EP4686797A1

EP4686797A1 - Hydraulic hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a wing or the like

Info

Publication number: EP4686797A1
Application number: EP25192055.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luciano Bacchetti; Mirko PORTOGALLO
Original assignee: In and Tec SRL
Current assignee: In and Tec SRL
Priority date: 2024-08-01
Filing date: 2025-07-28
Publication date: 2026-02-04

Abstract

A hydraulic hinge for the controlled movement of a closing element (D) anchored to a frame or counter-frame (S). The hinge comprises a hinge body (10) and a pivot (20) rotatably coupled to mutually rotate around an axis (X); a slider (40) slidable along the axis (X); a stem (30); cam means (80, 80') and cam follower means (70', 70") integrally connected one to the pivot (20) and the other to the hinge body (10). The hinge further comprises anti-impact means (90, 90'; 100', 100") comprising at least one stop element (100', 100") and at least one abutment element (90, 90') integrally connected one to the pivot (20) and the other to the hinge body (10), the at least one stop element (100', 100") and at least one abutment element (90, 90') rotating integrally joined with the cam means (80, 80') and the cam follower means (70', 70") to selectively come into mutual contact in the event of forced closing of the closing element (D).

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the technical field of closing and/or control systems for doors, door leaves or the like, and it particularly relates to a hydraulic hinge.

