Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AUTOIIYIOTIVE DOOR HINGE WITH STRUCTURALLY
INTEGRATED PIVOT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention applies to hinges, more particularly to automotive door hinges,
which facilitate motion of a closure panel relative to a fixed body structure,
and
simplify removal and reinstallation of the closure panel to and from the body
structure during specific phases of the vehicle assembly operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Automotive door hinges are generally configured to include a door component
that is rigidly attached to a closure panel and a body component that is
rigidly
attached to a body structure. This structural attachment of the components can
be
achieved by welding, riveting, bolting or similar mechanical fastening means.
The simple rotary motion of the door component relative to the body component
is normally achieved by a pivot pin and associated bearing surfaces. The pivot
pin is configured to be rigidly attached to one of the hinge components while
the
other component freely rotates around the pivot pin via one or more bearing
surfaces. It is normal practice to utilize two of these hinge assemblies,
vertically
offset with coaxially aligned pivot pins, to attach a closure panel to a body
structure.
In many modern automotive vehicle assembly plants the closure panel is removed
from the body structure after the vehicle has been initially assembled and
painted.
This post paint detachment of the closure panel is undertaken to facilitate
ease of
final assembly of the vehicle interior which includes installing large
components
such as the instrument panel, seats, carpet and headliner as well as
simplifying the
final assembly of the door hardware components such as the latch and window
lift
mechanism. An important aspect of the closure panel's removal and
reinstallation
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process is that it is normal practice to set the final door position during
the
vehicle's initial assembly, prior to painting. In this way the gap margins and
surface flushness, which are among the most important aspects of vehicle
quality,
are set during the initial structural framing and can be evaluated before and
just
after painting. This generally accepted approach requires that the method
utilized
to remove and reinstall the closure panel after painting, during the final
assembly
process, must facilitate exact replication of the original door position.
There is a
wide range of prior art that facilitates the removal and reinstallation of
vehicle
closure panels while maintaining the dimensional integrity of the original
installation process.
A common embodiment of a removable door hinge system utilizes a cantilevered
pivot pin to facilitate the door component being simply interleaved over the
body
component of the hinge. The body component incorporates a suitably sized hole
containing a pivot bushing through which the pivot pin is riveted creating a
structural joint with rotational freedom. A portion of the pivot pin is
configured
with a conical feature that interacts with a conical feature in the pivot axis
hole of
the door component. When the conical feature in the pivot axis hole of the
door
component is placed over the conical aspect of the pivot pin, a rotational
locking
action is created. A clip, nut or similar mechanical device retains the door
component on the pivot pin and all structural loading is transferred via the
portion
of the pivot pin comprising the conical feature. Relative rotation of the door
component and body component is facilitated via the non-conical aspect of the
pivot pin rotating inside the body component's bushing. This cantilevered
pivot
pin arrangement is referred to as single hung and transmits -all imparted
bending
moments directly to the pivot pin.
The above-described, single hung cantilevered pivot pin arrangement assures
ease
of removal and accurate reinstallation of the closure panel but is
structurally
inferior to a fully riveted, double hung hinge configuration. A conventional
double hung hinge converts imparted bending moments into structurally
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preferable force couples. To counteract the significant imparted moment
associated with a single hung hinge, a robust, complex joint must be made
between the hinge component and the separate pivot pin. Additionally, to
assure
ease of reinstallation, adequate vertical load carrying capability and good
final
retention, a complex pin configuration is required.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to create a single hung hinge assembly
in
which the pivot is wrought from, integral with or rigidly fixed to the hinge
component. In this way the imparted moment would act directly on the hinge
component as the pivot would be structurally integrated in the hinge
component.
Additionally, it would be a significant improvement over the existing art if
the
pivot was configured to create both a conical interface and horizontal load
carrying surface for the rotational joint. In this manner an accurate and easy
reinstallation process would be assured while allowing the integrated pivot to
be
simply machined from the hinge component. Additionally, by providing a
threaded hole in the end of the structural pivot an extremely strong finished
joint
would be assured through the utilization of a simple bolt.
