HINGE FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE SUCH AS OVEN

Abstract

Hinge, in particular for an oven, with a housing on which a lever arm is stored in a swingable manner, and is activated by a driving gear. In an improved hinge of this type, the driving gear is connected to a tappet, which is connected to exert pressure on the lever arm.

Claims

1. Hinge, in particular for an oven, with a housing on which a lever arm is stored in a swingable manner, and is activated by a driving gear, wherein the driving gear is connected with a tappet, which is connected to exert pressure on the lever arm.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein that the tappet has a pressure surface to exert pressure on the lever arm in the direction of the open position of the hinge.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the tappet has a pressure surface to exert pressure on the lever arm in the direction of the closed position of the hinge.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a closing spring exerts force on the lever arm in the direction of the closed position of the hinge.

5. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a carriage stored and movable longitudinally is activated by the tappet and is connected with the lever arm.

6. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a lever is connected to the driving gear or the carriage and to the lever arm.

7. The oven or similar device with a closing door, including one or several hinges according to claim 1.

8. The oven or similar device according to claim 7, wherein the housing of the hinge or hinges is arranged in the oven or in a similar device.

9. The oven or similar device according to claim 7, including the hinge and one or several hinges that are not activated by a driving gear.

10. The oven or a similar device according to claim 9, including the hinge, and a hinge that cannot be activated by a driving gear and that has a spring.

Description

[0022] Examples of embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below based on the attached drawings. The drawings show:

[0023] FIG. 1 an oven with a closing door in a perspective view

[0024] FIG. 2 a schematic drawing of the opening angle of the closing door of the oven according to FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 3 a first embodiment of a hinge for the oven according to FIG. 1 with a carriage in the closed position with an opening angle of 0 in a schematic side view

[0026] FIG. 4 the hinge according to FIG. 3 in a partially open position with an opening angle of 40

[0027] FIG. 5 the hinge according to FIGS. 3 and 4 in another partially open position with an opening angle of 70

[0028] FIG. 6 the hinge according to FIGS. 3 to 5 in the completely open position with an opening angle of 90

[0029] FIG. 7 a second embodiment of a hinge for the oven according to FIG. 1 with a carriage and a lever in the closed position with an opening angle of 0 in a schematic side view

[0030] FIG. 8 the hinge according to FIG. 7 in a partially open position with an opening angle of 40

[0031] FIG. 9 the hinge according to FIGS. 7 and 8 in another partially open position with an opening angle of 70

[0032] FIG. 10 the hinge according to FIGS. 8 to 9 in the completely open position with an opening angle of 90

[0033] FIG. 11 a third embodiment of a hinge for the oven according to FIG. 1 without a carriage and a lever in the closed position with an opening angle of 0 in a schematic side view

[0034] FIG. 12 the hinge according to FIG. 11 in a partially open position with an opening angle of 40

[0035] FIG. 13 the hinge according to FIGS. 11 and 12 in a partially open position with an opening angle of 70

[0036] FIG. 14 the hinge according to FIGS. 11 to 13 in the completely open position with an opening angle of 90

[0037] FIG. 15 a fourth embodiment of a hinge for the oven according to FIG. 1 with a carriage, a lever, and a double acting tappet in the closed position with an opening angle of 0 in a schematic side view

[0038] FIG. 16 the hinge according to FIG. 15 in a partially open position with an opening angle of 40

[0039] FIG. 17 the hinge according to FIGS. 15 and 16 during the opening movement in another partially open position with an opening angle of 70

[0040] FIG. 18 the hinge according to FIGS. 15 to 17 in the completely open position with an opening angle of 90

[0041] FIG. 19 the hinge according to FIGS. 15 to 18 during the closing movement in a partially open position with an opening angle of 70, and

[0042] FIG. 20 the hinge according to FIGS. 15 to 19 during the closing movement in another partially open position with an opening angle of 20

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an oven 1, on which a closing door 2 is stored and swingable around a horizontal axis. The horizontal lever arm is found under an opening 3 of the baking oven.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows the opening angle of the closing door 2 in a schematic view. Thereby the opening angle of 0 corresponds to a closed closing door 2, which in the closed position runs in the vertical direction. The opening angle of 90 corresponds to the completely open closing door 2, which then runs in a horizontal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0045] FIGS. 3 to 6 show a first embodiment of a hinge for the oven 1 according to FIG. 1. The hinge comprises a housing (not illustrated in the drawing) and a lever arm 4, which is stored as swingable around an axis 5. The housing of the hinge is connected with the oven 1, and the lever arm 4 is connected with the closing door 2. The housing is built lying in the lower area 6 of the oven 1. It runs horizontally and vertically to the lever arm of the closing door 2. The lever arm of the closing door 2 fits in with the axis 5 of the hinge. The lever arm 4 can be set up as an insertable part, which is inserted into a corresponding recess in the closing door 2 and preferentially latched there.

