Hinge having damper and coil spring

A hinge device includes a first hinge body 10, a second hinge body 20 and a link mechanism 6. The link mechanism includes a moving link 30 having a rear end rotatably connected to the first hinge body and a front end rotatably connected to the second hinge body, a front connecting link 50 having a proximal end portion rotatably connected to a front end portion of the first hinge body and an intermediate portion rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of the moving link, and a supporting link having one end rotatably connected to a distal end of the front connecting link and the other end rotatably connected to the second hinge body. The front connecting link has a pair of resin spacers 57 interposed between the pair of side walls 11 of the first hinge body 10 and the pair of side walls 31 of the moving link.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase of and claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2020/016913, International Filing Date Apr. 17, 2020; which claims benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-092693 filed May 16, 2019; both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hinge device that rotatably connects two objects.

BACKGROUND

For example, a hinge device is used to rotatably attach a door (rotating object) to a housing (stationary object). A hinge device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 6038968) has a first hinge body attached to an inner surface of an opening side edge portion of a housing, a second hinge body fixed to a housing side surface of a side edge portion of a door and a link mechanism interposed between the first and second hinge bodies.

The above link mechanism will be briefly described. A moving link is movably connected to the first hinge body in a front-rear direction via a front and rear connecting links. That is, a proximal end of the rear connecting link is rotatably connected to a rear end of the first hinge body (an end farther from the second hinge body), and a proximal end of the front connecting link is rotatably connected to a front end of the first hinge body (an end closer to the second hinge body). A rear end of the moving link is rotatably connected to a distal end of the rear connecting link and an intermediate portion of the moving link is connected to an intermediate portion of the front connecting link so that the moving link moves in a front-rear direction as the front and rear connecting links rotate.

A front end of the moving link is rotatably connected to the second hinge body. One end of a supporting link is rotatably connected to a distal end of the front connecting link and the other end of the supporting link is rotatably connected to the second hinge body.

When the hinge device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, the door rotates from a closed state so as to cover an opening side end face of the housing while a side edge portion of the door on the hinge device side moves away from the housing. Therefore, the door can be opened at a relatively large opening angle without interfering with the housing.

Generally, the first and second hinge bodies and the four links are made of metal, and in order to prevent the metals of these constituent members from rubbing against each other, resin spacers are interposed between the constituent members that are rotatably connected to each other. These spacers are supported by shaft members that penetrate the constituent members. Patent Document 1 also shows a resin spacer interposed between the moving link and the front connecting link.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the hinge device described above, the first hinge body has a pair of side walls, and the moving link has side walls of which a distance is wider than a distance between the pair of side walls of the first hinge body. Even when the moving link and the first hinge body overlap in the direction of the rotation axis, a gap is formed between the side wall of the first hinge body and the side wall of the moving link so that the metals do not rub against each other.

However, if the weight of the door to be supported becomes large, the constituent members of the hinge device are likely to be distorted and the door cannot be stably supported because there is a gap between the side wall of the first hinge body which is a main bearer of a load and the side wall of the moving link.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is a hinge device including a first hinge body having a pair of side walls, a second hinge body provided on a front side of the first hinge body and a link mechanism interposed between the first hinge body and the second hinge body, wherein the link mechanism including a moving link supported by the first hinge body so as to be movable in a front-rear direction, the moving link having a pair of side walls and a front end portion rotatably connected to the second hinge body, a front connecting link having a proximal end portion rotatably connected to a front end portion of the first hinge body and an intermediate portion rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of the moving link, and a supporting link having one end rotatably connected to a distal end of the front connecting link and the other end rotatably connected to the second hinge body, wherein the hinge device is configured such that the pair of side walls of the moving link overlap an outside of the pair of side walls of the first hinge body, and wherein the front connecting link has a main part connected to the first hinge body, the moving link and the supporting link and a pair of spacers made of resin interposed between the pair of side walls of the first hinge body and the pair of side walls of the moving link.

