AUTOMOBILE HINGE

Abstract

An automobile hinge includes a first hinge half attachable to one of a door and a door pillar, with a first hinge bore, a second hinge half attachable to the other of the door and the door pillar, with a second hinge bore, and a hinge pin having an axis of rotation. The hinge pin comprises a first pin portion which can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner in the first hinge bore of the first hinge half. The hinge pin comprises a second pin portion which is pivotally received in the second hinge bore of the second hinge half. The second pin portion comprises an external thread at least in sections. The second hinge bore of the second hinge half comprises an internal thread at least in sections. The second pin portion can be screwed into the second hinge bore of the second hinge half. An automobile hinge in which the pivotable connection of hinge pin and hinge half is possible without a bearing bush is realized in that the internal thread and the external thread form a direct pivotal connection of the hinge pin and the second hinge half.

Claims

1. An automobile hinge, comprising a first hinge half attachable to one of a door and a door pillar, the first hinge half comprising a first hinge bore, a second hinge half attachable to the other of the door and the door pillar, the second hinge half comprising a second hinge bore, and a hinge pin having an axis of rotation, wherein the hinge pin comprises a first pin portion which can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner in the first hinge bore of the first hinge half, wherein the hinge pin comprises a second pin portion which is pivotally received in the second hinge bore of the second hinge half, wherein the second pin portion comprises an external thread at least in sections, wherein the second hinge bore of the second hinge half comprises an internal thread at least in sections, wherein the second pin portion can be screwed into the second hinge bore of the second hinge half, and wherein the internal thread of the second hinge bore and the external thread of the second pin portion form a direct pivotal connection of the hinge pin and the second hinge half.

2. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the internal thread and the external thread are formed as fine threads with a small pitch.

3. The automobile hinge according to claim 2, wherein the fine threads have a pitch of less than a quarter of a conventional metric thread.

4. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the second hinge bore of the second hinge half comprises a receiving area for a lubricant.

5. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the second hinge bore is designed as a blind bore in the second hinge half.

6. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the external thread comprises between three and thirty complete turns, preferably wherein the external thread comprises between five and twenty-five complete turns, particularly preferably wherein the external thread comprises between ten and twenty complete turns, and most preferably wherein the external thread comprises between fourteen and sixteen complete turns.

7. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the external thread comprises a maximum of three, preferably a maximum of two, and most preferably a single thread start(s).

8. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein a sealing arrangement is provided to secure the internal and external threads against leakage of lubricant.

9. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge pin comprises a radial collar between the first pin portion and the second pin portion, and wherein a transition area between the external thread and the radial collar comprises a rounding.

10. The automobile hinge according to claim 8, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises an annular sealing washer on an end face of the radial collar facing the second pin portion, which secures the internal and external threads against leakage of lubricant.

11. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the internal thread of the second hinge bore and the external thread of the second pin portion is designed in such a way that an increasing pitch has to be overcome during an opening movement of the door, while a closing movement of the door results in a closing favoring a dropping of the door into a lock.

12. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein one of the internal thread of the second hinge bore and of the external thread of the second pin portion comprise flanks provided with a sliding coating reducing a braking torque.

13. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the second hinge bore and the second pin portion are radially contacting each other directly outside a bearing bush.

14. The automobile hinge according to claim 1, wherein the second pin portion has a nominal diameter, and wherein a height of the internal thread over a circumference of the second pin portion is equal to a value obtained by multiplying a factor selected from a range ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 with said nominal diameter.

15. An automotive hinge, comprising a first hinge part assigned to one of a flap and a vehicle body part, the first hinge part comprising a first hinge bore, a second hinge part assigned to the other of the flap and the vehicle body part, the second hinge part comprising a second hinge bore, and a hinge pin having an axis of rotation, wherein the hinge pin comprises a first pin portion which is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner in the first hinge bore of the first hinge part, wherein the hinge pin comprises a second pin portion which is pivotally received in the second hinge bore of the second hinge part, wherein the second pin portion comprises at least one external thread, wherein the second hinge bore of the second hinge part comprises at least one internal thread, wherein the at least one external thread of the second pin portion can be screwed into the at least one internal thread of the second hinge bore of the second hinge part, and wherein the internal thread of the second hinge bore and the external thread of the second pin portion co-operate to a direct pivotal connection of the hinge pin and the second hinge part.

16. The automotive hinge according to claim 15, wherein the internal thread and the external thread are formed as fine threads with a small pitch.

17. The automotive hinge according to claim 15, wherein the first pin portion comprises an external thread, wherein the first hinge bore of the first hinge part comprises an internal thread, and wherein the external thread of the first pin portion is screwed into the internal thread of the first hinge bore to secure the first pin portion in a rotationally fixed manner in the first hinge bore of the first hinge part.

