GB2129867A - Improvements in hinges incorporating hold-open devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge of the swan-neck type incorporates a torsion bar hold-open device. The torsion bar (20) is of C- shape and is mounted in the fixed hinge leaf (1) such that it straddles the space through which the arcuate portion (14) of the swan-neck shaped leaf (2) moves during opening and closing of the hinge about a pivot pin 3. The torsion bar has a main limb (26) extending parallel to the hinge pin (3) and which is closely spaced from the convex surface of the arcuate portion in the closed condition of the hinge, a limb 21 secured in a lug (23) and a further limb (24) engageable by a serrated roller (31) carried by the swan-neck leaf. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in hinges incorporating holdopen devices This invention relates to improvements in hinges which incorporate hold-open devices particularly, but not exclusively, vehicle door hinges.

The invention is concerned with the arrangement of a hold-open device in a hinge of the 'swan-neck type' in which a first hinge leaf is adapted to be mounted on a support behind an aperture in the support, and a second hinge leaf comprises a substantially swan-neck shaped portion, as viewed in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of a hinge pin, connecting the leaves, the swan-neck portion being adapted to extend through the aperture from the hinge pin to connect with a hinged member. The swan-neck potion comprises a curved part having its centre or axis of curvature substantially coincident with that of the hinge pin connecting the hinge leaves, thereby enabling an aperture of minimum size to be employed. Such a hinge will hereinafter be referred to as a 'hinge of the kind set forth'.

Hinges of the kind set forth are commonly used on the doors of heavy vehicles, the first leaf being mounted within the cavity of the door frame, and the protruding part of the second leaf being secured to the vehicle door.

In some types of hinge, but not in hinges of the swan-neck type, it has for some time been common practice to incorporate a metal torsion bar carried by one hinge leaf which can resiliently interact in a snap over manner with one or more fixed or movable projections on the other hinge leaf at the point or points at which the hinge, and consequently the door, is to remain open, the hinge leaves otherwise having free relative pivotal movement.

Hold-open devices for the swan-neck type of hinge have previously included pairs of coil springs or spring metal clips cooperating with the top and bottom of the swan-neck portion, or a hold-open device has been arranged entirely separate from the hinge leaves. It is believed that torsion bar arrangements have not previously been used in swan-neck hinges because such hinges are intended for use in small spaces, concealed in the vehicle body, into which known torsion bar arrangements could not be fitted.

According to the invention in a hinge of the kind set forth the hold-open device comprises a torsion bar mounted on the first leaf and a striker carried by the second leaf to cooperate with the torsion bar, the striker remaining out of contact with the torsion bar throughout a substantial part of the relative pivotal movement of the body leaf and the door leaf but coming into engagement with the torsion har durirg çhe remainder of the relative hinged movement in a manner such that the torsion bar is deflected against it own torsional resistance and provides a resilient check or hold open position in the relative hinged movement, the torsion bar comprises a substantially L-shaped portion, and is arranged to straddle the space through which said curved part of the door leaf moves during relative pivotal movement of the leaf members.

One limb of the L preferably extends substantially parallel to the hinge pin axis, with the other limb arranged for engagement by the striker.

Preferably the torsion bar comprises a further limb extending normally to that limb of the L from which the further limb depends.

In a particularly preferred arrangement the further limbs lies substantially in the same plane as the limbs of the L and is directed such that the torsion bar is of substantially C-shape.

The use of this particular configuration of torsion bar enables the torsion bar method of holding doors open to be adopted in swan-neck hinges without significantly increasing the size of the hinge.

Preferably the second leaf is of strap form, the main limb of the torsion bar extends substantially parallel to the hinge pin axis and is closely spaced from said curved part of the second leaf in the closed condition of the hinge.

Preferably said main limb is positioned adjacent to the convex surface of said curved part.

The striker is then preferably located adjacent to the junction between the curved part of the second leaf and a further portion of that leaf that extends substantially radially from the hinge pin axis.

The striker preferably comprises a serrated roller.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an underneath plan view of a hinge for vehicle doors in accordance with the present invention and shown in the closed condition; Figure 2 is a side view of the hinge shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of a second hinge for vehicle doors in accordance with the present invention and shown in the fuliy open condition; and Figure 4 is a side view of the hinge shown in Figure 3.

Figures 1 and 2 show a swan-neck hinge (in the closed position) for a vehicle door in which a first or body leaf 1 of the hinge is pivotally connected to a second or door leaf 2 by means of a pin 3 which passes through a cylindrical bore 4 at the inner end of the door leaf 2 and apertures 5 in side flanges 6 of the body leaf 1, the head 7 of the pin being tack-welded to the body leaf side flange 6.

The body leaf 1 is formed from bent sheet metal, and further comprises a rear web 8 and a stop web 9 joined at its centre by welding. The door leaf 1 is a forged strap of substantially swan-neck shape in plar.

The body leaf 1 is provided with two fixing lugs 10, each extending from a respective side flange 6, each having a bolt hole 11 by means of which the body leaf 1 can be attached to the vehicle body. The body leaf 1 is additionally attached to the vehicle body by means of two bolt holes 12 in the rear web 8 of the body leaf 1. The door leaf 2 is provided with three drilled bolt holes 1 3 to facilitate fixing to the vehicle door. The door leaf 2 is of the swan-neck type, incorporating a partcircularly curved portion 14 having its centre of curvature concentric with the pivot axis of the pin.