According to the above configuration, since the resin spacers are interposed between the side wall of the first hinge body which is a main bearer of a load but are not in a direct rotational connection relationship and the side wall of the moving link, the first hinge body attached to a stationary object can receive the load of a rotating object via the second hinge body and the moving link, and further via the spacer so that it is possible to suppress distortion of the constituent members of the hinge device due to a gap between the side wall of the first hinge body and the side wall of the moving link. As a result, the rotating object can be stably supported even if the weight of the rotating object is large.

Further, since the spacer is made of resin, even if the first hinge body and the moving link are made of metal, it is possible to avoid rubbing between the metals.

It is preferred that the main part of the front connecting link has a proximal end side connecting portion that enters between the pair of side walls of the first hinge body and is rotatably connected to the front end portion of the first hinge body and an intermediate connecting portion that enters between the pair of side walls of the moving link and is rotatably connected to the intermediate portion of the moving link, and at least both sides of the proximal end side connecting portion and the intermediate connecting portion are made of resin.

According to the above configuration, the first hinge body can firmly receive the load from the moving link while avoiding the rubbing between the metals even through the main part of the front connecting link so that the rotating object can be supported more stably.

It is preferred that both side surfaces of the intermediate connecting portion and outer surfaces of the pair of spacers are flush with each other.

According to the above configuration, since the front connecting link supports the moving link over a wide area, it is possible to support the rotating target more stably.

It is preferred that the pair of spacers extends between the intermediate connecting portion of the main part and the proximal end side connecting portion, a pair of slits are formed between both side surfaces of the main part and an inner surface of the pair of spacers and the pair of side walls of the first hinge body enters the pair of slits.

According to the above configuration, the side wall of the first hinge body, the side wall of the moving link, the main part of the front connecting link and the spacer overlap each other so that the load can be borne even more firmly.

It is preferred that the main part of the front connecting link has a distal end side connecting portion that enters between a pair of side walls of the supporting link and is rotatably connected to the one end of the supporting link, and at least both sides of the distal end side connecting portion are made of resin.

According to the above configuration, the first hinge body can firmly bear the load while avoiding rubbing between the metals even through the main part of the front connecting link from the supporting link. Further, even if the supporting link is made of metal, the metal does not rub against each other between the front connecting link and the supporting link.

It is preferred that the entire front connecting link is made of resin and the main part and the pair of spacers are integrated.

According to the above configuration, the front connecting link can be easily manufactured.

It is preferred that the front connecting link includes a pair of halved members that are assembled together, an storage hole is formed between the pair of halved members, a linear damper is stored in the storage hole and a contact member provided at a distal end of the linear damper is in contact with the front end portion of the first hinge body.

According to the above configuration, the storage hole for storing the linear damper can be easily formed.

The hinge device further includes a rear connecting link made of resin and the rear connecting link integrally includes a proximal end side connecting portion that enters between the pair of side walls of the first hinge body and is rotatably connected to a rear end portion of the first hinge body, a distal end side connecting portion that enters between the pair of side walls of the moving link and is rotatably connected to a rear end of the moving link, and a pair of spacers interposed between the pair of side walls of the first hinge body and the pair of side walls of the moving link.

According to the above configuration, the load can be borne by the spacer of the rear connecting link being interposed between the first hinge body and the moving link so that the rotating object can be supported more stably.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the rotating object can be stably supported even when the weight of the rotating object is large.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown inFIG.1B, a hinge device3rotatably connects one side edge (right edge) of a door2(rotating object) to one side edge (in this embodiment, a side edge located on a right side when a housing1is viewed from an opening side thereof) of the opening of the housing1(stationary object) and are installed at two locations (plural locations) separated in the vertical direction (direction orthogonal to the paper surface inFIG.1B). Hereinafter, the opening side of the housing1will be referred to as a front side, and a back side of the housing1will be referred to as a rear side.

The door2can be opened up to 160 degrees as shown inFIG.3Bfrom a state in which the opening of the housing1is closed as shown inFIG.1Bvia a state in which the door2is opened by 90 degrees.

As shown inFIGS.1to5, the hinge device3includes a washer5, a first hinge body10, a second hinge body20, and a link mechanism6interposed between the first and second hinge bodies10,20.

