WO2009116700A1

WO2009116700A1 - Worm internal gear and hinge apparatus having automatically closed and stopped door using the worm internal gear

Info

Publication number: WO2009116700A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001852
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun Pi Kim
Original assignee: Hyun Pi Kim
Priority date: 2008-03-21
Filing date: 2008-04-02
Publication date: 2009-09-24
Also published as: KR101019780B1; KR20090100925A

Abstract

Disclosed is a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism. The hinge apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a screw axis placed in a housing and having a screw-shaped worm formed in the outside thereof; a screw supporting axis coupled to one end of the screw axis and supporting the screw axis; a cylindrical screw nut having an internal worm formed in the inside thereof and engaged with the worm of the screw axis, having a guide groove formed in the outside thereof, performing a rotary motion spirally up and down in a length direction of the housing on the screw axis, and disposed on the screw supporting axis after it completely passes through the screw axis; a guide allowing the screw nut to rotate together with the housing and allowing the screw nut to perform the rotary motion spirally up and down on the screw axis; an elastic member being in contact with the bottom surface of the screw nut, and compressed when the screw nut moves down and giving a restoring force to the screw nut when the screw nut is expanded; and a fixation member for sealing a lower part of the housing, supporting the screw supporting axis and fixing the elastic member.

Description

WORM INTERNAL GEAR AND HINGE APPARATUS HAVING

AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED AND STOPPED DOOR USING

THE WORM INTERNAL GEAR

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a door hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closing of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism, and more particularly to the internal worm gear mechanism formed with a worm gear consisted of a worm screw engaged on a fitting nut. Background Art

[2] In general, the hinge apparatus is an apparatus that couples two members to each other so that the two members can be unfolded or folded on the axis of rotation if necessary, and the hinge apparatus is used for a left/right rotation door such as a door and a doorframe; and for an up/down rotation door such as a refrigerator, a portable phone and a notebook computer, etc.

[3] Korean Publication Laid-open Patent No. 2001-0027832 discloses a conventional hinge apparatus having an automatic closure function, which is highly prone to rapid deterioration of durability of the hinge knuckle that mainly provides for the rotary motion of the hinge from a prolonged use under a heavy load. The folding/unfolding of the conventional hinge apparatus is performed by the moving of the switch head, which is guided by the guide pin fixed in the hinge knuckle, so the hinge knuckle undergoes a large load. In addition, the composition of the hinge knuckle is complex and its productivity is low. And the use of the conventional hinge apparatus is inconvenient since the means for temporarily fixing the hinge apparatus is not installed to prevent the door from closing.

[4] Also, Korean Publication Laid-open Patent No. 2005-0055434 discloses a multipurpose hinge apparatus provides for an automatic closure function of opened entrance doors. According to the multipurpose hinge apparatus, one end of a cam shaft in the hinge apparatus is fixed at a doorframe and the other end of the cam shaft is fixed at a door, and the multipurpose hinge apparatus is operated in a manner that the cam shaft rotates together with the door. However, the cam shaft is highly prone to damage from prolonged use under a heavy load applied by the weight of the door the hinge is attached to. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [5] Accordingly, the present invention is designed to solve such drawbacks of the prior art, and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge apparatus having automatic closing and stopping functions, which operates with a screw axis having a worm formed in a screw shape and a screw nut having an internal worm formed to be engaged with the screw axis, thereby preventing the heavy load from being applied to only a specific part of the hinge apparatus to enhance the durability and adjusting the length of the screw axis to freely adjust the position where a door stops.

[6] The above objects of the present invention are not intended to limit the scopes and spirits of the present invention, and it is understood that the other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. Technical Solution

[7] One embodiment of the present invention is achieved by providing a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism, the hinge apparatus including a screw axis placed in a housing and having a screw-shaped worm formed in the outside thereof; a screw supporting axis coupled to one end of the screw axis and supporting the screw axis; a cylindrical screw nut having an internal worm formed in the inside thereof and engaged with the worm of the screw axis, having a guide groove formed in the outside thereof, performing a rotary motion spirally up and down in a length direction of the housing on the screw axis, and disposed on the screw supporting axis after it completely passes through the screw axis; a guide allowing the screw nut to rotate together with the housing and allowing the screw nut to perform the rotary motion spirally up and down on the screw axis; an elastic member being in contact with the bottom surface of the screw nut, and compressed when the screw nut moves down and giving a restoring force to the screw nut when the screw nut is expanded; and a fixation member for sealing a lower part of the housing, supporting the screw supporting axis and fixing the elastic member.