State of the Art

Patents EP2694764 and EP2785943 , on behalf of the Applicant in question, disclose hydraulic hinges having a hinge body into which there is inserted a stem with an end connected to a slider and the other end connected with a pin to a pivot provided with helical cavities which determine the motion of the door, door leaf or the like to which the hinge is connected.
The slider partitions the working chamber inside the hinge body into two variable volume compartments, placed in fluid communication with each other by means a circuit inside the hinge body. In such hydraulic hinges, the pivot, the slider and the stem lie along the same axis, which also defines the movement direction of the slider.
Such hinges have a hydraulic circuit provided in the hinge body to make the door move towards the closing position starting from a predetermined angular position, in proximity of the same closing position.
While brilliantly performing their task, such hinges are relatively expensive, which makes them less recommendable for some applications.
A further drawback of such hinges lies in the fact that in the event of forced closing, for example due to a gust of wind or an incautious user, the door bangs against the relative frame or counter-frame, with the risk of being damaged.
A further drawback of such hinges lies in the fact that they are only right or left, which entails the need for stocking both versions to meet market demands.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks illustrated above by providing a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like that is highly efficient and cost-effective.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like having minimum overall dimensions, in particular minimum radial overall dimensions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like which prevents the violent impact of the latter against the latter against the relative frame or counter-frame also in the event of forced closing.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like that is ambidextrous.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf of the like that is easy to manufacture.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the controlled movement of a door, a door leaf or the like, with a minimum number of pieces.
These and other objects which will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a hinge as described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.
The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views of some embodiments of the hinge 1 mounted on doors D;
FIG. 2 is an exploded axonometric view of a first embodiment of the hinge 1;
FIGS. 3A to 3D are some schematic views of the cam means 80, 80' of the embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4A - 4B are axial sectional views of the embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 2 respectively in door D closed and open at 90° position;
FIGS. 5A - 5B are further sectional cross-sectional views taken along the plane of lane V A - V A in FIG. 4A of the embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 2 respectively in door D closed and open at 90° position;
FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic views of the pivot 20 - cam means 80, 80' - stem 30 - slider 40 assembly of the embodiment of the hinge 1 of FIG. 2 respectively in door D closed, open at 45° and open at 90° position, with FIG. 6D showing some enlarged details;
FIGS. 7A - 7B are schematic views of a further embodiment of the cam means 80, 80';
FIGS. 8A - 8B are schematic views of a further embodiment of the cam means 80, 80';
FIGS. 9A - 9B are schematic views of a further embodiment of the cam means 80, 80';
FIGS. 10A - 10B are axial cross-sectional views of a further embodiment of the hinge 1 respectively in door D closed and open at 90° position.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a hydraulic hinge 1, that is a hinge containing a working fluid, for example oil.
The hinge 1 may be advantageously suitable to be used for the controlled movement of any closing element D, for example a door, a door leaf or the like, anchored to a stationary support structure S, for example a wall, a frame or counter-frame or a floor.
Although hereinafter reference shall be made to the closing element D such as a door and to then stationary support structure S such as a frame and a floor, it is clear that the hinge 1 may be suitable to be connected to any closing element and to any stationary support structure without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
It is also clear that the door D and the frame and floor S are not part of the present invention.
Generally, the hinge 1 may comprise one or more movable elements which can be directly or indirectly anchored to the door and one or more fixed elements which can be directly or indirectly anchored to the frame.
More particularly, the hinge 1 may include a hinge body 10, which may internally comprise a working hydraulic chamber 11, that is a working chamber which includes a working fluid, for example oil, and a pivot 20, which may include a hollow cylindrical portion 21 with a pair of guide grooves 22 substantially parallel to the axis X, preferably vertical, and a connection element 23.
The hinge body 10 and the pivot 20 may be coaxial to each other and rotatably coupled to rotate one with respect to the other around an axis X.
It is clear that the fixed element may comprise one of the hinge body 10 and the pivot 20, while the movable element may comprise one of the hinge body 10 and the pivot 20 without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
For example, in the embodiments of the hinge 1 shown in the attached figures, the hinge body 10 may be movable while the pivot 20 may be fixed. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the hinge 1 may be inserted in a concealable fashion in a special seat of the door D, with the connection element 23 of the pivot 20 protruding from the latter so as to be inserted into a bushing which can be fixed into the floor S underlying the door.
Furthermore, the hinge 1 may comprise a stem 30 with an end 31 connected with the pivot 20 by means of a pin 32 passing through the through seat 33 at the end 31 and through the guide grooves 22. On the opposite side, the stem 30 may include an end 34 connected with a slider 40.