The washer5is fixed to an inner surface of a side wall of the housing1with screws. The first hinge body10is detachably attached to the washer5. Since this attaching structure is known, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The washer5and the first hinge body10are made of metal.

The first hinge main body10extends in a front-rear direction and has a pair of side walls11that are parallel to each other and face each other in the vertical direction.

The second hinge body20is made of hard resin and has a socket portion21and a pair of flange portions22protruding in the vertical direction from the socket portion21. As shown inFIG.1B, a recess2ais formed on a surface of the right edge of the door2on a side of the housing1, the socket portion21is fitted into the recess2a, and the flange portions22are fixed to the door2with screws, so that the second hinge body20is attached to the door2.

The link mechanism6includes a moving link30made of metal, a rear connecting link40made of hard resin, a front connecting link50made of hard resin and a supporting link60made of metal.

The moving link30is formed into an elongated shape in a longitudinal direction of the first hinge body10, and has a pair of side walls31that are parallel to each other and face each other in the vertical direction and a connecting wall32that connects rear portions of the side walls31to be formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section. The supporting link60also has a pair of side walls61that are parallel to each other and face each other vertically and a connecting wall62that connects the side walls61to be formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section.

The moving link30is movably connected to the first hinge body10in the front-rear direction via the rear connecting link40and the front connecting link50. Briefly, a proximal end portion of the rear connecting link40is rotatably connected to a rear end portions of the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10by a first shaft member101. The proximal end portion of the front connecting link50is rotatably connected to a front end portions of the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10by a second shaft member102.

A rear end portion of the moving link30is rotatably connected to a distal end of the rear connecting link40by a third shaft member103and an intermediate portion of the moving link30is rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of the front connecting link50by a fourth shaft member104. With this configuration, the moving link30can move in the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction of the first hinge body10and the moving link30) as the rear connecting link40and the front connecting link50rotate.

A front end portion of the side wall31of the moving link30enters the socket portion21of the second hinge body20and is rotatably connected to the socket portion21by a fifth shaft member105.

One end of the side wall61of the supporting link60is rotatably connected to a distal end of the front connecting link50by a sixth shaft member106. The other end of the side wall61of the supporting link60enters the socket portion21of the second hinge body20and is rotatably connected to the socket portion21by a seventh shaft member107.

The shaft members101to107extend in the vertical direction and are parallel to each other. The fifth shaft member105and the seventh shaft member107are separated from each other at the socket portion21of the second hinge body20.

The moving link30is wider than the first hinge body10, the front and rear connecting links40and50and the supporting link60, and these components can be stored between the pair of side walls31.

Since a distance between inner surfaces of the pair of side walls31of the moving link30is wider than a distance between outer surfaces of the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10and a distance between outer surfaces of the pair of side walls61of the supporting link60, the side wall31and the side walls11and61are separated from each other, so that the metals do not rub directly against each other even when the side wall31of the moving link30and the side wall11of the first hinge body10and the side wall61of the supporting link60overlap in the direction of the rotation axis.

Next, the configuration of the front connecting link50made of resin will be described in detail. As shown inFIG.6A, the front connecting link50is configured by assembling two halved members50aand50bmade of the resin. As shown inFIGS.6B and6C, a main part50xof the front connecting link50includes a proximal end side connecting portion51rotatably connected to a front end portion of the first hinge body10, an intermediate connecting portion52rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of the moving link30, a distal end side connecting portion53rotatably connected to one end of the supporting link60, a cam portion54and a cover attaching portion55. Further, the main part50xhas a linearly extending storage hole56(see,FIG.1B) formed between the two halved members50aand50b.

Through holes51a,52aand53aare formed in each connecting portion51,52and53for passing the second shaft member102, the fourth shaft member104and the sixth shaft member106, respectively.

The front connecting link50further has a pair of thin plate-shaped spacers57formed integrally with the main part50xon both sides of the main part50x. These spacers57are arranged so as to extend between the distal end side connecting portion51and the intermediate connecting portion52of the main part50xand reach the cam portion54. A slit58is formed between the pair of spacers57and both side surfaces of a portion of the main part50xfacing the spacer57.

