ES2842284T3 - Improved hinge, in particular for isothermal container doors - Google Patents

Abstract

Hinge (2), particularly for doors (4) of any isothermal container (6), comprising a first hinge element (20) and a second hinge element (22), which are suitable to be integrated into the structure (6) of said isothermal container and said door (4), respectively, or vice versa, one of said two elements (22) being able to rotate and slide axially with respect to the other (20), and where: - said first hinge element (20) and said second hinge element (22) comprise two corresponding facing edges (31, 37) with respective cam-shaped profiles (35, 41) that cooperate with each other to keep said door (4) in a closed condition and automatically bring it to said condition thanks to a spring (24) of the hinge that acts on said first (20) or second element (22) and that can be forced to compress by the opening movement of the door (4), - the profile (35) in cam shape of said first element (20) comprises two pr first sections (50) inclined in the opposite direction, which are joined at a first lower vertex (36), - the cam-shaped profile (41) of said second element (22) comprises two second sections (52) inclined in the opposite direction , which are joined at a second lower vertex (39), said hinge (2) being characterized in that: - said second hinge element (22) has, in the connection section (54) of the upper ends (53) of said second inclined sections (52), in a diametrically opposite position with respect to said second lower vertex (39), a single cavity (38) that can be occupied by the first lower vertex (36) of said profile (35) in the form of cam of said first element (20) to maintain / bring said door (4) to the open configuration, - said cavity (38) has a substantially horizontal central bottom (60) interposed between two oblique or curved sections, - the center of said cavity (38) is diametrically opposite to the center of said segment nd lower vertex (39) of the cam-shaped profile (41) of said second element (22), - the bottom of said cavity (38) has an annular extension that is greater than the contact surface defined at the tip (69 ) of the first lower vertex (36) of the cam-shaped profile (35) of said first element (20).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Improved hinge, in particular for isothermal container doors

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved hinge, particularly for doors of any isothermal container.

[0002] Hinges are known that are applied to doors of cold rooms, refrigerated cabinets, deep freezers, blast chillers and any isothermal container to allow the movement of the door itself around a vertical axis.

[0003] A common need in this type of application is associated with the need for the door to move automatically in its closing direction to prevent the isothermal container from unintentionally remaining open. This is currently achieved by making the hinge with two sleeve-shaped cylindrical elements mounted on the same pin and having their annular surfaces facing each other, which are cam-shaped with a helical or otherwise inclined shape and are forced to adhere to each other. . The upper sleeve is integrated into the jamb of the isothermal container, while the lower sleeve is integrated into the door, and the annular surfaces formed from these are arranged in such a way that the door is kept in a closed condition and is automatically brought into that condition. every time he walks away from it.

However, to allow the door to remain stable in the open condition to facilitate the loading and / or unloading of material to / from the isothermal container, it is contemplated that the lower hinge element has a flat section to that, when the door is open, the upper element of the hinge cooperates with this flat section and thus cancels both the effect of the weight of the door and the elastic reaction of the spring, that is, the two causes that tend to return to the door to the closed condition.

[0005] A drawback of this known solution consists in the fact that the stable door open condition is not well defined, but covers a certain angular range of the door. This lack of uniqueness of the open door condition makes it difficult to associate control and signaling systems of said condition.

[0006] Another drawback consists in the fact that the open door condition can be kept stable only in the event of perfect verticality of the axis of articulation of the hinges, that is, of the perfectly "level" installation of the isothermal container, since even slight deviations from this configuration tend to automatically return the door itself to the closed condition.

[0007] Documents US4215449, US3518716, US2008 / 0276424 and US5138743 describe a hinge with two joined sleeves that are integrated in the container and the door, respectively, and that present two cam-shaped portions that cooperate with each other so that the sleeve upper slides axially with respect to the lower one.

[0008] Specifically, the profile of the lower sleeve in document US4215449 presents a cam-shaped profile at the front with two inclined sections that meet at the lower vertex, and a rear section that is completely flat. Consequently, the opening rotation of the door is interrupted at approximately 110 ° when the tip of the cam-shaped profile of the upper sleeve comes into contact with the completely flat rear section. Said solution is not satisfactory, since it does not allow the door to remain stable in the open condition.