Advantageous Effects

[8] As described above, the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear, according to the present invention, can be useful to significantly enhance durability of the hinge apparatus by preventing a heavy load of the attached door from being applied to only a specific part of the hinge apparatus, and respectively determine temporary locking at a specific opening angle of the rotating door, which can be freely adjusted by adjusting the length of the screw axis. Brief Description of Drawings

[9] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: [10] FIG. 1 is a a cross-sectional view showing a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction. [11] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an installation configuration of the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [12] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a screw nut according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [13] FIG. 4 is a plane view showing a screw nut according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [14] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a screw nut according to the first embodiment of the present invention when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction. [15] FIGs. 6 to 8 are schematic views showing an operation of the screw nut and an elastic member in the hinge apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [16] FIGs. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing an operation of the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [17] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction. [18] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the third embodiment of the present invention when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction. [19] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing an installation configuration of the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[20] Hereinafter, the preferable embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, when one element is connected to another element, one element may not be only directly connected to another element but also indirectly connected to another element via another element. Further, irrelative elements are omitted for clarity. Also, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[21] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an installation configuration of the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[22] As shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, a housing 100 has upper/lower openings to receive internal components, and its interior is hollow. The housing 100 is formed to receive internal components and to support the side of a screw nut 120 which will be described later. The housing 100 may be formed into a cylindrical or polygonal cylindrical shape. The housing 100 is made of plastic, a metal material or the like.

[23] A coupling member such as a supporting hinge plate (not shown) may be formed at one side of the housing 100. Accordingly, the housing 100 is fixed to a movable member such as a door, and revolves when the movable member revolves.

[24] A screw axis 110 is placed inside the housing 100 and the screw axis 110 has a worm having an unevenness formed into a screw shape by cutting the outside of the screw axis 100. One end of the screw axis 110 is coupled to an upper bearing 140, and the other end of the screw axis 110 is coupled to a screw supporting axis 150.

[25] In general, a pair of a worm and a worm wheel is referred to as an internal worm gear, wherein the worm has one or several helices and the worm wheel has a central groove which is a concave shape and fittingly engaged with the worm. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the inside of a screw nut 120 is formed into helices and the screw nut 120 provided with the internal worm gear is used as the worm. The screw nut 120 will be described in detail, as follows.

[26] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a screw nut according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are a plane view showing a screw nut, and a cross-sectional view showing a screw nut when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction, respectively.

[27] The screw nut 120 is formed into a cylindrical shape, and an internal worm 121 is formed inside the screw nut 120 using a molding method. The shape of the screw nut 120 is not limited to the cylindrical shape but may be formed into the same shape as that of the inside of the housing 100 to receive the screw nut 120.

[28] The internal worm 121 is formed to rotate left/right at an angle of 1 to 30 degrees when the screw nut 120 moves up/down by lmm on the screw axis 110.

[29] Although a worm is also formed inside a conventional nut used for general purposes, the nut is formed to rotate left/right at a large angle upon moving up/down on a bolt. The nut rotates left/right at a large angle upon moving up/down on the bolt, and hence, the nut functions to simply support the bolt. A distance where the nut moves on the bolt is very small.

[30] However, the screw nut 120 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is formed to rotate at a small angle upon moving up/down, and moves up/ down on the screw axis 110 while rotating. It is very difficult to form an internal worm inside the screw nut 120 exactly in an intended shape using a cutting method and the like, and hence, equally difficult to manufacture the screw nut 120 movable up/down in mass production. However, the internal worm according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be easily manufactured through a molding method, which produces a metallic product by pouring a melted metal in a cast.

[31] The internal worm 121 inside the screw nut 120 is formed to be engaged with a screw-shaped unevenness formed outside the screw axis 110, so that the screw nut 120 may move from one end to the other end of the screw axis 110 along the unevenness of the screw axis 110.

[32] Also, a guide is formed so that the screw nut 120 rotates inside the housing 100 in an exact path. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, spherical balls 130 made of a metal material are placed between the housing 100 and the screw nut 120. Housing-side grooves 101 are formed in the inner side of the housing 100 to fix the balls 130, and screw-nut-side groove 122 is formed in the outer side of the screw nut 120. The balls 130 are received between the grooves 101 and 122. One surface of the ball 130 is in contact with the housing-side groove 101 and the other surface of the ball 130 is in contact with the screw-nut-side groove 122. The guide will be described in detail, as follows.