As shown inFIG.4, the side wall11of the first hinge body10is inserted into the slit58of the front connecting link50without a gap. In the main part50xof the front connecting link50, both side surfaces of a portion including the proximal end side connecting portion51and the cam portion54are provided as continuous flush surfaces59ain contact with an inner surface of the side wall11. An inner surface of the spacer57is provided as a sliding surface59bin contact with an outer surface of the side wall11.

A portion including the pair of spacers57of the front connecting link50, the intermediate connecting portion52of the main part50xand the cover attaching portion55is inserted between the pair of side walls31of the moving link30without a gap and an outer surfaces of the pair of spacers57and both side surfaces of the main part51xare provided as continuous flush surfaces59cin contact with an inner surface of the side wall31.

As shown inFIG.6, the distal end side connecting portion53is inserted between the pair of side walls61of the supporting link60without a gap and both side surfaces thereof are provided as sliding surfaces59din contact with the side wall61.

Since the distance between the pair of side walls31of the moving link30is wider than the distance between the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10and the pair of side walls61of the supporting link60, the sliding surface59cprojects outward in the width direction from the sliding surfaces59aand59d.

Next, the rear connecting link40made of resin will be described in detail with reference toFIG.7. The rear connecting link40integrally has a main part40xand a pair of spacers45arranged on both sides of the main part40x.

The main part40xof the rear connecting link40has a proximal end side connecting portion41and a distal end side connecting portion42. Through holes41aand42afor passing the first shaft member101and the third shaft member103are formed in the connecting portions41and42. The proximal end side connecting portion41is inserted between the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10without a gap and is rotatably connected to a rear end portion of the first hinge body10, and the distal end side connecting portion42is inserted between the pair of side walls31of the moving link30without a gap and is rotatably connected to a rear end portion of the moving link30.

The side wall11of the first hinge body10is inserted into a slit46formed between the main part40xand a spacer45without a gap and the spacer45is inserted between the side wall11of the first hinge body10and the side wall31of the moving link30without a gap.

Next, the configuration associated with the hinge device3will be briefly described. As shown inFIGS.1B and5, the hinge device3includes an energizing mechanism70. The energizing mechanism70has a spring holder71supported by the shaft member103that connects the rear connecting link40and the moving link30, a slider72that can slide along the connecting wall32of the moving link30, a compression coil spring73arranged between the spring holder71and the slider72and a pressing roller74provided at a distal end of the slider72. The pressing roller74is pressed against a peripheral surface of the cam portion54of the front connecting link50by the force of the compression coil spring73and the door2is energized in a closing direction in a state of less than a predetermined opening angle by the cam action of the cam portion54.

A linear damper80is stored in the storage hole56of the front connecting link50. A contact member81is provided at a distal end of a rod of the linear damper80and the contact member81is in contact with a front end portion of the first hinge body10. The linear damper80cushions a impact when the door2is closed.

A cover90is attached to the front connecting link50by a pin91. The cover90is energized toward the front connecting link50by a spring92wound around the pin91. The cover90can cover the cam portion54when the door2is in the open state.

An operation of the hinge device3having the above configuration will be described. As shown inFIGS.1A to1C, when the door2closes the opening of the housing1, the second hinge body20is located at a position close to the first hinge body10at a substantially right angle to the first hinge body10and the door2covers an end surface1aon the opening side of the housing1.

As shown inFIG.1C, in the closed state of the door2, the pair of side walls31of the moving link30overlap the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10over a wide range and the pair of spacers57of the front connecting link50are interposed between the side wall11of the hinge body10and the side wall31of the moving link30over a relatively wide area A0(shown by hatching) in this overlapping region. As a result, the load of the door2is received by the first hinge body10from the moving link30via the spacer57. In particular, in this embodiment, the load is transmitted in a state where the main portion50xof the front connecting link50, the side wall11of the first hinge body10, the spacer57and the side wall31of the moving link30are overlapped, so that the load can be received even more effectively.

