If this is incorrect, please click here to change your location Click here to accept and close. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A lubricant is disposed between the two ring like friction plates. 4 shows the friction plate of the torque hinge mechanism of the present invention in which a non-penetrating recess or a blind hole, FIG. 11 shows an example of the friction plate on which a plurality of hemisphere like recesses are formed. Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, NEW Y, ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TANAHASHI, KOSEI;REEL/FRAME:010030/0451, PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362, Hinge unit with auto-lock and double-side rotation, Friction mechanisms for computing devices, Hinge assembly and mobile terminal having the same, Torque assembly and method of manufacture, Variable resistance electronic device brake clutch, Home cooking appliance with a side swing oven door having a friction hinge, Outer bead apparatus for reciprocation type electric razor, Optical element turning device, solenoid and liquid crystal projector, Tilt hinge for office automation equipment, Hinge for electronic apparatus and electronic apparatus equipped with hinge, Lubrication structure in opening / closing mechanism, Friction Mechanisms For Computing Devices, Portable computer having a sealed hinge clutch, Blade axis that possesses a reduced frictional area, Uniaxial hinge device with a plurality of torque generation parts, Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees, Information on status: patent discontinuation, Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee. In selecting a combination of the material used for the two friction plates, the friction surfaces of which slide against each other, it is preferable to select two materials which are not molten when they contact each other. A lubricant is disposed between the two ring like friction plates. When the pressure is applied to the lubricant held in the recess, the smooth distribution of the lubricant can be obtained in the case that the pressure is locally concentrated to the surface of the side wall. Although the case using the two friction plates has been described as an example, more than two friction plates can be used in the torque hinge mechanism. Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 10-26128 discloses a mechanism in which a reservoir of grease is provided by forming small apertures or cutout portions in a friction plate. The use of the non-penetrating recess with such symmetry can realize the uniform distribution of the lubricant over the entire friction surface. Well, yes, but for us, its the baseline principle that allows hinges to maintain their position without the restrictions of a mechanical detent. FIG. In this example, a shaft. FIG. FIG. The solid lubricant is particularly preferable in view of the stability of the torque over a long period of time. cabinets, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles characterised by the type of wing, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for other use, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for other use for electronic devices, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for other use for toilet seats or covers, GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS, TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC, TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION, Miscellaneous hardware [e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster, door closer, panel hanger, attachable or adjunct handle, hinge, window sash balance, etc. 9 shows the plan view and the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in accordance with the present invention. Since the supply of the lubricant is rapidly made, it is possible to keep the initial torque to a low level and to keep the abrasion of the friction surfaces to a minimum. There are four basic mechanisms used to create this free-stop functionality; a curl mechanism, a disk mechanism, a pipe mechanism, and what is often referred to as an Omega clip mechanism. 4 shows the plan view and the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in accordance with the present invention. For the above reasons, a torque hinge mechanism with high reliability is required. First, the lubricant can be spread over the entire surface of the friction surfaces immediately after the start of the operation, so that a value of the initial torque can be decreased, resulting that a difference between the initial torque and the dynamic torque becomes small, whereby a feeling in the open/close operation to the user becomes quite smooth. FIG. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, NEW Y, Free format text: The apparatus can be, for example, a notebook type computer while the open/close member can be its display. 10 at the same positions as the positions of the non-penetrating apertures shown in FIG. Since a size of the notebook type computer is large in comparison with another portable type information processing apparatus, the notebook type computer is susceptible to the influence of the EMI. This is what we refer to as free-stop.. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Also, since a certain strength of the housing is required, the miniaturization and lightening of the housing becomes difficult. 