartment, they thus diminish the available storage space and can easily be damaged.
EP 0 894 933 B1 describes a hinge comprising a pivotable hinge part and a fixed hinge part with a common hollow cylinder-like hinge axle which is firmly connected to the pivotable hinge part and is rotatably mounted in an axle bearing. The axle bearing body is rigidly connected to the fixed hinge part. A torsion spiral spring, both ends of which are fixed, is arranged in the hinge axle. The tension of the spring can be set by adjusting one of its two fixed ends. The loaded spring acts to open the flap, and a damping device ensures a decelerated opening action of the flap.
Furthermore, EP 2 405 090 B1 discloses an arrangement which makes it easy to set the tension of a torsion spiral spring of a hinge of this type without having to reinstall the spring in the hinge.
A well-known problem of airplane luggage compartments is that the hinges on one or either side of each compartment take up some of the available load volume of the luggage compartment and thus reduce the loadable storage space. The luggage loaded into them may in turn damage the hinges, especially the springs. Fitted hinge covers can be used to protect the hinges; however, these also take up space and complicate assembly and maintenance of the hinge. The configuration and dimensions of generic hinges make it impossible to integrate them into the narrow vertical side walls between the luggage storage boxes.
It is the object of the invention to further develop a hinge of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the hinge is of a space-saving design.
This object is accomplished by the characteristic features of claim 1 in conjunction with the features of its preamble.
The dependent claims relate to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.
In manner known per se, a hinge comprises a fixed hinge part and a pivotable hinge part that is mounted on the fixed hinge part so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis. The axle bearing is rigidly connected to the fixed hinge part. Around the pivot axis, a tensioned spiral spring is arranged which drives the pivotable hinge part. One end of the spiral spring is firmly connected to the axle bearing and the other end is secured in the axle. The tension of the spiral spring can be adjusted by means of a worm gear.
According to the invention, a biasable flat spiral spring, arranged on a bearing formed on the fixed hinge part, is to serve as a drive for the pivotable hinge part. The flat spiral spring is wound as an Archimedean spiral. Starting from the radially inner end of its coil, the spiral turns of the spring extend in one plane. The radial size of the spring changes with the number of turns. Flat spiral springs are wound from strip or flat material. In an advantageous manner, this flat spiral spring thus provides for a very narrow embodiment of the hinge, thus making it possible to integrate the hinge into the narrow vertical side wall between two luggage storage boxes.
The flat spiral spring and the pivot axle of the pivotable hinge part are coaxially mounted on the bearing, with the pivot axle defining the opening movement of the flap and the flat spiral spring serving as a drive for the opening movement.
Preferably, the outer end of the flat spiral spring is designed such that it can be connected to the pivotable hinge part. The flat spiral spring can thus be firmly fixed at its outer end.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the portion of the pivotable hinge part located on the bearing of the fixed hinge part is designed as a plain bearing. It is possible to design the pivotable hinge part as a hinge leaf having a hinge arm arranged thereon, which plain bearing is formed on the end of the hinge arm remote from the hinge leaf. The advantages of a plain bearing are its low wear and the small radial installation space it requires. Plain bearings are easy to fit, require little maintenance and are insensitive to impact loads.
It is possible to arrange a damping element on the hinge axle to ensure controlled pivoting of the pivotable hinge part. For safety reasons, the flap should pivot upward in a smooth and not too fast movement. Preferably, the damping element is arranged on the pivotable hinge part in a positive-locking manner and is adapted to rotate with the latter. Advantageously, the damping element is mounted in the pivotable hinge part in a space-saving manner, thus ensuring a narrow design of the hinge.
According to another embodiment of the invention, an adjustable torque adjustment unit is operatively connected to the radially inner end of the flat spiral spring. The torque adjustment unit is designed in such a way that it is mounted positively on the bearing in a way that will allow the radially inner end of the flat spiral spring to be connected to the torque adjustment unit. For example, the flat spiral spring can be secured in a groove of the torque adjustment unit. Preferably, an adjusting screw is located in a portion of the torque adjustment unit that is designed as a gear wheel. The adjusting screw, which is located on the fixed part of the hinge, has its shaft meshing with the teeth of the torque adjustment unit. A rotary movement of the adjusting screw will cause the torque adjustment unit to rotate and thus result in the tensioning of the flat spiral spring. The adjusting screw thus serves to maintain the pretension setting.
Preferably, a stop for the pivotable hinge part is provided on the fixed hinge part. It is also possible for the stop to comprise a screw and for the impact of the pivotable hinge part to be damped by means of a spring arranged on the screw. The screw can be used for a fine adjustment of the open position of the hinge.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed hinge leaf is designed as a housing within which the hinge is located. This advantageously protects the mechanical components of the hinge from dirt and damage. It is possible to make the housing of plastic. This will result in a low weight and a robust design. Plastic parts can be manufactured to have a high degree of functionality. For example, the housing can be designed with a cover adapted to be form-fitted, friction-locked or material-locked to the housing.
Preferably, all the individual components of the overall hinge mechanism are accommodated within, and held together by, the housing. For example, the housing may have recesses, walls and/or supports that hold together, guide and/or secure the components.
Additional advantages and possible applications of the present invention may be gathered from the description which follows, in which reference is made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.
In the drawings:
According to the embodiment illustrated in
The embodiment of
As shown in
As illustrated in the embodiments of
In the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
10 hinge
12 pivotable hinge part
12
a hinge arm
12
b hinge leaf
14 fixed hinge part
16 bearing
18 flat spiral spring
20 bearing bushing
22 bearing journal
23 plain bearing
24 inner end of the spring
26 outer end of the spring
28 torque adjustment unit
30 adjusting screw
32 toothed portion of torque adjustment unit
34 damping element
36 stop
38 stop screw
40 housing
42 cover
44 openings
46 projections
B pivot movement
S pivot axis
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2017 106 061.6 | Oct 2017 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2018/077184 | 10/5/2018 | WO | 00 |