[0046] The hinge comprises a closing spring 7, which is formed as a tension spring, and a driving gear 8, which is set up as a linear driving gear. The linear driving gear 8 comprises an actuator 9, in which a driving gear shaft 10 is inserted longitudinally. The driving gear shaft 10 may be activated electromechanically. In the assembled state of the hinge, it is movable horizontally and perpendicular to the axis 5. The closing spring 7 is connected in parallel with the driving gear shaft 10.

[0047] The driving gear 8 and the closing spring 7 may be arranged in the housing of the hinge. Alternatively, they may be arranged in a separate housing. This housing may be connected directly or indirectly with the hinge housing. It can be arranged over, under, or next to the hinge housing.

[0048] The end of the driving gear shaft 10 turned to the actuator 9 has a tappet 11. The tappet 11 has a pressure surface 11a on the end turned toward the actuator 9 and the lever arm 4. The carriage 12 is inserted movable longitudinally into the housing of the hinge, in the same direction as the driving gear shaft 10. It has a counter surface 12a on its side turned toward the actuator 9 and the tappet 11. The closing spring 7 is attached on its end with the housing of the hinge or with the housing of the driving gear and on the other end with the carriage 12.

[0049] The carriage 12 has a coupling shaft 13, to which a roller 14 is arranged at the end turned toward the driving gear 8. The roller 14 works connected with a drive path 15 of the lever arm 4. It rolls down on the drive path 15.

[0050] The drive path 15 is set up exactly or similarly to the corresponding drive path of the hinge in EP 1 287 222 B1, to which reference is expressly made. Through the particular inclination of the drive path 15 toward a circle around the axis 5, the force can be set that is required to open and close the lever arm 4. This force can be exerted by the closing spring 7. Thereby the force of the closing spring 7 may be changed with the driving gear 8. The tension of the closing spring 7 can be changed by a movement of the driving gear shaft 10. It can be changed in a manner that the force exerted by the roller 14 on the drive path 15 moves the lever arm 4 in the desired direction.

[0051] Initially the closing door 2 and the lever arm 4 are found in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3. The tappet 11 is located at a distance from the carriage 12, and the pressure surface 11a of the tappet 11 does not press against the counter surface 12a of the carriage 12.

[0052] If the closing door 2 and the lever arm 4 are to be opened, the driving gear 8 is activated. The driving gear shaft 10 is moved out of the actuator 9 in the direction toward the lever arm 4 and the carriage 12, until the pressure surface 11a of the tappet 11 presses against the counter surface 12a of the carriage 12. Through a further activation of the driving gear 8 and a further movement of the tappet 11, pressure from the pressure surface 11a is exerted on the counter surface 12a and thereby on the lever arm 4 in the direction toward opening the hinge. The carriage 12 affects the coupling shaft 13 and the roller 14 on the travel path 15, so that the lever arm 4 is turned around the axis 5. Thereby the driving gear 8 works against the closing moment of the closing spring 7.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates an opening angle of 40. At this opening angle, the opening moment, through the weight of the closing door 2, is approximately as large as the closing moment from the closing spring 7.

[0054] In a further course of the opening movement, a further opening position according to FIG. 5 is achieved in which the opening angle is 70. By the time an opening angle of 50 is reached, the opening moment, which is created by the opening door 2, overpowers the closing moment, which is called up by the closing spring 7. In this way the counter surface 12a is lifted away from the pressure surface 11a, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0055] The closing door 2 is further opened by the difference between the opening moment and the closing moment in a self actuating manner and independent of the driving gear 8, until the completely open position, shown in FIG. 6, is achieved. During this further opening movement, the tappet 11 can again be brought in, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0056] For closing the closing door 2, the closing door 2 is initially raised manually, whereby the hinge is moved from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 5. In the further course of the closing movement by hand, the position shown in FIG. 4 is achieved, in which the closing moment from the closing spring 7 is slightly greater than the opening moment from the weight of the closing door 2. Now the closing door 2 can be released. The hinge and the closing door are subsequently closed by the action of the self acting closing spring 7.

[0057] In case of the failure of the driving gear 8, such as in a current outage, the closing door 2 can also be manually opened and closed. The driving gear 8 in this case does not prevent manually opening the closing door 2 and the hinge arm 4. The same applies to the closing movement.

[0058] FIGS. 7 to 10 show a second embodiment of the hinge, in which the corresponding parts are provided with the same parts list numbers and are not described again. In this embodiment, the carriage 12 is attached to the lever arm 4 by a lever 16. The lever is attached to the carriage 12 by a joint. It has the roller 14 on its end turned to the carriage 12.

[0059] In the third embodiment according to FIGS. 11 to 14, the tappet 11 directly exerts pressure on the lever arm 4. The tappet 11 directly affects the lever arm 4. The closing spring 7 is directly connected to the lever arm 4.