18. The automotive hinge according to claim 17, wherein a thread direction of the first pin portion is opposite of a thread direction of the second pin portion.

19. The automotive hinge according to claim 15, wherein the hinge pin comprises a radial collar between said first pin portion and said second pin portion, the radial collar being arranged between the first hinge part and the second hinge part.

20. The automotive hinge according to claim 15, wherein the automotive hinge can be disassembled from at least the second hinge part by unscrewing without destroying a riveted connection.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view through a first preferred embodiment of an automobile hinge.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a further preferred embodiment of a preferred automobile hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The two embodiments differ only in the type of sealing, which is why the same reference signs are used for both embodiments, and unless otherwise described, the same reference signs also designate the same or structurally comparable parts.

[0034] In FIG. 1, the automobile hinge 1 is shown in a longitudinal section. It can be seen that the automobile hinge 1 comprises a first hinge half 2 connectable to a frame or door pillar R, shown as a dashed line, and further comprises a second hinge half 5 connectable to a door T, shown as a dashed line. The first hinge half 2 comprises a through hinge bore 2a, and the second hinge half 5 comprises a second hinge bore 5a formed as a blind bore. It can be seen that the hinge halves 2, 5 also each have an opening 2b, 5b which is intended for fastening to the door pillar R and the door T, respectively. For this purpose, screw bolts can be used in the usual manner. The first hinge half 2 is designed in the present case as a body part, and the second hinge half 5 is designed in the present case as a door part.

[0035] The automobile hinge 1 further comprises a hinge pin 3, which comprises a radial collar 3b approximately centrally. Below the radial collar 3b, the hinge pin 3 comprises a first pin portion 31 which passes through the continuous first hinge bore 2a. In a central region, the first pin portion 31 has a slightly recessed central portion 31a provided with a circumferential knurl. At the level of the central portion 31a, a radial bore 2c opens into the hinge bore 2a, which radial bore 2c has an internal thread into which a grub screw 21 can be screwed for rotationally fixed retention of the first pin portion 31 in the hinge bore 2a. The grub screw 21 can be tightened by hand or with a tool, and comes into contact with the knurling in the central portion 31a with its dome-shaped end face 21a and secures the hinge pin 3 in the hinge bore 2a. The grub screw 21 can be easily loosened again to allow the first hinge half 2a to be detached from the hinge pin 3. The main axis A of the hinge pin 3 is also the axis of rotation or pivot of the automobile hinge 1.

[0036] Above the radial collar 3b, the hinge pin 3 comprises a second pin portion 32 which has an external thread 32a formed as a fine thread M10×1.0 on its outer circumference. A circumferential groove 32b is formed below the external thread 32a, in which an O-ring 33 made of EPDM is inserted.

[0037] The second hinge bore 5a has an internal thread 40 which meshes with the external thread 32a and is also formed as a fine thread M10×1.0, the direction of rotation of the internal thread 40 and external thread 32a being the same. It can further be seen that the second hinge bore 5a has an axial protrusion with respect to the maximum height of the second pin portion 32, which protrusion forms a receiving area 41 for lubricant, in the present case lubricating grease, with which the pivoting movement between the internal thread 40 and the external thread 32a is improved. The O-ring 33 seals the two threads in the direction of the collar 3b and prevents the lubricating grease from leaking.

[0038] The second pin portion 32, equipped with an external thread M10×1.0, has a nominal diameter of 10 mm. The height of the thread over the circumference is also 10 mm.

[0039] It can be seen that it is also possible to form the second hinge bore 5a as a through bore. In that case, another O-ring 33 is provided in an upper portion of the second pin portion 32 to seal the grease receiving portion on both sides.

[0040] The automobile hinge 1 according to FIG. 2 differs essentially only in the type of sealing. Instead of the O-ring 33, an annular washer 33′ made of EPDM is provided, which rests on the surface of the radial collar 3b facing the second hinge half 5. In this case, the annular washer 33′ is sufficiently thick that it is compressed to a certain extent when the automobile hinge 1 is in the closed position and, when the automobile hinge 1 is opened by pivoting the second hinge half 5 about the threaded pairing 32a/40, expands to such an extent that the threaded pairing 32a/40 and thus the receiving area 41 for the lubricating grease continue to be sealed against leakage.

[0041] Between the end face of the radial collar 3b facing the second hinge half 5 and the external thread 32a, a rounded portion 32c is provided to provide a line of contact with the end face of the opening of the hinge bore 5a facing the radial collar 3b.