SUNdMAIt~.' Oh' THE INVEN~'ION
In a principal aspect of the invention, an automotive hinge comprises: a door
component adapted to be mounted to a vehicular closure panel, said door
component comprising a conical pivot axis aperture; a body component adapted
to be mounted to a vehicular body structure, said body component comprising a
pivot arm; the door component and the body component being adapted to rotate
about a pivot axis; an upstanding conical structural feature extending from
the
body component and adapted to be coaxially aligned with the pivot axis and
structurally fixed to the pivot arm of the body component; such that when the
hinge is assembled, the door component interleaves over the body component,
dimensionally locating said components by means of the walls of the conical
pivot axis aperture of the door component interacting with an external conical
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bearing surface on the conical structural feature.
In further aspects of the invention:
(a) the conical structural feature is wrought from the base material of
the hinge body component;
(b) the conical structural feature is machined, forged or cast in the base
material of the hinge body component;
(c) a rigid bushing is configured to fit over the conical structural
feature to contact said conical bearing surface;
(d) the rigid bushing comprises a tapered internally facing surface
which comprises a lubricating coating or film;
(e) said lubricating coating or film comprises the polymer PTFE;
(f) the rigid bushing comprises a split line adapted to permit reversible
expansion of the dimensions of the bushing;
(g) the rigid bushing comprises an unlubricated externally facing
surface to facilitate clamping of the bushing into the conical pivot
axis aperture;
(h) the rigid bushing further comprises a base comprising a horizontal
surface configured substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal
axis of the bushing, the horizontal surface being adapted to carry
~ vertical hinge loadings;
(i) the conical structural feature comprises a distal end and an outward
step proximate said distal end, said step being configured to retain
the rigid bushing;
(j) the body component and door component are retained in assembly
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by a bolt configured to thread coaxially into an internally threaded
feature in the conical structural feature;
(k) the body component and door component are retained in assembly
by a clip, nut, or other similar mechanical fastening means.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention comprises an automotive hinge
comprising a body component adapted to be mounted to a vehicular body
structure, said body component comprising a conical pivot axis aperture; a
door
component adapted to be mounted to a vehicular closure panel, said door
component comprising a pivot arm; the door component and the body component
being adapted to rotate about a pivot axis; the door component comprising a
conical structural feature extending from the door component and adapted to be
coaxially aligned with the pivot axis and structurally fixed to the pivot arm;
the
conical structural feature comprising an external conical bearing surface;
such that
when the hinge is assembled, the door component interleaves over the body
component, dimensionally locating the door and body components by means of
the walls of the conical pivot axis aperture of the body component interacting
with the external conical bearing surface of the conical structural feature.
The further aspects of the invention set out above are also applicable to this
alternative embodiment in which the positions of the conical pivot axis
aperture
and the conical structural feature are changed from either the door component
or
the body component, to the other of said components. Thus, in either of the
main
embodiments of the invention, either the conical structural feature will be
lowered
into the conical pivot axis aperture or the conical pivot axis aperture will
be
placed over an upstanding conical structural feature.
In the preferred embodiment, the bushing is interposed between the walls of
the
conical pivot axis aperture and the external conical bearing surface of the
conical
structural feature.
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In a further alternative embodiment to either embodiment referred to above,
the
rigid bushing is configured to fit into the conical pivot axis aperture. The
rigid
bushing comprises a tapered externally facing surface which comprises a
lubricating coating or film. The lubricating coating or film preferably
comprises
the polymer PTFE. The rigid bushing comprises a split line adapted to permit
reversible contraction of the dimensions of the bushing. The rigid bushing
comprises an unlubricated internally facing surface to facilitate clamping of
the
bushing onto the outer surface of the conical structural feature. The conical
structural feature has a continuous tapered outer surface. The bushing may be
retained in the conical pivot aperture by upsetting the bushing material to
create a
flange.
Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a pair of the inventive hinge assemblies in a typical
automotive installation;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inventive hinge assembly in a fully
assembled
state;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the inventive
hinge
assembly;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the body component of the inventive
hinge assembly;
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the inventive hinge assembly through the
centreline of the conical, structural feature;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative orientation of the inventive
hinge
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assembly in a fully assembled state.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the alternative
orientation of the inventive hinge assembly of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the components of an alternative
bushing configuration of the inventive hinge assembly;
FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of an alternative bushing configuration of
the
inventive hinge assembly through the centreline of the conical, structural
feature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a door hinge assembly (1) is substantially
constructed from a door component (2) and a body component (3). The door
component is configured with a door component mounting surface (6) and a door
component pivot arm (7). The door component pivot arm contains a conical pivot
axis aperture (8) with walls (25). The door component is structurally attached
to a
closure panel (4) via its door component mounting surface (6) using bolting,
welding, bonding, riveting or similar fastening means. Referring to Figures 3
and
4, the body component (3) is configured with a body component mounting
surface (11) and a body component pivot arm (12). The body component pivot
arm is configured with an upstanding conical structural feature (13) that
contains
an internally threaded feature (14) coaxial with its outer surface, as
illustrated in
Figure 5. The body component (3) is structurally attached to a body structure
(19)
via its body component mounting surface (11) using bolting, welding, bonding,
riveting or similar fastening means.
Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a rigid bushing (17) is internally coated
with a
lubricating film, such as the polymer PTFE, and is configured to fit over the
conical structural feature (13) and provide a horizontal load bearing surface
(16)
against the hinge body component's pivot arm (12) and an internal tapered
surface
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(18) configured to bear against the conical structural feature (13). Other
lubricating films or coatings may also be employed to permit the internally
facing
tapered surface of the bushing to rotatingly slide over the outer surface of
the
conical structural feature. A split line (20) allows the bushing to be easily
installed since it can open and expand to be fitted over the conical
structural
feature, and aids in rotationally locking the bushing into the conical pivot
axis
aperture (8) on the non-lubricated, external surface of the bushing when
longitudinal or vertical retention force is applied. An outwardly stepped
feature
(21) at the outer or distal end of the conical structural feature is
configured to
retain the rigid bushing longitudinally.
The door component (2) interleaves over the body component (3) and
dimensionally locates itself by means of the external, unlubricated tapered
surface (22) of the rigid bushing (17) mating to the walls (25) of the conical
pivot
axis aperture (8) of the door component (2). The assembly is structurally
completed to prevent the door component and body component from moving
longitudinally relative to each other by a bolt (19) attached to the conical
structural feature (13) via the internally threaded feature (14). Relative
rotation of
the two hinge components is facilitated by the conical structural feature (13)
remaining free to rotate inside the rigid bushing (17), which in turn is
rotationally
locked into the conical pivot axis aperture (8) of the door component (2) by
frictional contact between the non-lubricated external surface of the bushing
(17)
and the walls (25) of the aperture (8).
Structural loadings, such as those imparted by a crash, are transferred
between the
door component (2) and body component (3) via the conical structural
feature (13) which is wrought from, and integral to, the body component. This
significantly improves the single hung, cantilevered arrangement since it
eliminates the requirement of a pin-to-hinge structure joint interface.
The removal of the closure panel following a painting 'operation is simply
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facilitated by unthreading the bolt (19) and lifting the closure panel's door
components (2) off of the body component's rigid bushings (17). Removal
efforts
are substantially reduced due to the conical configuration of the rigid
bushing,
which facilitates rotational locking while maintaining longitudinal freedom of
movement. When the closure panel is reinstalled on the vehicle, the upper and
lower hinges' door components are aligned with the corresponding body
components by placing the conical pivot axis aperture (8) over the rigid
bushings (17). The assemblies are then structurally completed by threading the
fastening bolts (19) into the internally threaded features (14) of the conical
structural features (13) and applying a suitable torque to the bolts. Each
rigid
bushing is thereby rotationally clamped into the corresponding conical pivot
axis
aperture; its conical walls ending at the horizontal load bearing surface
(16), in the
presence of a longitudinal clamping load and with flexure of the bushing about
the split line (20), combine to create a locking action into the conical pivot
axis
aperture (8) of the door component.
It will be readily apparent that the locations of the conical structural
feature and
the conical pivot axis aperture can be switched. In this alternative
embodiment,
the conical structural feature is directed downwardly into a conical pivot
axis
aperture. Referring to Figures 6 and 7 only, a door hinge assembly (1) is
substantially constructed from a body component (3) and a door component (2).