Thanks to such connection, the slider 40 and the stem 30 may slide along the axis X between a position distal from the pivot 20, corresponding to the door D closed position and for example shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A, and a position proximal to the pivot 20, corresponding to the door D open position and for example shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B. Possibly, during such sliding, the slider 40 and the stem 30 may further rotate around the axis X.
Although hereinafter reference shall be made to an embodiment in which the guide grooves are substantially parallel to the axis X, it is clear that they may vary in configuration, provided they are adapted to guide the movement of the slider 40 - stem 30 assembly, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
The guide grooves 22, by way of non-limiting example, may have a helical development, inclined with a section substantially parallel to the axis X and another substantially perpendicular to the same.
Furthermore, depending on the type of hinge, there may or may not provide for elastic counteracting means, for example a spiral spring 50. In particular, the spring 50 may be a closing spring, so that the hinge is a closing hinge.
In particular, the spring 50 may be inserted into the stem 30 and interposed between an abutment portion of the working chamber 11 and the slider 40 to act on the latter.
On the other hand, the hinge 1 may include a return spring or also be without elastic counteracting means, in which case the hinge will be a hydraulic control hinge. In this case, the door may be moved manually or by means of external actuators, for example a further closing hinge or an electric actuator.
The slider 40 may partition the working chamber 11 into at least two variable volume compartments 12, 13 fluidly communicating with each other and it may include valve means for controlling the flow of the working fluid between them.
In particular, in the embodiment of the hinge 1 shown in FIGS. 1 - 6D, the valve means may provide for a valve, for example of the type with a movable shutter 41 into which there may slidably inserted a through pin 41' also movable and inserted into a special seat of the slider 40 to create a micrometric through-passing 41", as disclosed by the European patent EP3640421 on behalf of the Applicant in question.
In particular, for example as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B, the shutter 41 may be configured to selectively open when opening the door so as to be placed in fluidic communication the compartment 13 with the compartment 12, which fills with the working fluid. On the other hand, for example as shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A, the shutter 41 may close during the reverse through-passing, leaving that the working fluid can only pass through micrometric through-passing 41" returning into the compartment 13. In a per se known manner, in such embodiment, the shutter 41 may be configured to allow the through-passing of a minimal amount of working fluid also when closing the door D.
Therefore, in this case, the closing speed of the door D is fixed.
In such embodiment, it may also be provided for, in a per se known manner, an element 43 connected to the slider 40 so as to compensate the volume of the compartments 12, 13. Therefore, the volumes of working fluid which flows out from a compartment is always equal to the volume of the compartment which fills up, so that the door D is always controlled both when opening and closing.
On the other hand, in the embodiment of the hinge 1 shown in FIGS. 10A - 10B, the valve means may provide for an alternative embodiment of the valve, for example of the type with a ball shutter 41 elastically forced against the relative seat by a spring 42.
The ball shutter 41 is normally closed and it opens when opening the door D. In such embodiment, for the return of the working fluid from the compartment 12 to the compartment 13, there may be provided for a special hydraulic circuit 14 obtained in the hinge body 10 provided with an adjustment element 15.
Therefore, in this case, acting on the latter, the operator may adjust the closing speed of the door D.
Although hereinafter for the sake of simplicity reference will be made to such types of valves, it is clear that the valves may be of different type without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
The working chamber 11 may be closed by closing caps 16, 17 connected to the hinge body 10.
In order to facilitate the slidable movement of the slider 40 along the axis X there may be provided for special cam means, for example cam elements 80, 80' integrated in an actuator element 60 integrally connected to the hinge body 10 by means of stop dowels 18, interacting with cam follower means, for example the ends 70', 70" of a pin 70 integrally connected to the stem 30 and, as a result, through the pin 32 inserted into the guide grooves 22, with the pivot 20.
In particular, the actuator element 60 may be internally hollow so as to be inserted or preferably fitted on the stem 30. More particularly, the substantially cylindrical central portion 61 of the actuator element 60 may have an inner surface 60' in contact with the outer surface 30' of the stem 30.
In this manner, the rotation of the hinge body 10 with respect to the pin 20 around the axis X will cause the rotation around the latter of the actuator element 60, and of the cam means 80, 80' therewith. The ends 70', 70" of the pin 70 which define the cam follower means, in contact with the cam means, will also be driven in rotation but given that the stem is rotatably locked by means of the pin 32 inserted into the guide grooves 22 of the pivot 20, they may slide along the axis X, causing the sliding of the slider 40.
It is clear that the cam means 80, 80' and cam follower means 70', 70" may be connected to any element of the hinge, provided that one of them is integrally connected with one of the pivot 20 and the hinge body 10 and the other of them is connected to the other of the pivot 20 and the hinge body 10, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