[0042] The automobile hinge 1 can be disassembled in a simple manner by loosening the grub screw 21 and pulling the hinge pin 3 out of the first hinge half 2, and by unscrewing the hinge pin 3 with its pin portion 32 from the internal thread 40 of the second hinge bore 5a of the second hinge half 5. Accordingly, the parts can be reused in a simple manner and, if necessary, disposed of according to type.

[0043] The hinge pin 3 is produced by cold forming, the external thread 32a being produced by rolling. The hinge halves 2 and 5 are each made of steel as forgings. The hinge pin 3 is also made of steel, for example C15.

[0044] It can be seen that the pivoting mobility is provided by the internal thread 40 and the external thread 32a, without any more need for a bearing bush for this purpose. It can further be seen that riveting of the hinge pin to connect it to at least one of the hinge halves 2, 3 is also no longer required. The automobile hinge 1 resists substantially higher tearing forces in the vertical direction (Z-direction) compared to hinges lined with a bearing bush which are riveted, so that the crash properties of the automobile hinge 1 are improved.

[0045] The present disclosure has been explained above with reference to an embodiment in which the second hinge bore 5a of the second hinge half 5 is formed as a blind bore. It has to be understood that the second hinge bore 5a may also be formed as a through bore. Similarly, the first hinge bore 2a formed as a through bore may also be formed as a blind bore.

[0046] The present disclosure has been explained above with reference to an automobile hinge 1 which has been realized as a single joint, in which, therefore, the hinge halves 2; 5 are each directly connected to the door T and to the door pillar R, respectively. It has to be understood that the automobile hinge 1 may also have more than one articulation, for example in the case of a four-bar linkage, in which case the articulated connection is made between one of the hinge parts and one of the links, which in turn is articulated to the other hinge part. The automobile hinge 1 may be used in attaching a door or any other flap to a vehicle, notwithstanding the orientation of the axis of rotation. In particular, while in case of a flap configured as a door, the axis of rotation will be substantially vertical, the axis of rotation might as well be horizontal, for example if a trunk lid is attached to the vehicle. Accordingly, the terms door and door pillar have to be interpreted to encompass any type of flap and vehicle body part to which the flap is to be attached, including but not limited to front side doors, back side doors, trunk lids, front opening hood, sliding doors, and combinations thereof.

[0047] The present disclosure has been explained above with reference to an embodiment in which the slight stroke resulting from the pivoting movement about the intermeshing threads is compensated for by the inherent elasticity of the sealing ring. It has to be understood that a spring arrangement, for example an undulating spring or a disc spring, can also be arranged between the sealing ring 33′ and the collar 3b, which further ensures the tracking of the sealing ring for sealing the receiving area for the lubricating grease in a particularly reliable manner.

[0048] The present disclosure has been explained herein with reference to embodiments in which exactly one of the pin portions 32 is connected to the hinge half 5a forming a door portion by an external thread 32a. It has to be understood that the hinge half 2 forming a body part may also have an internal thread into which the pin portion having an external thread can be screwed.

[0049] The present disclosure has been explained here on the basis of embodiments in which the radial collar 3b projects radially over the circumference of the pin portions in the form of a disc. It has to be understood that the collar 3b can also have a contour optimized for the application of a tool, for example as a hexagon, to which an open-end wrench can be applied in order to be able to screw the pin portion 32 with an external thread 32a completely into the internal thread 40 and, if necessary, to overcome a restoring force of the sealing arrangement 33′.

[0050] The present disclosure has been explained herein with reference to embodiments in which exactly one of the pin portions 32 with an external thread 32a is connected to the second hinge half 5 forming a door part, while the other, first hinge half 2 is fixed by means of a set screw 21. It has to be understood that the connection of the first pin portion 31 to be non-rotatably connected to the first hinge half 2a may also be made by a thread pairing, in that the first pin portion 31 also has an external thread, and the hinge bore 2a also has an internal thread, so that the external thread of the first pin portion 31 is screwable into the internal thread of the hinge bore 2a. To ensure that the non-rotatable thread pairing is not loosened when the door T is actuated, the non-rotatable thread pairing may have a different thread direction than the pivotable thread pairing. Furthermore, the non-rotating thread pairing may be additionally secured against rotation. A hinge pin with such two external threads with opposite pitches (one left-hand thread, one right-hand thread) can advantageously then be used both in an automobile hinge for a left-hand door and in an automobile hinge for a right-hand door.

[0051] The present disclosure has been described above with reference to an embodiment in which the axes of the pin portions 31, 32 coincide. It has to be understood that the axes of the pin portions may also be offset but parallel, in which case one of the axes of the pin portions coincides with the pivot axis of the automobile hinge.