[33] The guide fastens the screw nut 120 to the housing 100, so that the housing 100 and the screw nut 120 simultaneously rotate left/right, and the screw nut 120 smoothly moves up/down inside the housing 100.

[34] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the grooves 101 and 122 and one or more balls the guide 130 are provided. The balls 130 are received in the housing-side groove 101 formed in the inner side of the housing 100 and the screw-nut-side groove 122 formed in the outer side of the screw nut 120. [35] The housing-side groove 101 is formed in the inner side of the housing 100 in the length direction of the housing 100, and preferably formed in a range from the inner side of the housing 100 corresponding to an upper portion of the screw axis 110 to the inner side of the housing 100 corresponding to a lower portion of the screw axis 110. For convenience of production, the housing-side groove 101 may be formed in a range wider than the aforementioned range.

[36] The screw-nut-side groove 122 is vertically formed on the outer surface of the screw nut 120, and both ends of the screw-nut-side groove 122 are not respectively connected to the top and bottom surfaces of the screw nut 120 so that the balls 130 can be received between the grooves 101 and 122.

[37] Consequently, the housing 100 and the screw nut 120 are fixed to each other, so that when the housing 100 rotates in a left/right direction, the screw nut 120 simultaneously rotates in the same direction as that of the housing 100.

[38] The screw nut 120 smoothly moves up/down, and hence, the screw nut 120 moves up/down along the screw axis 110 upon rotating left/right.

[39] The upper bearing 140 is disposed in the upper opening of the housing 100 and coupled to an end of the screw axis 110 disposed on the upper part of the housing 100. The upper bearing 140 helps the housing 100 to rotate round the screw axis 110 and the screw supporting axis 150, and also prevents components from being separating by sealing the upper opening of the housing 100.

[40] The screw supporting axis 150 supports the screw axis 110. One end of the screw supporting axis 150 is coupled to the screw axis 100 and the other end of the screw suppoting axis 150 is coupled to the lower bearing and the sealing member 180. An elastic member 160 is formed around the screw supporting axis 150. The elastic member 16 is supported upright without a lean by the screw supporting axis 150.

[41] The screw nut 120 is moving downward on the screw axis 110 while a door coupled to the housing 100 is being opened. When the door is completely opened, the screw nut 120 is placed on the screw supporting axis 150 after completely passing through the screw axis 100.

[42] The screw nut 120 does not move up and down any more since there is no worm in the screw supporting axis 150, so that the housing 100 does not rotate any more and the completely opened door is locked and stopped at a specific opening angle.

[43] The elastic member 160 is made of materials having elasticity such as a spring, and one end of the elastic member 160 is in contact with the screw nut 120 and the other end of the elastic member 160 is in contact with the lower bearing 170.

[44] When a user opens a door, the housing 100 rotates by a rotary motion of the door, and the screw nut 120 fastened to the housing 100 by the guide rotates in the same direction as that of the housing 100 along the screw axis 110. [45] At this time, the screw nut 120 moves down with rotary motion, and accordingly, the elastic member 120 disposed in a lower surface of the screw nut 120 is compressed. This rotary and downward motion of the screw nut 120 continues until the screw nut 120 reaches the end of the screw axis 100 while the door is opening. When the screw nut 120 continuously moves down, the screw nut 120 is placed on the screw supporting axis 150 after completely passing through the screw axis 110. At this time, the internal worm 121 is not placed on the screw supporting axis 150, and hence, the screw nut 120 does not move down any more.

[46] As described above, when the screw nut 120 is placed on the screw supporting axis

150 after completely passing through the screw axis 110, the screw nut 120 does not perform a rotary motion any more and the housing 100 does not also perform a rotary motion any more. As a result, the door coupled to the housing 100 is stopped and locked at a specific opening angle without any further rotary motion.

[47] At this time, if a user lightly pushes a door toward the direction the door is closing, an upper part of the screw nut 120 enters into the screw axis 110, and the screw nut 120 moves spirally up along the screw axis by a restoring force of the elastic member 160. This means that the housing 100 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotating direction when the door is opened. Consequently, the door coupled to the housing 100 is closed automatically.

[48] This operation of the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[49] The lower bearing 170 is disposed in the lower opening of the housing 100 and placed in the end of the screw supporting axis 150. The lower bearing 170 is in contact with the elastic member 160 to support the elastic member 160 and to facilitate the housing 100 to easily rotate round the screw axis 110 and the screw supporting axis 150.