9 shows a shape of an imperfectly closed type non-penetrating recess. 1 shows a model of a friction plate type torque hinge mechanism. Your email address will not be published. Although it is required in the portable type information processing apparatus to realize the maintenance free operation over tens of thousands of open/close operations, such maintenance free operation of the present invention cannot be realized by prior technologies. Damper, torque, rotary, spring & double action hinges are types of hinges to which loads are applied at the time when doors and lids are opened/closed. 15 shows a graph showing the variation of the torque in the present invention. A non-penetrating recess is formed on a friction surface of one of the two ring like friction plates. Contactour expert team to help with your development and visit us atwww.sugatsune.comto see our more than 6,000 standard products that are stocked locally in the U.S.A. The lubricant of the high pressure caused by the wedge effect can instantaneously spread over the entire friction surfaces, and this movement of the lubricant is quite desirable in the following two points. The torque hinge mechanism according to claim, 6. Spring hinges use the force of the springs in the hinges and operate to either direction, open or close. Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model Application 8-1404 discloses a tilt hinge for an office automation apparatus in which a lubricant is applied between a friction washer and a spring washer. Without using the present invention, the initial torque can be one and a half times as much as the dynamic torque. FIG. In the notebook type computer, the main body and the display portion are connected by a cable, and, as the frequency becomes higher and higher, the same voltage potential level cannot be obtained at both the main body and display portion, so that the main body and the display portion operate as an antenna to exert an electromagnetic influence on another electronic apparatus. Double action hinges allow doors to be opened inward and outward, well known for Western swinging saloon doors. The present invention is directed to a torque hinge mechanism which includes a shaft and at least two ring like friction plates pressed against each other by a pressure and through which the shaft passes. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position, Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts, Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts with substantially axial friction, e.g. It has been found that the lubricant held in the recesses with a long axis extending along a circumference direction does not contribute to the improvement of the lubricating function. Can Robots Add Value to Your Dining Experience? The usage of the present invention in the portable type information processing apparatus is particularly useful. The experiment has been made by using the white color solid lubricant and the friction plates made of stainless and phosphor bronze wherein the diameter of the friction plates is 8 mm and the diameter of the aperture receiving the shaft is 4 mm. The torque hinge mechanism according to claim, 5. Click the CAD/BIM Files tab, located in the middle of the page to download the different formats. Although the smaller the angle is, the higher is the wedge effect, the contact area of the friction plates is decreased, so that the efficiency of generating the torque is decreased. A friction plate, FIG. 8 shows the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in accordance with the present invention. The friction plate provided with such recesses can uniformly supply the lubricant in the radial direction. 16 shows the variation of the torque measured in a test in which the same parameters as that in FIG. The number of places on the friction surface on which the recesses with the long axis extending along the radial direction are formed is preferably 2-32 places, more preferably 4-16 places. In the case that the diameter of the friction plate is 8 mm, the diameter of the aperture receiving the shaft is 4 mm, and the thickness of the plate is 1.2 mm, the preferable deepness of the recess is 0.3-0.7 mm. The viscosity of the oil inside the damper is affected by the temperature change, hence when the temperature returns to normal the torque also returns to the original value, FFD-30FS/FW/SS/SW Series Friction Damper [One-Way]. Second, it is possible to keep the abrasion of the metal to a minimum since the supply of the lubricant can be made rapidly. FIG. FIG. The friction plates used in the experiments shown in FIGS. The torque hinge mechanism according to claim. The preferable inclination of the side walls to the present invention is obtained when the angle is 15-85 degrees, preferably 45-85 degrees, more preferably 60-80 degrees. It stands for motion designed with technology. Put simply, Motion Design Tech is the culmination of our companys expertise in damper and torque technologies combined with power assist features, stopping technology, and a love for creating unique solutions. friction disks, INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof characterised by the type of wing, Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furnitures, e.g. These torques, however, cannot be kept at a constant level. Damper hinges allow doors to be closed slowly due to the friction of viscous material inside, and are used for food showcases and toilet seats. 