In use the curved portion 14 of the door leaf 2 extends through an aperture (not shown) in the vehicle body which, because of the consistently arcuate path of the part circular curved portion 14 during pivoting movement of the door leaf 2, need only be small.

The hold-open device for the vehicle hinge comprises a generally C-shaped torsion bar 20 made of steel which is mounted at a first end portion 21 in a cylindrical bore 22 of a lug 23 welded to the side flange of the body leaf 1, and at a second inwardly bent end portion 24 in a slot 25 in the opposed side flange 6 of the body leaf 1. A central straight portion 26 of the torsion bar 20, the main portion of the bar passes through a further slot 27 near one edge of the side flange 6.

Slot 27 is provided to assist in assembling the torsion bar to the body leaf. Deformation of the torsion bar 20 is required to mount it thereby ensuring preloading of the torsion bar 20 during assembly of the hinge. Central portion 26 of the torsion bar extends parallel to the hinge pin and is closely spaced from the radially outer surface of curved portion 14 in the closed position of the leaves so as to occupy a minimum amount of space.

A shouldered pin 30 is mounted in the door leaf 2 and carries an indented roller 31 and a wavy spring-washer 32. The shouldered pin 30 is mounted at such radial distance from the pivot pin 3 to enable the operation of the hold-open device as described below, this position being adjacent to the junction between curved portion 14 and a radial end portion 14' of the leaf.

At a degree of opening of the hinge just less than that at which it is necessary for the vehicle door to be held open, the roller 31 is arranged to be carried into engagement with the inwardly turned end portion 24 of the torsion bar 20, the torsion bar 20 being guided into one of the recesses of the roller 31. Further opening of the vehicle door and thus the hinge results in a resilient deflection of the end 24 of the torsion bar by the roller 31 and the roller 31 turns through the appropriate angle to a position in which the end 24 of the torsion bar resiliently engages the roller 31 thereby urging the door leaf 2 into engagement with the stop web 9. To close the hinge from this position requires sufficient force to turn the roller 31 against the resilience of the torsion bar until the roller 31 has turned sufficiently for the torsion bar to be no longer deflected in slot 25.

The torsion bar 20 is arranged relative to the hinge leaves 1,2 in such a way as to embrace the space occupied by the part circularly curved portion 14 of the door leaf 2 during its pivotal movement. In this way, the use of a torsion bar is permitted in conjunction with a swan-neck hinge because in this arrangement the torsion bar 20 occupies a sufficiently small space to allow it to be incorporated in a hinge which is intended for installation in a small cavity in the vehicle body.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 and 4 is a hinge intended for incorporation in a lighter type of vehicle than that of Figures 1 and 2, and the body leaf 1 is correspondingly smaller than that shown in Figures 1 and 2. These are differences in construction which are detailed below, but corresponding parts are indexed accordingly. This hinge is shown in the held-open position.

In this embodiment, the body leaf 1 is attached to the vehicle body by means of the bolt holes 11 in the fixing flanges 10 and in addition by means of two threaded studs 12' welded into the rear web 8 and protruding therefrom. The door leaf 2 is attached to the door by means of bolt holes 13 drilled in two forged ridges 13' of the door leaf.

In this embodiment the torsion bar 20 passes through an open ended slot 27' extending from the side flanges 6 of the body leaf 1 and is anchored at its first end portion 21 by virtue of tension applied during assembly. The torsion bar is retained at its extremity 21 by a lug 23' welded to the inner face of the side flange 6 and passes over a second lug 29 having an indentation corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the torsion bar, this second lug 29 acting as a fulcrum.

Operation of the hold-open system is identical to that described above.

In a further modification, not illustrated, the limb 21 of the bar is arranged to extend at 90 to that shown in Figure 1, but still in a plane normal to the hinge pin axis. Alternatively the limb 21 might be dispensed with, the free end of the main limb of the torsion bar being clamped against turning, so that the torsion bar would then be of simple L-shape.

Claims (10)

1. A hinge of the kind set forth in which the hold-open device comprises a torsion bar mounted on the first leaf and a striker carried by the second leaf to cooperate with the torsion bar, the striker remaining out of contact with the torsion bar throughout a substantial part of the relative pivotal movement of the body leaf and the door leaf but coming into engagement with the torsion bar during the remainder of the relative hinged movement in a manner such that the torsion bar is deflected against its own torsional resistance and provides a resilient check or holdopen position in the relative hinged movement, the torsion bar comprising a substantially L-shaped portion arranged to straddle the space through which said curved part of the door leaf moves during relative pivotal movement of the leaf members.

2. A hinge as claimed in claim 1 in which one limb of the L extends substantially parallel to the hinge pin axis, with the other limb arranged for engagement by the striker.

3. A hinge as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the torsion bar comprises a further limb extending normally to that limb of the L from which the further limb depends.

4. A hinge as claimed in claim 3 in which the further limb lies substantially in the same plane as the limbs of the L and is directed such that the torsion bar is of substantially C-shape.

5. A hinge as claimed in claim 2, or in claim 3 or claim 4 each as appended to claim 2, in which the second leaf is of strap form, and said one limb of the torsion bar is closely spaced from said curved part of the second leaf in the closed condition of the hinge.

6. A hinge as claimed in claim 5 in which said one limb is positioned adjacent to the convex surface of said curved part.

7. A hinge as claimed in claim 6 in which the striker is located adjacent to the junction between the curved part of the second leaf and a further portion of that leaf that extends substantially radially from the hinge pin axis.

8. A hinge as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the striker comprises a serrated roller.

9. A hinge substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A hinge substantially as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.