The body component is configured with a mounting surface (11) and a pivot arm
(12). The body component pivot arm (12) contains a conical pivot axis aperture
(8). The door component (2) is configured with a mounting surface (6) and a
pivot arm (7). The door component (2) is structurally attached to a closure
panel
via the door component's mounting surface (6) using bolting, welding, bonding,
riveting or similar fastening means. The door component pivot arm (7) is
configured with a conical structural feature (13) which contains an internally
threaded feature coaxial with its outer surface. The body component (3) is
structurally attached to a body structure via its body component mounting
surface
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(11) using bolting, welding, bonding, riveting or similar fastening means.
A rigid bushing (17) is internally coated with a lubricating film such as the
polymer PTFE and is configured to fit over the conical structural feature (13)
and
provide a horizontal load bearing surface (16) against the door component's
pivot
arm (7) and an internal tapered surface configured to bear against the conical
structural feature. Other lubricating films or coatings may also be employed
to
permit the internally facing tapered surface of the bushing to rotationally
slide
over the outer bearing surface of the conical structural feature. The rigid
bushing
functions as in the previous embodiment.
Still referring to Figures 6 and 7 only, the door component (2) interleaves
over the
body component (3) and dimensionally locates itself by means of the external,
unlubricated tapered surface (22) of the rigid bushing (17) mating to the
walls
(25) of the conical pivot axis aperture (8) of the body component (3). The
assembly is structurally completed as previously described.
The removal of the closure panel following a painting operation may be
performed in the same way as with the previously described embodiment, in that
the closure panel is lifted from the vehicle body and reinstalled in analogous
fashion.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9, it will be readily apparent that the location of
the
rigid bushing (17) can be interchanged from fitting over the conical
structural
feature (13) to fitting inside the conical pivot axis aperture (8). In this
alternative
embodiment, the rigid bushing (17) is externally coated with a lubricating
film
such as the polymer PTFE, and is configured to fit into the conical pivot axis
aperture (8) and provide a horizontal load bearing surface (16) against the
hinge
body component's pivot arm (12) and an externally tapered surface (26)
configured to bear against the internal conical bearing surface of the conical
pivot
axis aperture (8). Other lubricating films or coatings may also be employed to
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permit the externally facing tapered surface of the bushing to rotatingly
slide over
the internal conical bearing surface of the conical pivot axis aperture. A
split line
(20) allows the bushing to be easily installed since it can close and contract
to be
fitted into the conical pivot axis aperture, and aids in rotationally locking
the
bushing onto the conical structural feature (13) on the internal, unlubricated
tapered surface (27) of the bushing when longitudinal or vertical retention
force is
applied. The bushing material is upset upon installation to create a retention
flange (28) over the door component pivot arm (7) at the opposing end to the
horizontal load bearing surface (16) so that the rigid bushing is positively
retained
in the door component pivot arm (7).
The door component (2) interleaves over the body component (3) and
dimensionally locates itself by means of the internal, unlubricated tapered
surface
(27) of the rigid bushing (17) mating to the outer surface (29) of the conical
structural feature (13) of the body component (3). The assembly is
structurally
completed as previously described.
Relative rotation of the two hinge components is facilitated by the rigid
bushing
(17) remaining free to rotate against the internal conical bearing surface of
the
conical pivot axis aperture (8). The rigid bushing (17) is in turn
rotationally
locked to the conical structural feature (13) of the body component (3) by
frictional contact between the unlubricated tapered surface (27) of the rigid
bushing (17) and the outer surface (29) of the conical structural feature
(13).
The removal of the closure panel following a painting operation may be
performed in the same way as with the previously described embodiments, in
that
the closure panel is lifted from the vehicle body and reinstalled in analogous
fashion. The only change is the location of the bushing.
It will be readily apparent that this alternative rigid bushing configuration
can be
used in either of the alternative hinge configurations described above, in
which
the locations of the conical structural feature and the conical pivot axis
aperture
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are switched.
Although, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, it
will be
apparent to the skilled workman that variations or modifications of the
illustrated
structure may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention.
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