It is also clear that both the cam means 80, 80' and the cam follower means 70', 70" may have any configuration, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the cam means may be defined by a pair of facing cam elements 80, 80' with operative surfaces 81, 82; 81', 82' having a predetermined inclination interspersed by top portions 83, 83' and bottom portions 84, 84', so as to define the profile of the cam means.
On the other hand, the cam follower means may be defined by protrusions extending from the stem 30, which for example they may be defined by the ends 70', 70" of the pin 70, so as to come into contact with the operative surfaces 81, 82; 81', 82'.
Suitably, the latter may develop by 360° along the substantially cylindrical central portion 61 of the actuator element 60 and extend therefrom to define an end portion 62.
Given that the cam means 80, 80' extend for 360° along the substantially cylindrical central portion 61 of the actuator element 60, the door D may rotate for 360°, for example be configured as a rotatable door as shown in FIG. 1A. Obviously, it is possible to limit the angular rotation of the door D as needed by means of mechanical stops, in a per se known manner.
A further advantage of such configuration lies in the fact that the hinge is ambidextrous, that is it can be used indistinctively for right and left doors.
Advantageously, the hinge 1 may further comprise anti-impact means which essentially include or consist of one or more stop elements, for example defined by the ends 100', 100" of a pin 100 passing through in the stem 30, and one or more abutment elements, for example defined by facing abutment walls 90, 90' extending from the cylindrical central portion 61 of the actuator element 60 to define the end portion 63 opposite to the end portion 62.
In this manner, the stop 100', 100" and abutment 90, 90' elements will rotate integrally joined with the cam means 80, 80' and with the cam follower means 70', 70" so as to selectively come into mutual contact in the event of forced closing of the door D, so as to prevent the latter from violently impacting against the frame S.
In particular, the stop 100', 100" and abutment 90, 90' elements may be mutually configured so that during the rotation of the of the hinge body 10 with respect to the pivot 20 are normally spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance d, for example 0.5 - 1 mm, as particularly shown in FIG. 6D.
In the event of forced closing of the door D, then, the stop 100', 100" and abutment 90, 90' elements may come into mutual contact.
It is clear that the stop 100', 100" and abutment 90, 90' elements may be connected to any element of the hinge, provided that one of them is integrally connected with one of the pivot 20 and the hinge body 10 and the other of them is connected to the other of the pivot 20 and the hinge body 10, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
It is also clear that the stop 100', 100" and abutment 90, 90' elements may have any configuration, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
Furthermore, it is clear that, irrespective of their configuration and of the single positioning, the cam means 80, 80' and the one or more abutment elements 90, 90' may be integrally connected to each other, same case applying to the cam follower means 70', 70" and the one or more stop elements 100', 100", so that such pairs of elements rotate integrally joined one with respect to the other.
Advantageously, the facing abutment walls 90, 90' may have operative surfaces 91, 92; 91', 92' having a predetermined inclination interspersed by top portions 93, 93' and bottom portions 94, 94'.
Suitably, the facing cam elements 80, 80' and the facing abutment walls 90, 90' may be mutually staggered two by two, so that the top portions 83, 83' are at the bottom portions 94, 94' and the top portions 93, 93' are at the bottom portions 84, 84'.
The protrusions 70', 70" and 100', 100", and therefore the pins 70 and 100, may be substantially parallel or slightly intersecting.
This allows to effectively control the movement of the door D, actually eliminating the risk of damage thereof in the event of gust of wind or forced closing by an incautious user.
As a matter of fact, from an operative standpoint, in the embodiment of the hinge shown in FIGS. 1 to 6D, when a user opens the door, the working fluid initially contained in the compartment 13, flows into the compartment 12 passing through the micrometric through-passing 41" and the relative shutter 41, which opens. During such step, the slider 40 slides along the axis X to load the spring 50.
When closing, the spring 50 acts on the slider to close the door. During such step, the working fluid flows from the compartment 12 to the compartment 13 through the same micrometric through-passing 41" and the leakage of the relative shutter 41.
During such steps, the ends 70', 70" defining the cam follower means will follow the profile of the cam means 80, 80', and more particularly the operative surfaces 81, 82; 81', 82' with the relative top portions 83, 83' and bottom portions 84, 84'.
FIGS. 3A - 3D and 7A - 9B show the various profiles of the cam means 80, 80', which will define various behaviours of the door D.
When closing the door D, should an incautious user or a gust of wind force the door to close, the ends 100', 100" impact against the operative surfaces 91, 92; 91', 92' of the facing abutment walls 90, 90', mechanically locking the rotation and therefore preventing damage to the door.
Same case applies in the embodiment of the hinge shown in FIGS. 10A - 10B, in which, however, when a user opens the door, the working fluid can flow through from the compartment 13 to the compartment 12 flowing through the shutter 41, while when the hinge closes, the working fluid flows through from the compartment 12 to the compartment 13 passing through the circuit 14.
As mentioned above, in such embodiment, an operator may adjust the closing speed of the door D by acting on the adjustment element 15.
In the light of the above, the invention attains the pre-established objects.
The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the attached claims. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.