[0009] The lower liner profile in US 3518716 has a cam-shaped profile at the front with two inclined sections that meet at the lower vertex, and two notches separated from each other by a rear section that is completely flat. In particular, each notch is made in the profile of the lower jacket to define an arc of 120 ° with its lower vertex. Therefore, when the door is opened more than 90 °, the tip of the cam-shaped profile of the upper sleeve first enters the notch to maintain a certain open position of the door, and then after further rotation of this, the tip of the cam-shaped profile of the upper sleeve passes the notch and comes into contact with the rear flat section.

[0010] Said solution is also not completely satisfactory, since, in addition to requiring further processing of the profile of the lower jacket, it allows the door to be kept in a stable open condition only when it is at 120 °. In addition to making the maneuvering spaces around isothermal containers difficult, this angular range is not enough to guarantee the safety of the operators, also taking into account that the doors of isothermal containers are especially heavy.

Furthermore, simply due to the position of the notch along the profile of the upper sleeve, the user should open the doors and try to position it exactly at 120 °; This implies that the operator is not able to easily, quickly and automatically identify the condition in which the door remains stable in the open condition. Not only that, the dimensions of the notch do not allow to guarantee the condition of the door kept open after small unavoidable stresses in it.

The profile of the lower sleeve in US 5138743 has two identical and diametrically opposed cam-shaped steps. Said solution is not satisfactory because it requires a greater machining of the profile of the lower sleeve to make two steps in the form of a cam with lower vertices that have an equivalent depth. Said solution is not satisfactory, since, for the automatic closing of the door, and particularly to make it go from the door in a stable open condition to the closed condition, the user must accompany the door itself in a section of at least 90 ° to allow the tip of the cam-shaped profile of the upper sleeve to fully extend the corresponding inclined section of the cam-shaped profile of the lower sleeve upwards.

The object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and make a hinge for a door of a cold room, refrigerated cabinet, deep freezer or freezer, blast chiller and any isothermal container that, in addition to being able to automatically bring the door to the closed condition when the door itself has reached a predetermined angular position, it is also capable of maintaining it in a predetermined and well-defined open condition even if the isothermal container is not perfectly level.

Another object of the invention is to make a hinge that does not involve any additional volume with respect to traditional hinges and that, therefore, can easily replace them, without resulting in any modification of the parts of the isothermal container to which apply.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to realize a hinge that guarantees a smooth and regular movement of the door in the stage of automatic movement towards the closed condition.

Another object of the invention is to make a hinge that keeps the open condition stable even in the presence of involuntary external stresses and that simultaneously optimizes / minimizes the tension applied to the door to activate its automatic passage from the open condition. stable when closed.

Another object of the invention is to realize a hinge that allows the operator to achieve the condition in which the door is kept open quickly, easily and automatically.

Another object of the invention is to realize a hinge in which the stable open condition of the door has an angular range greater than 130 °, preferably 165 °, with respect to its closed condition.

Another object of the invention is to make a hinge that presents an alternative characterization with respect to the traditional ones, both with regard to its construction and its performance.

Another object of the invention is to produce a hinge that can be obtained simply, quickly and at low costs.

All these objects, both individually and in any combination thereof, and other objects that will become apparent from the description that follows, are achieved, according to the invention, with a hinge , particularly for doors of any isothermal container, as defined in claim 1.

In particular, the improved hinge, particularly for doors of any isothermal container, comprises a first hinge element and a second hinge element, which are integrated into the structure of said isothermal container and said door, respectively, or vice versa, being able to rotate one of said two elements and slide axially with respect to the other, and where:

- said first hinge element and said second hinge element comprise two corresponding facing edges with respective cam-shaped profiles that cooperate with each other to keep said door in a closed condition and automatically bring it to said condition due to a spring acting on said first or second element and which can be forced to be compressed by the opening movement of the door, - the cam-shaped profile of said first element comprises two first sections inclined in the opposite direction, which are joined at a first lower vertex,

- the cam-shaped profile of said second element comprises two second sections inclined in the opposite direction, which are joined at a second lower vertex, said hinge being characterized in that:

- said second hinge element has, in the connecting section of the upper ends of said second inclined sections, in a diametrically opposite position with respect to said second lower vertex, a single cavity that can be occupied by the first lower vertex of said profile cam-shaped of said first element to hold / bring said door in open configuration,

- said cavity has a substantially horizontal central bottom interposed between two oblique or curved sections, - the center of said cavity is diametrically opposite to the center of said second lower vertex of the cam-shaped profile of said second element,

- the bottom of said cavity has a lateral extension that is greater than the contact surface defined at the tip of the first lower vertex of the cam-shaped profile of said first element.

