Combination of a hinge for doors or wings and a damping device
Described is a combination of a hinge for doors or wings and a damping device in which the hinge ( 2 ) is composed of a first fastening arm ( 7 ), a second fastening arm ( 8 ) and a connecting system ( 9 ) interposed between the first and the second fastening arm ( 7, 8 ) in such manner as to make them reciprocally mobile; and in which the damping device ( 3 ) is associated with the hinge ( 2 ) at a mounting position where the damping device ( 3 ) and the hinge ( 2 ) are positioned close to each other; the damping device ( 3 ) comprises a mounting case ( 10 ), a cylinder and piston unit ( 11 ) hinged to the mounting case ( 10 ), an actuating rod ( 12 ) and a drive unit ( 13 ) interposed between the cylinder and piston unit ( 11 ) and the actuating rod ( 12 ) in order to impart to the piston ( 26 ) and cylinder ( 27 ) a relative sliding movement; the actuating rod ( 12 ) extends into the hinge ( 2 ) and is movable in a straight line between a first, extracted position, where it extends freely into the open hinge ( 2 ), and a second, retracted position, where it is in contact with a thrust surface ( 17 ) of the closed hinge ( 2 ).
1. A combination hinge and damping device; comprising:
a hinge comprising:
a first fastening element adapted to be mounted to a door
a second fastening element adapted to be mounted to a frame
a connecting mechanism pivotally interposed between the first and the second fastening elements to make the first and the second fastening elements reciprocally mobile;
a reciprocally mobile thrust surface;
a damping device associated with the hinge at a mounting position where the damping device and the hinge are positioned close to each other, the damping device comprising:
a mounting case;
a gas or fluid cylinder and piston unit having a piston and a cylinder slidably coupled to each other;
an actuating end-piece reciprocally supported by the mounting case for reciprocal movement with respect to the mounting case; and
a drive unit interposed between the cylinder and piston unit and the actuating end-piece to impart to the piston and the cylinder a relative sliding movement as the actuating end-piece reciprocates with respect to the mounting case; wherein the drive unit comprises a rocker hinged to the mounting case;
the actuating end-piece being movable along a straight line of motion between a first, extended position, where the actuating end-piece is disengaged from the thrust surface when the hinge is in an open position, and a second, retracted position, where the actuating end-piece is engaged with the thrust surface when the hinge is in a closed position;
the cylinder and piston unit imparting a slowing action on the hinge during a closing movement of the hinge when the thrust surface engages the actuating end-piece and the hinge approaches the closed position;
the piston and cylinder unit being hinged to the mounting case.
2. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the piston and cylinder unit is hinged to the mounting case to rotate about a first pin at a right angle to the straight line of motion of the actuating end-piece.
3. The combination according to claim 2 , wherein the rocker is hinged to the mounting case to rotate about a second pin at a right angle to the straight line of motion of the actuating end-piece.
4. The combination according to claim 3 , wherein the rocker comprises, on opposite sides of the second pin, a first arm in contact with an inside end of the actuating end-piece and a second arm hinged to the piston; the cylinder being in turn hinged to the case by the first pin.
5. The combination according to claim 4 , wherein the first arm forms a cam engaging the actuating end-piece to reduce the slowing action imparted on the hinge at an end of the closing movement.
6. The combination according to claim 5 , wherein the actuating end-piece extends into the hinge through the first fastening element.
7. The combination according to claim 6 , wherein the actuating end-piece is a rod that extends at a right angle through the first fastening element.
8. The combination according to claim 7 , wherein the rod extends through an opening in the first fastening element.
9. The combination according to claim 8 , wherein the first fastening element is fixed to the frame and the second fastening element is fixed to the door make the door movable relative to the frame between a closed position and at least one open position.
10. An electrical household appliance, comprising at least one combination according to claim 9 and where the damping device is housed in a frame of the electrical household appliance.
11. The combination according to claim 8 , wherein the thrust surface is positioned on the connecting mechanism.
12. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the thrust surface is positioned on the connecting mechanism.
13. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the piston and cylinder unit is also hinged to the rocker such that the straight line of motion of the actuating end-piece is converted to a pivoting motion of the piston and cylinder unit with respect to the mounting case, a pivoting motion of the piston and cylinder unit with respect to the rocker, and the relative sliding movement between the piston and the cylinder.
14. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the first fastening element is fixed to the frame and the second fastening element is fixed to the door to make the door movable relative to the frame between a closed position and at least one open position.
15. An electrical household appliance, comprising at least one combination according to claim 1 and where the damping device is housed in a frame of the electrical household appliance.
16. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating end-piece extends into the hinge through the first fastening element.
17. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating end-piece is a rod that extends at a right angle through the first fastening element.
18. The combination according to claim 17 , wherein the rod extends through an opening in the first fastening element.