Claims

A hydraulic hinge for the controlled movement of a closing element (D), for example a door, a door leaf or the like, anchored to a frame or counter-frame (S), the hinge comprising:
- a hinge body (10) which can be anchored to one of the closing element (D) or the frame or counter-frame (S);

- a pivot (20) which can be anchored to the other of the closing element (D) or the frame or counter-frame (S);

wherein said hinge body (10) and pivot (20) are coaxially and rotationally coupled to mutually rotate around an axis (X) between an open position and a closed position of the closing element (D);

wherein said hinge body (10) internally includes a hydraulic working chamber (11) defining said axis (X), the hinge further comprising:
- a slider (40) at least partially inserted into said working chamber (11) to slidably move along said axis (X), said slider (40) dividing it at least partially into at least two variable volume compartments (12, 13) fluidly communicating with each other;

- a stem (30) at least partially inserted into said working chamber (11) coaxially therewith, said stem (30) comprising a first end (34) connected with said slider (40);

- cam means (80, 80') integrally connected with one of said stem (30) and said hinge body (10);

- cam follower means (70', 70") integrally connected with the other of said stem (30) and said hinge body (10);

wherein said pivot (20) comprises a hollow cylindrical portion (21) with a pair of guide grooves (22), said stem (30) comprising a second end (31) opposite to said first end (34) connected with said pivot (20) by means of a pin (32) passing through said second end (31) and inserted into said guide grooves (22), so that the mutual rotation between said pivot (20) and said hinge body (10) around said axis (X) promotes the sliding of the slider (40) along the same axis (X);

wherein the hinge further comprises anti-impact means (90, 90'; 100', 100") comprising at least one stop element (100', 100") integrally connected to one of said pivot (20) and said hinge body (10) and at least one abutment element (90, 90') integrally connected to the other of said pivot (20) and said hinge body (10), said at least one stop element (100', 100") and at least one abutment element (90, 90') rotating integrally joined with said cam means (80, 80') and said cam follower means (70', 70") to selectively come into mutual contact in the event of forced closing of the closing element (D), so as to prevent the latter from violently impacting against the frame or counter-frame (S).
Hinge according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stop element (100', 100") and at least one abutment element (90, 90') are mutually configured so that during the rotation of said hinge body (10) and pivot (20) between the open and closed positions of the closing element (D) they are normally spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance (d), said at least one stop element (100', 100") and at least one abutment element (90, 90') coming into mutual contact in the event of forced closing of the closing element (D).
Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cam means (80, 80') and said at least one abutment element (90, 90') are integrally connected to each other, said cam follower means (70', 70") and said at least one stop element (100', 100") also being integrally connected to each other so that the former (80, 80'; 90, 90') rotate in relation to the latter (70', 70"; 100', 100").
Hinge according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said guide grooves (22) are configured so as to guide the sliding of said slider (40) between a position proximal to said pivot (20) and a position distal from the same, said distal position preferably corresponding to said closed position of the closing element (D), said distal position preferably corresponding to said open position of the closing element (D).
Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said guide grooves (22) are substantially parallel to said axis (X).
Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising an actuator element (60) integrally connected to said hinge body (10) and inserted or fitted on said stem (30), said actuator element (60) including said cam means (80, 80') and said at least one abutment element (90, 90'), said stem (30) including said cam follower means (70', 70") and said at least one stop element (100', 100").
Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuator element (60) has a substantially cylindrical central portion (61) with an inner surface (61') faced to or in contact with the outer surface (30') of said stem (30), said actuator element (60) further comprising a first end portion (62) which includes said cam means (80, 80') and a second end portion (63) which includes said at least one abutment element (90, 90').
Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein said cam means have a pair of facing cam elements (80, 80') with first operative surfaces (81, 82; 81', 82') having a predetermined inclination, said cam follower means being defined by first protrusions (70', 70") extending from said stem (30) to come into contact with said first operative surfaces (81, 82; 81', 82').
Hinge according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said at least one abutment element has a pair of facing abutment walls (90, 90') with second operative surfaces (91, 92; 91', 92') having a predetermined inclination, said at least one stop element being defined by second protrusions (100', 100") extending from said stem (30) to remain facing said second operative surfaces (91, 92; 91', 92').
Hinge according to claim 8 and 9, wherein said facing cam elements (80, 80') and said facing abutment walls (90, 90') have respective first and second top portions (83, 83'; 93, 93') and first and second bottom portions (84, 84'; 94, 94'), said facing cam elements (80, 80') and said facing abutment walls (90, 90') being mutually staggered so that the respective first top portions (83, 83') are at the second bottom portions (94, 94') and the second top portions (93, 93') are at the first bottom portions (84, 84'), the first and second protrusions (70', 70"; 100', 100") being substantially parallel or slightly intersecting.
Hinge according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the first operative surfaces (81, 82; 81', 82') of said facing cam elements (80, 80') extend for 360° along the substantially cylindrical central portion (61) of said actuator element (60).