Further, in a region other than the region A0, the load is transmitted from the side wall31of the moving link30to the main part50xof the front connecting link50via the sliding surface59c, and is transmitted from the side wall61of the supporting link60to the main part50xvia the sliding surface59d, and is further transmitted from the main part50xto the side wall11of the first hinge body10via the sliding surface59a, so that the load of the door2can be received even through this path.

Further, also in the rear connecting link40, the pair of spacers45are interposed between the side wall11of the hinge body10and the side wall31of the moving link30in the region BO (shown by hatching), so that the load of the door2can be received.

Since the load of the door2is received as described above, the door2can be stably supported without distorting the constituent members of the hinge device2even if the weight of the door2is large.

When the door2is opened against the energizing force in the closing direction, as the moving link30moves forward due to the rotation of the front and rear connecting links40and50, the door2is rotated in the opening direction while the side edge portion of the door2moves away from the housing1. In the rotation range in which the door2reaches an opening angle of 90 degrees, the spacer57is temporarily disengaged from the overlapping region of the side wall11of the first hinge body10and the side wall31of the moving link30in a partial angle range, but similar to the closed state described above, the load of the door2is received by the first hinge body10from the moving link30and the supporting link60via the main part50xof the front connecting link50. The same applies to the rear connecting link40.

As shown inFIGS.2A to2C, when the door2is in an intermediate opening position, for example, the opening position of 90 degrees, an overlapping region between the pair of side walls31of the moving link30and the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10becomes narrower, but the pair of spacers57of the front connecting link50are interposed between the side wall11of the first hinge body10and the side wall31of the moving link30in a partial area A1(indicated by hatching) of this overlapping region. Further, the sliding surface59cis in contact with the inner surface of the side wall31of the moving link30in a wide range, and the sliding surface59dis in contact with the inner surface of the side wall61of the supporting link60, and the sliding surface59aof the main part50xis in contact with the inner surface of the side wall11of the first hinge body10, so that the load transmission via the main part50xis also maintained. In the rear connecting link40, the load is transmitted only through the main part40x.

As shown inFIGS.3A to3C, the door2can be further opened up to a set angle (160 degrees in this embodiment). In a partial area A2(indicated by hatching) in the overlapping region of the pair of side walls31of the moving link30and the pair of side walls11of the first hinge body10, the pair of spacers57of the front connecting link50are interposed between the side wall11of the first hinge body10and the side wall31of the moving link30. Further, the sliding surface59cof the main part50xis in contact with the inner surface of the side wall31of the moving link30in a wide area, and the sliding surface59dis in contact with the side wall61of the supporting link60, and the sliding surface59aof the main part50xis in contact with the inner surface of the side wall11of the first hinge main body10, so that the load transmission via the main part50xis also maintained. In the rear connecting link40, the load is transmitted only through the main part40x.

As described above, since the load of the door2in the open position can be received, the door2can be stably supported and opened/closed. When opening and closing the door2, since the front and rear connecting links40and50are made of resin, it is possible to avoid rubbing between the metals.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The side wall of the first hinge body and the side wall of the moving link may overlap in the entire rotation range from the closed position of the door to the fully open position, or may overlap in a partial angle range.

The spacer of the front connecting link may be interposed between the side wall of the first hinge body and the side wall of the moving link over the entire angle range where the side wall of the first hinge body and the side wall of the moving link overlap, or the spacer may be interposed only in a part of the above angle range.

The front connecting link may be composed of a single resin molded product instead of assembling the two halved members.

The spacer may be separated from the main part of the front connecting link and fixed to this main part.

The front connecting link may be made of metal in the middle and resin on both sides thereof.

In the above embodiment, the rear end portion of the moving link30is connected to the first hinge body10via the rear connecting link40so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Instead of using the rear connecting link40, by providing a slide pin at the rear end of the moving link and slidably inserting the slide pin into the slit formed in the first hinge body, the rear end of the movement link may be connected to the first hinge body so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

The stationary object may be a door frame instead of the housing.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to a hinge device used for opening and closing a door and the like.