[0060] In the fourth embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 20, the tappet 11 is formed as a double working tappet. It comprises a first pressure surface 11a to exert pressure on the lever arm 4 in the direction of the open position of the hinge, and a second pressure surface 11b to exert pressure on the lever arm 4 in the direction of the closed position of the hinge. The pressure surfaces 11a, 11b lie opposite one another. They are arranged at a distance from one another. The pressure surfaces 11a and 11b run parallel to one another.

[0061] In a corresponding manner, the carriage 12 comprises a first counter surface 12a for the first pressure surface 11a and a second counter surface 12b for the second pressure surface 11b. The first counter surface 12a and the second counter surface 12b run parallel to one another at a distance. They lie opposite one another. Their separation distance is smaller than the distance between the pressure surfaces 11a and 11b.

[0062] Initially the closing door 2 and the lever arm 4 are found in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 15. The pressure surfaces 11a, 11b are found at a distance from the counter surfaces 12a, 12b.

[0063] If the closing door 2 and the lever arm 4 are to be opened, the driving gear 8 is activated. The driving gear shaft 10 is moved out of the actuator 9 in the direction toward the lever arm 4 and the carriage 12, until the first pressure surface 11a of the tappet 11 presses against the counter surface 12a of the carriage 12. Through a further activation of the driving gear 8 and a further movement of the tappet 11, pressure from the pressure surface 11a is exerted on the counter surface 12a and thereby on the lever arm 4 in the direction toward the open position of the hinge. Thereby the driving gear 8 works against the closing moment of the closing spring 7.

[0064] FIG. 16 illustrates an opening angle of 40. At this opening angle, the opening moment, through the weight of the closing door 2, is approximately as large as the closing moment from the closing spring 7.

[0065] In a further course of the opening movement, a further opening position according to FIG. 17 is achieved in which the opening angle is 70. By the time an opening angle of 50 is reached, the opening moment, which is created by the opening door 2, overpowers the closing moment, which is called up by the closing spring 7. In this way the first counter surface 12a is lifted away from the first pressure surface 11a, as shown in FIG. 17.

[0066] The closing door 2 is further opened by the difference between the opening moment and the closing moment in a self actuating manner and independent of the driving gear 8, until the completely open position, shown in FIG. 18, is achieved. During this further opening movement, the tappet 11 can again be brought in, as shown in FIG. 18.

[0067] To close the closing door 2, the driving gear 8 is activated in the opposite direction. The driving gear shaft 10 is moved into the actuator 9 in the direction from the lever arm 4 and the carriage 12, until the second pressure surface 11b of the tappet 11 leans against the counter surface 12b of the carriage 12. Through a further activation of the driving gear 8 and a further movement of the tappet 11, pressure from the second pressure surface 11b is exerted on the second counter surface 12b and thereby on the lever arm 4 in the direction toward closing the hinge. The carriage 12 drives the coupling shaft 13 and the roller 14 on the travel path 15, so that the lever arm 4 is turned around the axis 5. Thereby the driving gear works against the opening moment of the closing door 2.

[0068] FIG. 19 illustrates an opening angle of 70. At this opening angle, the opening moment, through the weight of the closing door 2, is greater than the closing moment from the closing spring. The closing door 2 and the lever arm 4 are moved by the driving gear 8 in the closing direction.

[0069] In a further course of the opening movement, a further partially open position according to FIG. 20 is achieved in which the opening angle is 20. In this position, the closing moment from the closing spring 7 outweighs the opening moment from the closing door 2. In this way the second counter surface 12b lifts off from the second pressure surface 11b, as shown in FIG. 20. The closing door 2 and the lever arm 4 are further self activated by the closing moments of the closing spring 7, and are closed independently of the driving gear 8 until the completely closed position shown in FIG. 15 is reached.

[0070] In case of the failure of the driving gear 8, such as in a current outage, the closing door 2 can also be manually opened and closed. The driving gear 8 in this case does not prevent manually opening the closing door 2 and the hinge arm 4. The same applies to the closing movement.

[0071] A hinge is created by the invention for which the hazard of pinching under motor force can be prevented. The hinge can be so set up that up to an opening angle of about 30, the closing door closes through spring pressure, and with a closed closing door enough closing pressure is created for the closing door to be pressed with sufficient force against the insulation. At an opening angle of about 30 to 50, the closing door is balanced. From around 50 and above, the closing door through its own weight falls into the open position, which can be limited by an end stop. It is advantageous if both end stops for the closed closing door and for the open closing door are muffled. It is also possible that one or several mufflers can exist for the open position of the closing door and/or for the closed position of the closing door.

[0072] According to the invention, the closing door can be moved by motor both in the open position and in the closed position. It is however also possible that the closing door is moved by the motor only in the open position or only in the closed position, and is moved manually in the other position. In all cases it is possible to move the hinge and the closing door manually in the case of a failure of the driving gear.