Advantageously, the cavity comprises a recess.

Advantageously, the cavity has a substantially arcuate profile.

Advantageously, the depth, which is defined with respect to the upper ends of said second inclined sections, of the bottom of the cavity is significantly less than that of the second lower vertex of said second cam-shaped profile.

Advantageously, said first hinge element and said second hinge element comprise liner portions made of acetal resin based on polyoxymethylene.

Advantageously, said first hinge element also comprises a pin that is integrated into the structure of said isothermal container and is provided with a cylindrical portion intended to be inserted into an axial hole made in the sleeve of the second hinge element. Advantageously, said pin of said first hinge element is co-molded with said annular sleeve.

The present invention is more clearly set forth below in a preferred embodiment thereof, which is described solely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view schematic in perspective of a hinge according to the invention, applied to the door of a cold room,

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the assembled hinge,

figure 3 shows a side view of the hinge,

figure 4 shows the hinge according to longitudinal section IV-IV in figure 5,

figure 5 shows the hinge according to cross section V-V in figure 3,

figure 6 shows the hinge according to cross section VI-VI in figure 3,

Figure 7 shows an exploded side view of the hinge,

Figure 8 shows the detail of the two hinge elements, in an exploded and enlarged front view, Figure 9 shows a rear front view of the hinge,

Figure 10 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 9, and

Figure 11 shows a perspective view only of the lower element of the hinge.

As shown in the drawings, the hinge according to the invention, indicated in conjunction with the number 2, can be applied to a door 4 of an isothermal container, which, in this specific case, consists of a cold room 6. More specifically, the hinge forms the upper hinge element of the door 4 with the structure of the cold room 6. It is applied, for example, to the upper edge of the door 4, close to a vertical corner thereof, and is coupled in an upper containment sheet 8 fixed to the upper horizontal panel 10 of the cold room 6.

Furthermore, the hinge 2 cooperates with a different hinge element below, composed of a block 12 applied to the lower edge of the door 4 at the vertical corner of the latter and is coupled with a lower support sheet 8 'fixed to the lower horizontal panel 14 of cold room 6.

The hinge 2 comprises a parallelepiped casing or hinge body 16 which must be incorporated into the thickness of the door 4 and which must be fixed to the upper edge of the latter by means of a horizontal support 18, which is integrated into the casing itself.

The housing 16 houses the hinge mechanism, which comprises an upper element 20, a lower element 22, a spring 24 and a lower cover 26.

The upper element 20 comprises a pin 28, made, for example, of steel, and which has an upper portion of square section 29 intended to fit with a corresponding square hole 30 made in the upper containment sheet 8, which is integrated in the cold room 6, and a cylindrical portion 32 destined to be inserted in an axial hole made in the lower element 22 of the hinge.

The pin 28 is integrated into an annular sleeve 34 intended to cooperate with the lower element 22 of the hinge, which is also composed of a similar annular sleeve 21.

[0035] Conveniently, at least the parts of the sleeves 34 and 21 in contact with each other are made of plastic material with better sliding functions and resistance to wear. In particular, both the upper sleeve 34 and the lower sleeve 21 are advantageously made of acetal resin based on polyoxymethylene with improved sliding and wear resistance functions, preferably of DELRIN® from DU PONT.

Advantageously, the pin 28 can also be made of such a plastic material and, in this case, it can preferably be co-molded with the upper sleeve 34.