2 shows the plan view and the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in the conventional friction plate type torque hinge mechanism. It is another object of the present invention to provide a torque hinge mechanism in which the lubricant is rapidly supplied to keep the abrasion of the friction surface to a minimum. Owner name: In a groove like non-penetrating recess. Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 9-41781 discloses a frictional lock type hinge mechanism without using grease in which a shaft is fitted into an inside surface of a bush, a plurality of grooves extend along an axis of the shaft or a plurality of sprinkled fine recesses are formed on an inner surface of the bush or an outer surface of the shaft. Further, since the supply of the lubricant to the large area of the friction plates is rapidly made, it is possible to decrease the pressure onto the surface which is required to generate the required torque and to keep the abrasion of the friction surfaces to a minimum. 3 shows the plan view and the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in the conventional friction plate type torque hinge mechanism. For any inquiries outside of North America, please contact our international branch at https://www.sugatsune-intl.com. The non-penetrating recess can be, for example, a closed type non-penetrating recess with an inclined surface. This damper is a small diameter rotary damper of space-saving type, with a cylindrical shape and a resin outer diameter 9.5mm. FIG. ), iron (SK material), etc. 7 shows the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in accordance with the present invention. FIG. It is an object of the present invention to provide a torque hinge mechanism which can be smoothly operated, stably fixed at any angle and can hold the lubricant over a long period of time. The lubricant broadly used in the art can be used as the lubricant in the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a structure of the friction type torque hinge mechanism in accordance with the present invention. Rotary hinges can be fixed at any desired angle because torques are generated to both directions or to one desired direction. Accordingly, the entire liquid crystal display device including the defective torque hinge mechanism must be replaced. A massive feeling and a smooth operational feeling of a certain degree can be obtained by using the torque hinge mechanism of the present invention in the above structures. The non-penetrating type recesses are classified into a closed type and an opened type, the larger wedge effect is obtained in the closed type. FIG. Conversely, in the case that the difference between the initial torque and the dynamic torque is large, the open/close operation is suddenly initiated when the force applied by the user reaches a relatively large value, and the friction becomes small once the movement is started, so that the movement becomes large, resulting in an unnatural feeling to the user in the open/close operation. 4. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 5 shows the plan view and the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in accordance with the present invention. The percentage of the area occupied by the recesses to the entire surface area of the friction plate is 1-50%, preferably 5-40%, more preferably 10-35%. Double layers or triple layers of these materials can be used. 2 and 3 show the friction plate used in the prior friction plate type torque hinge mechanism. It is another object of the present invention to provide a torque hinge mechanism in which the lubricant is rapidly supplied to a wide area of the friction plate to decrease the pressure onto the surface of the friction plate to a level for realizing the required torque, to keep the abrasion of the friction surface to a minimum. The preferred result can be obtained by using a combination of stainless and phosphor bronze. 10 shows the plan view and the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in accordance with the present invention. Since a large number of parts of the torque hinge mechanism are assembled in a small space in the main body and the open/close member, it is impossible to replace only the torque hinge mechanism at its defect. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus including a torque hinge mechanism in which the lubricant can be stably held over a long period of time even if the mechanism is miniaturized. 4 and 6. 6 shows the plan view and the cross sectional view of the friction plate used in accordance with the present invention. Summarizing the various shapes of the recess for holding the lubricant, the recess of the non-penetrating type prevents the lubricant from being scattered. Torque hinges allow users to fix at any angle, and are used for connecting sections of liquid crystal panels and keyboards in notebook computers, etc. Application filed by International Business Machines Corp, Assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Along with the companys expertise and customization capabilities, industrial engineers can be assured that Sugatsune will help them to find the right solution for their applications. The torque hinge mechanism of the present invention which is electrically conductive, is used to couple the main body and the