[50] The fixation member 180 is disposed in the lower opening of the housing 100, and coupled to the end of the screw supporting axis 150. The fixation member 180 functions to fix screw supporting axis 150, the elastic member 160 and the lower bearing 170. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the screw supporting axis 150, the elastic member 160 and the lower bearing 170 are fixed by using a bolt as the fixation member 180 at the lower opening of the housing 100.

[51] In addition, a fixation member (not shown) may be further provided at an upper portion of the screw axis 110 or at a lower portion of the screw supporting axis 150. The fixation member functions to fix the hinge apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention to a predetermined supporting member such as a door frame. [52] FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic views showing an operation of the screw nut and an elastic member in the hinge apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[53] FIG. 6 shows a screw axis 110, a screw nut 120, a screw supporting axis 150 and an elastic member 160 when a door is closed.

[54] When a user opens a door, the housing 100 rotates together with the door since the door and the housing 100 are coupled to each other by means of a fixing hinge plate. If the housing 100 rotates, the housing 100 and the screw nut 120 receive a turning force because the screw nut 120 is coupled to the the housing 100 by the guide. Consequently, the housing 100 and the screw nut 120 simultaneously rotate, and the screw nut 120 moves down along the screw axis 110 inside the housing 100 because the screw nut 120 can move up/down inside the housing 100.

[55] As described above, the screw nut 120 has an internal worm 121 formed therein to be engaged with the worm which is formed on the outside of the screw axis 110. When a turning force is subject to the screw nut 120, the screw nut 120 moves down until it completely passes through the screw axis 110. At this time, the elastic member 160 supported by the lower bearing 170 is compressed by the rotary motion of the screw nut 120.

[56] In the first embodiment of the present invention, a spring is used as the elastic member 160. The spring is compressed to a certain degree and inserted into the hinge apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Consequently, when a door is opened, a force stronger than a restoring force caused by elasticity of the spring is applied to the screw nut 120.

[57] FIG. 7 shows a screw axis 110, a screw nut 120, a screw supporting axis 150 and an elastic member 160 when a door is completely opened.

[58] If the door is completely opened, the screw nut 120 is placed on the screw supporting axis 150 after completely passing through the screw axis 110, as shown in FIG. 7. At this time, the screw nut 120 does not move up and down any more since a worm engaged with the internal worm 121 of the screw nut 120 is not formed in the screw supporting axis 150. The elastic member 160 is most compressed in the hinge apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention since the screw nut 120 moves to the lowest position in this case.

[59] At this time, the screw nut 120 does not rotate any more, and the housing 100 does not rotate. Accordingly, the door coupled to the housing 100 is stopped without further rotation.

[60] FIG. 8 shows a screw axis 110, a screw nut 120, a screw supporting axis 150 and an elastic member 160 when the door returns automatically to a closed position.

[61] When the door is stopped as shown in FIG. 7, if a user lightly pushes a door toward the direction the door is closing, the upper part of the screw nut 120 returns to the screw axis 110 since a turning force is delivered to the screw nut 120 via the housing 100.

[62] At this time, the elastic member 160, which is compressed, starts to return to the original position, and the screw nut 120 continues to move up with a rotary motion due to the restoring force of the elastic member 160. The screw nut 120 is fixed together with the housing 100 by the guide 130, so that the housing 100 rotates together as the screw nut 120 rotates, and the housing 100 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotating direction when the door is opened. As described above, the housing 100 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotating direction when the door is opened as the screw nut 120 moves up with a rotary motion by the restoring force of the elastic member 160. As a result, the door is closed automatically.

[63] FIGs. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing an operation of the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[64] FIGs. 9 and 10 show a supporting member 500 such as a wall, a refrigerator body and a notebook computer body; a supporting hinge plate 510 for coupling a hinge apparatus 540 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the supporting member 500; a movable member 520 such as a door, a refrigerator door and an upper door of a notebook computer; and a moving hinge plate 530 for coupling the movable member 520 with the hinge apparatus 540 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[65] If a user pushes the movable member 520 to open a switchgear that is closed as shown in FIG. 9, the switchgear is opened. If the switchgear is completely opened, the movable member 520 is stopped, maintaining an open angleαwith the supporting member 500.

[66] Here, the open angleαrefers to an angle in which the movable member 520 rotates together with the housing 100 until the screw nut 120 is placed on the screw supporting axis 150 after the spiral rotary motion of the screw nut 120 moving down on the screw axis 110 is completed in the hinge apparatus 540.