The upper annular edge of the upper sleeve 34 is substantially flat, orthogonal to the axis of the pin 28, while its lower annular edge 31 comprises a cam-shaped front profile 35 and a significantly flat rear profile 33. In more detail, the cam-shaped profile 35, which extends approximately 180 ° from the extension of the lower annular edge 31, has two symmetrical sections 50 inclined in the opposite direction, preferably having a significantly spiral orientation, which meet at the bottom in a type of lower vertex 36. The significantly flat rear profile 33 instead extends the remaining 180 ° of the extension of the lower annular edge 31.

The lower sleeve 21 of the hinge has the axial cavity intended to be traversed by the cylindrical portion 32 of the pin 28 of the upper element 20.

The lower liner 21 has an upper annular edge 37 comprising a cam-shaped profile 41 that is complementary to the cam-shaped profile 35 of the lower annular edge 31 of the upper liner 34. Specifically, the profile 41 in The cam shape of the lower liner 21 comprises two symmetrical sections 52 inclined in the opposite direction, preferably having a significantly spiral orientation, which are joined at the bottom at a second lower vertex 39 which is preferably defined by an inverted type of saddle.

The upper ends 53 of the two symmetrical inclined sections 52 in the lower sleeve 21 are connected at the rear, that is, in the other 180 ° of extension of the rear annular edge 37, by means of a section 54 that presents, in position diametrically opposite / facing the second lower vertex 39, a single cavity 38 that can be occupied by the first lower vertex 36 of the cam-shaped profile 35 of the upper element 20 to maintain / bring said door 4 to an open configuration of at minus 130 °, preferably 165 °, relative to the corresponding closed configuration.

[0041] Conveniently, the cavity 38 is defined in the upper annular edge 37 of the lower sleeve 21 to form the end-of-stroke position for the opening movement of the door 4.

The center of the cavity 38 along the rear annular edge 37 of the lower sleeve 21 is diametrically opposite to the center of the second lower vertex 39.

Advantageously, the connecting section 54 of the upper edges 53 is substantially flat. Preferably, the cavity 38 is located in the center of the connecting section 54 interposed between the upper ends 53 of the two symmetrical inclined sections 52.

Advantageously, the upper ends 53 of the two symmetrical inclined sections 52 are substantially flat.

Advantageously, the cavity 38 has the shape of a recess, that is, like a depression that is not particularly pronounced. According to the invention, the cavity 38 has a central base or bottom 60 (which preferably corresponds to the deepest zone of this) that is substantially horizontal and is interposed between two inclined or appropriately curved sections 65 (cf. fig. 10).

[0046] Conveniently, the recessed depth 49 of the cavity 38 (and preferably of the deepest zone of this), which is defined with respect to the upper ends 53, is less, and preferably is significantly less, than that of the second vertex lower 39. In particular, the cavity 38 is recessed between 1 and 2 mm, preferably between approximately 1.2 and 1.6 mm, with respect to the upper ends 53 of the two symmetrical inclined sections 52, while the second lower vertex 39 is recessed by at least 10 mm, preferably between about 12 and 16 mm, with respect to the upper ends 53 of the two symmetrical inclined sections 52. Preferably, the recessed depth of the second lower vertex 39 with respect to the upper ends 53 is at least ten times that of cavity 38.

Advantageously, the maximum distance 59 between the inner facing profiles 57 of the inclined sections 52 is less than the chord 61 that indicates the annular extension of the cavity 38 (cf. fig. 10). Preferably, the distance 59 between the facing inner profiles 57 of the inclined sections 52 corresponds to approximately half of said chord 61.

[0048] Conveniently, the first lower vertex 36 of the upper sleeve 34 has a lower contact surface 69 significantly smaller than the annular extension 61 of the cavity 38 to ensure stability of the condition in which the door 4 is kept open. . In accordance with the invention, the contact surface 69 of the first lower vertex 36 of the upper sleeve 34 is smaller than the annular extension of the horizontal central base 60 of the cavity 38.

Instead, the lower edge of the sleeve 22 is surrounded by an annular projection 40 that surrounds the axial cavity traversed by the cylindrical portion 32 of the pin 28 and is intended to fit inside the spring 24.