display portion, each of which is made of the electrically conductive material, such as the electrically conductive metal or plastic material, a surface of which is plated by the electrically conductive metal, so that both the main body and display portion connected by the electrically conductive torque hinge mechanism can be kept at the same potential level. The lubricant can be classified into a lubrication oil, a grease and a solid lubricant. Sugatsune offers a diverse line-up of free-stop hinge mechanisms that offer a wide range of torque levels. at least two ring like friction plates having opposing friction surfaces pressed against each other by a pressure, and through which said shaft passes; wherein a closed type non-penetrating recess having an inclined surface is formed on one of said opposing friction surfaces. Wait, torque technology? CAD files are available on each products detail page. 14 shows the variation of the torque measured in a test in which the same parameters as that in FIG. 3 are used except that closed type recesses without the inclination of the side walls (=90 degrees) are formed on the friction plates. A non-penetrating recess is formed on a friction surface of one of the two ring like friction plates. 10 shows an example of the friction plate having the elongated shape non-penetrating recesses with a long axis extending along a radial direction provided at four places. FIG. 16 shows a graph showing the variation of the torque in the present invention. The present invention realizes the torque hinge mechanism in which the operation is made smooth, the mechanism can be stably fixed at any angle, and the lubricant can be stably held over a long period of time. Apertures. Examples of portable type information processing devices which can be used with the present invention include a video camera, a portable type telephone, an electronic pocket notebook, a pocket computer, a notebook type computer, etc. FIG. The recess shown in FIGS. Required fields are marked *. The present invention is particularly useful for the torque hinge mechanism using the small size friction plates. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus having a torque hinge mechanism. However, as the ratio of the area occupied by the recesses to the entire area of the friction surface becomes large, the efficiency for generating the torque is decreased. 2022 Southbay Regional Inventors Convention, Join Our Email List For The Latest News and Promotions, please click here to change your location, Grommets, Ventilators, Chutes, and Spouts. A combination of a hard material and a soft material is used to minimize the abrasion of the metal and to improve the touch in the open/close operation. A lubricant holding mechanism, which includes a small aperture. 14 shows a graph showing the variation of the torque in the prior technology. In the case that the recesses are formed on both friction plates, a variation of the torque may be produced during the sliding operation due to the relative positional relationship of the recesses on both friction plates. Your email address will not be published. In the portable type electric/electronic apparatus, such as a video camera, a notebook type personal computer, miniaturization and high reliability are required. Therefore, it is necessary for the recess to have an appropriate deepness. The key to this is the hinge axis that creates friction to provide resistance support. 2 strengths: Standard (15-inch pound) and Heavy Duty (40 inch-pound), Holds lid in any position/angle no additional hardware needed, Support heavier lids just by adding more hinges, Sizes: Standard 1-1/2 x 1-7/8 (40 x 48 mm), Heavy Duty 1-3/4 x 2-5/8 (46 x 66 mm). 13 shows a graph showing the variation of the torque in the prior technology. It is required in the torque hinge mechanism that a torque at a static condition, called a static torque, and a torque at the rotational operation, called a dynamic torque, should be maintained within a predetermined range, and these torques are not changed over tens of thousands of open/close operations. FIG. Accordingly, it is preferable to form the non-penetrating recesses on one of the friction plates to precisely keep the torque in the rotational operation to a constant value. The deep recess causes the friction plate to bend, and the shallow recess causes powder generated by the abrasion to accumulate in the recess. ], Hinge having means to reduce friction between hinge parts, Resiliently biased hinge including means to render spring ineffective through all or a portion of swing, Hinge including means to hold or retard hinged members against pivotal movement [e.g., catch], Hinge including means to hold or retard hinged members against pivotal movement [e.g., catch] by friction, On hinge pin or between surfaces surrounding hinge axis. Even if the small size friction plates are used, the torque hinge mechanism of the present invention can operate without the maintenance service, its torque is stable, and can realize the maintenance free operation over tens of thousands of open/close operations. The apparatus includes a main body, an open/close member and at least two torque hinge mechanisms for coupling the main body with the open/close member. This prevents a component from moving unwantedly, allowing the door or panel to remain stationary no matter what position you leave it in.