[67] The open angleαis further increased as the screw axis 110 becomes longer, whereas the open angleαis further decreased as the screw axis 110 becomes shorter.

[68] When the hinge apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied to a respective switchgear, the open angleαbetween the supporting member 500 and the movable member 520 may be altere with the suitable angle range for a specific application by adjusting the length of the screw axis 110.

[69] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction.

[70] As shown in FIG. 11, the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 100, a screw axis 110, a screw nut 120, a guide 130, an upper bearing 140, a screw supporting axis 150, an elastic member 160, a lower bearing 170 and a fixation member 180. These components are identical to those as described in the first embodiment, and therefore descriptions of the components are omitted for clarity.

[71] However, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a fluid such as oil is filled inside the housing 100, and channel 102 through which the fluid flows is formed in the housing 100. Here, the channel 101 has at least two openings. The first opening 103 of the channel 102 is disposed in a first region of the housing 100 between an upper opening of the housing 100 and the screw nut 120, and the second opening 104 of the channel 102 is disposed in a second region of the housing 100 between the screw nut 120 and the fixation member 180.

[72] If a user opens a door, the housing 100 rotates and the screw nut 120 fixed to the housing by the guide 130 moves spirally down with a rotary motion. At this time, if the housing 100 is filled with the fluid such as oil, a descending speed of the screw nut 120 decreases because the screw nut 120 must overcome a resistance caused by the fluid filled in the housing 100. Therefore, a switchgear of the door is prevented from being opened at a high speed.

[73] In this case, while the screw nut 120 moves down, the fluid between the screw nut

120 and the lower bearing 170 flows into the channel 102 through the second opening 104 of the channel 102 and then the fluid in the channel 102 flows into the housing 100 through the first opening 103 of the channel 102.

[74] If a user lightly pushes the door, which is completely opened and then stopped and locked at a certain opening angle, in the direction the door is closing, the switchgear of the door is closed automatically by the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[75] At this time, the housing 100 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotating direction where the door is opened, and therefore the housing 100 rotates in the same direction as the switchgear of the door, and the screw nut 120 fixed to the housing 100 by the guide 130 moves spirally up due to the restoring force of the elastic member 160.

[76] A resistance is generated by the fluid between the screw nut 120 and the upper bearing 140 while the screw nut 120 moves up. Here, an ascending speed of the screw nut 120 decreases because the screw nut 120 must overcome the resistance caused by the fluid filled in the housing 100. Therefore, the door switchgear is closed smoothly.

[77] In this case, while the screw nut 120 moves up, the fluid between the screw nut 120 and the upper bearing 140 flows into the channel 101 through the first opening 102 of the channel 101 and then the fluid in the channel 101 flows into the housing 100 through the second opening 103 of the channel 101.

[78] Also, the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises an upper sealing member 190 and a lower sealing member 191. The upper sealing member 190 is disposed on the upper part of the upper bearing 140, and hermetically seals the upper opening of the housing 100 to prevent the fluid such as oil inside the housing 100 from leaking out.

[79] The lower sealing member 191 is disposed on a lower part of the fixation member

180, and hermetically seals the lower opening of the housing 100 to prevent a fluid such as oil inside the housing 100 from leaking out.

[80] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the third embodiment of the present invention when it is viewed from a longitudinal direction. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing an installation configuration of the hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[81] In the hinge apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, most components are identical to those in the hinge apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and therefore, differences between the first and third embodiments will be described herebelow.

[82] According to the third embodiment of the present invention, a screw nut 123 is formed in a square pillar shape. The function of the screw nut 123 is identical to that of the screw nut in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[83] In the first embodiment of the present invention, a guide is formed so that the cylindrical screw nut 120 does not rotate left/right, the grooves 101 and 122 respectively formed in the inner and outer sides of the housing 100 and the screw nut 120 and the balls 130 received between the grooves 101 and 122 serve as a guide.

[84] However, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the inside of a housing

105 is formed in a square pillar shape having a hollow interior like the shape of the screw nut 123, so that the screw nut 123 cannot rotate left/right. The shape of the inside of the housing 105 is identical to that of the screw nut 123, and hence, the screw nut 123 smoothly moves up/down inside the housing 105. Accordingly, a guide is not provided in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[85] In the hinge apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, an internal worm 121 is also formed inside the screw nut 123, and a screw axis 110, a screw supporting axis 150 and an elastic member 160 are provided inside the housing 105 like in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[86] However, the inside of the housing is formed in the square pillar shape, and hence, an upper bearing 141, a lower bearing 171 and a fixation member 181, which seals the housing 105, may also be formed in a square pillar shape. The shapes of the upper bearing 141, the lower bearing 171 and the fixation member 181 are not limited thereto but may be formed in a cylindrical shape or the like as long as they function to seal the housing 105 and support its internal components.

[87] In the third embodiment of the present invention, the screw nut 123 is formed in the square pillar shape, which is not limited thereto but may be formed in a variety of polygonal pillar shapes.

[88] When the screw nut 123 is formed in a polygonal pillar shape, the inside of the housing 105 is also formed in the same shape as that of the screw nut 123. Accordingly, the technical spirit of the present invention can be implemented.

[89] The description proposed herein is simply a preferred example of recommended use for the purpose of illustrations only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention might not be defined within the scope of which is described in detailed description but within the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[90] According to the present invention, the hinge apparatus having automatic closing and stopping functions is capable of preventing the heavy load from being applied to only a specific part of the hinge apparatus to enhance the durability and adjusting the length of the screw axis to freely adjust the position where a door stops.

Claims

[1] A hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism, comprising: a screw axis placed in a housing and having a screw-shaped worm formed in the outside thereof; a screw supporting axis coupled to one end of the screw axis and supporting the screw axis; a cylindrical screw nut having an internal worm formed in the inside thereof and engaged with the worm of the screw axis, performing a rotary motion spirally up and down in a length direction of the housing on the screw axis, and disposed on the screw supporting axis after it completely passes through the screw axis; a guide allowing the screw nut to rotate together with the housing and allowing the screw nut to perform the rotary motion spirally up and down on the screw axis; an elastic member being in contact with the bottom surface of the screw nut, and compressed when the screw nut moves down and giving a restoring force to the screw nut when the screw nut is expanded; and a fixation member for sealing a lower part of the housing, supporting the screw supporting axis and fixing the elastic member.

[2] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide comprises: one or more housing-side grooves formed in the length direction of the housing inside the housing; one or more screw-nut-side grooves formed in the inner side of the housing in the direction corresponding to the housing-side grooves; and one or more balls received between the housing-side groove and the screw- nut- side groove.

[3] A hinge apparatus that provides for locking and automatic closure of an opened entrance door using an internal worm gear mechanism, comprising: a housing formed in a polygonal pillar shape having a hollow interior; a screw axis placed in a housing and having a screw-shaped worm formed in the outside thereof; a screw supporting axis coupled to one end of the screw axis and supporting the screw axis; a screw nut formed in the polygonal pillar shape identical to that of the housing, having an internal worm formed in the inside thereof and engaged with the worm of the screw axis, performing a rotary motion spirally up and down together with the housing in a length direction of the housing on the screw axis, and disposed on the screw supporting axis after it completely passes through the screw axis; an elastic member being in contact with the bottom surface of the screw nut, and compressed when the screw nut moves down and giving a restoring force to the screw nut when the screw nut is expanded; and a fixation member for sealing a lower part of the housing, supporting the screw supporting axis and fixing the elastic member. [4] The apparatus of claim 1 or 3, further comprising an upper bearing coupled to one end of the screw supporting axis, sealing an upper portion of the housing, and supporting rotation of the housing. [5] The apparatus of claim 1 or 3, further comprising a lower bearing coupled to the other end of the screw supporting axis, supporting the elastic member, and supporting rotation of the housing. [6] The apparatus of claim 1 or 3, wherein the elastic member is a spring having a restoring force when it is compressed, and formed of metal materials. [7] The apparatus of claim 1 or 3, wherein the fixation member is a bolt coupled to a lower part of the housing. [8] The apparatus of claim 1 or 3, further comprising a channel formed inside the housing and formed with a pipe through which a fluid filled in the housing moves. [9] The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the channel has at least one opening in a first region disposed between an upper opening part of the housing and the screw nut and at least one opening in a second region disposed between the screw nut and the fixation member. [10] The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an upper sealing member placed in an upper surface of the upper bearing and sealing an upper part of the housing to prevent leakage of the fluid. [11] The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a lower sealing member placed in a lower surface of the fixation member and sealing a lower part of the housing to prevent leakage of the fluid. [12] An internal gear, comprising: a screw axis having a screw-shaped worm formed in the outside thereof; and a screw nut rotating left/right at an angle of 1 to 30 degrees when moving up/ down by 1mm on the screw axis, and having an internal worm formed in the inside thereof and engaged with the worm of the screw axis.