The lower sleeve element 22 is also surrounded by a pair of outer longitudinal ribs 42, which cooperate with grooved guides 44 obtained in the hinge body 16 and which serve to prevent the lower element 21 from rotating around its axis, at the same time that axial movements are allowed along the internal cavity of the body itself.

The spring 24, which is partially compressed between the lower sleeve element 22 of the hinge and the cover 26, resting on the bottom of the housing 16, has the function of compressing said lower sleeve element 22 against the sleeve 34 of the upper element 20 to keep the two cam-shaped profiles 35, 37 of the two elements adhered to each other.

The arrangement of the various parts is such that, when the door 4 of the cold room 6 is closed, the spring 24 is slightly preloaded, while the lower vertex 36 of the cam-shaped profile 35 of the hinge element The upper 20 is slightly offset from the lower mounting point 39 of the cam-shaped profile 37 of the lower hinge element 22 to force the door 4 to maintain its closed condition due to the preload of the spring 24.

[0053] The door opening maneuver results in a rotation of the door around the vertical axis that passes through the pin 28 of the hinge 2 and through a lower pin 46, which is integrated in the lower support sheet 8 'and occupies an axial hole made in the lower block 12.

During this opening movement, the upper element 20 of the hinge remains fixed with respect to the containment sheet 8 due to the square shape of the upper section 29 of its pin 28 and of the square hole 30 of the upper containment sheet 8, and cannot rotate with the door 4, while the lower hinge element 21 rotates with the door 4, due to the interaction of its longitudinal ribs 42 in the slotted guides 44 of the casing 16.

This rotation of the lower element 22 of the hinge 2 with respect to the upper element 20 induces an associated sliding movement of the two paired profiles 35, 37 in the form of a cam, with a consequent axial movement of the lower sleeve 21 of the hinge with respect to upper sleeve 34, and subsequent compression of spring 24.

During this rotational movement of the lower sleeve 21 with respect to the upper sleeve 34, the vertex 36 of the latter slides along the cam-shaped profile 37 of the first until, in a larger open position of 130 ° of the door 4, preferably of 165 °, said vertex 36 reaches the recess 38 of the upper edge of the sleeve 22 and also ensures that the open position of the door 4 remains stable.

[0057] The closing maneuver of the door 4 is carried out with a rotation of the same and the consequent separation of the vertex 36 with respect to the recess 38.

Once this separation has been made, and once the cam-shaped profiles 35, 37 begin to cooperate with each other, the elastic reaction of the spring 24 tends to automatically return the door 4 to the closed condition of the chamber. refrigerator 6.

In the light of the foregoing, it is evident that the hinge according to the invention is more advantageous than the traditional hinges that are applied to the doors of cold rooms, refrigerated cabinets, deep freezers, blast chillers and other isothermal containers, and in particular:

- guarantees that the door remains in the open condition, and rather automatically returns it to that condition even if it has been slightly displaced from said condition due to unavoidable stresses,

- allows the user to easily and quickly identify the condition in which the door is kept open,

- allows the user to easily return the door from the open condition to the closed condition without having to accompany it in a distance of at least 90 °,

- allows the door to remain stable in an open condition of at least 130 °, preferably 165 °, even if the isothermal container is not level,

- has a shape and volume similar to those of traditional hinges for any isothermal container and can be replaced without this implying any additional volume,

- guarantees a smooth and regular movement of the door both in the movement it makes to reach the closed condition and in the movement it makes to reach the open condition,

- The machining necessary to carry it out is simple, since each of the two elements of the hinge itself has a single cam-shaped profile.

Claims (15)

1. Hinge (2), particularly for doors (4) of any isothermal container (6), comprising a first hinge element (20) and a second hinge element (22), which are suitable to be integrated into the structure (6 ) of said isothermal container and said door (4), respectively, or vice versa, one of said two elements (22) being able to rotate and slide axially with respect to the other (20), and where: - said first hinge element (20) and said second hinge element (22) comprise two corresponding facing edges (31, 37) with respective cam-shaped profiles (35, 41) cooperating with each other to maintain said door (4 ) in closed condition and automatically bring it to said condition thanks to a spring (24) of the hinge that acts on said first (20) or second element (22) and that can be forced to compress by the opening movement of the door (4), - the cam-shaped profile (35) of said first element (20) comprises two first sections (50) inclined in the opposite direction, which are joined at a first lower vertex (36), - the cam-shaped profile (41) of said second element (22) comprises two second sections (52) inclined in the opposite direction, which are joined at a second lower vertex (39), said hinge (2) being characterized in that: - said second hinge element (22) has, in the connection section (54) of the upper ends (53) of said second inclined sections (52), in a diametrically opposite position with respect to said second lower vertex (39), a single cavity (38) that can be occupied by the first lower vertex (36) of said cam-shaped profile (35) of said first element (20) to hold / bring said door (4) to the open configuration, - said cavity (38) has a substantially horizontal central bottom (60) interposed between two oblique or curved sections, - the center of said cavity (38) is diametrically opposite to the center of said second lower vertex (39) of the cam-shaped profile (41) of said second element (22), - the bottom of said cavity (38) has an annular extension that is greater than the contact surface defined at the tip (69) of the first lower vertex (36) of the cam-shaped profile (35) of said first element (20 ). Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting section (54) of the upper ends (53) of said second inclined sections (52) is substantially flat and / or the upper ends (53) of said second inclined sections (52) are substantially flat. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom (60) of said cavity (38) is defined in the center of said connection section (54) that joins the upper ends (53) of said second inclined sections (52) and / or because the bottom (60) of said cavity (38) is located in the center between the upper ends (53) of said second inclined sections (52). Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cavity (38) is obtained at the edge (37) of said second element (22) to define the limit switch for the door opening movement ( 4). Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cavity (38) has an upper lateral extension (61) in the maximum distance (59) between the facing interior profiles (57) of said second inclined sections (52 ). Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second hinge element (22) has an upper edge (37) that cooperates with a corresponding lower edge (31) of said first element (20), said edge top (37) of said second hinge element (22) consists exclusively of: - said two second sections (52) inclined in the opposite direction that meet at a second lower vertex (39), - said section of connection (54) of the upper ends (53) of said second inclined sections (52) being substantially flat , Y - a single cavity (38) defined in said connecting section (54) in a position diametrically opposite to said second lower vertex (39). Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second inclined sections (52) of said second lower hinge element (22) are complementary to the first inclined sections (50) of said first upper hinge element ( twenty). Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a hinge housing (16) that is integrated into the door (4) and that: - said first hinge element (20) is housed in said casing (16) and is constrained in rotation to the structure (6) of said isothermal container, - said second hinge element (22) is housed in said casing (16), is integrated in rotation to said casing (16) and slides axially both with respect to it and with respect to said first element (20), - said spring (24) is housed in said casing (16). Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first hinge element (20) comprises an annular sleeve (34) intended to cooperate with a corresponding annular sleeve (21) of said second element (22) of the hinge, said two facing edges (31, 37) of said first (20) and second hinge element (22) being defined in the corresponding annular sleeves (34, 21) of said elements (20, 22). 10. Hinge according to claim 9, characterized in that said first hinge element (20) also comprises a pin (28) that is integrated in the structure (6) of said isothermal container and is provided with a cylindrical portion (32) intended to be inserted into an axial hole made in the sleeve (21) of the second hinge element (22). Hinge according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the facing edges (31,37) of said liner portions (34, 21) of said first element (20) and of said second hinge element (22) are made made of plastic material with improved sliding and wear resistance functions. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the assembled hinge and closed door (4) condition, said spring (24) is kept in a preloaded condition. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the assembled hinge and closed door condition, the first lower vertex (36) of the first element (20) is slightly offset with respect to the second lower vertex (39) in the form of a frame obtained in the second element (22), in order to induce the closing of the door (4) due to the effect of the preload of said spring (24). Hinge according to claim 8, characterized in that said second element (22) comprises at least one longitudinal outer rib (42) that cooperates with a corresponding grooved guide (44) obtained in the hinge housing (16) in order to avoiding the rotations of said second element (22) around its axis, while simultaneously allowing axial movements along the internal cavity of the casing itself. 15. Isothermal container, preferably a cold room, comprising a containment structure (6) and a door (4) that is hinged to said structure (6) by means of a hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims.