GB2204635A

GB2204635A - Lift-off hinge assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2204635A
Application number: GB8708056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Holloway
Original assignee: IHW Engeneering Ltd; AJC Johnson Controls Ltd
Current assignee: AJC Johnson Controls Ltd
Priority date: 1987-04-03
Filing date: 1987-04-03
Publication date: 1988-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-03
Also published as: GB2204635B; GB8708056D0

Abstract

A hinge assembly comprises a first hinge leaf 11 pivotally connected to a second hinge leaf 12 by a hinge pin 14, the hinge pin being rotatably mounted and axially restrained in the leaf 11 and projecting into a bore 30 formed in the other hinge leaf, the hinge pin having a radially extending seat 14b, said bore having at one end a complementary seat 32 for location on the seat of the pin, a clamping member 36 located in the opposite end of the bore and means 40 for urging said clamping member axially toward said radially extending seat to thereby clamp said other hinge leaf therebetween. The clamping member 36 may be a radially deformable sleeve, e.g. of metal or plastics and split lengthwise, cooperable with a frusto conical seat 34 of the bore. In another embodiment the clamping member is acted on by a resilient clip engaging in a peripheral groove in the pin. <IMAGE>

Description

LIFT-OFF HINGE ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a Lift-off hinge assembly which is primarily intended for the mounting of vehicle doors.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge assembly comprising a first hinge leaf pivotally connected to a second hinge leaf by a hinge pin, the hinge pin being rotatably mounted and axially restrained in one of said hinge leafs, the hinge pin projecting from said one hinge leaf to be received in a bore formed in the other hinge leaf, the hinge pin having a radially extending seat, said bore having at one end a complementary seat for location on the seat of the pin, a clamping member located in the opposite end of the bore and means for urging said clamping member axially toward said radially extending seat to thereby clamp said other hinge leaf therebetween.

Preferably the clamping member is a sleeve having a frusto-conical surface. Preferably the sleeve is resiliently radially deformable.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention shown in the hinge pin engaged condition; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 shown in the hinge pin release-position; Figure 3 is a plan view of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention shown in the hinge pin engaged condition; and Figure 5 is a plan view of the second embodiment.

The illustrated hinge assembly 10 includes a first hinge leaf 11 which in use is intended to be mounted on a vehicle body by conventional means such as bolts and/or welding. The assembly 10 further includes a second hinge leaf 12 which is hingedly connected to the first hinge leaf by means of m hinge pin 14. The second hinge leaf 12 is intended to be secured to the vehicle door by conventional means such as bolts and/or welding.

The hinge pin 14 is rotatably mounted in a bore 17 formed in the first hinge leaf 11 and is arranged so as to be axially retained therein. Accordingly the hinge pin 14 is provided, at a mid location along its length, with a shoulder 14a which co-operates with an upper surface Ila of the hinge leaf 11 to prevent axial movement of the pin 14 in one direction. The pin 14 projects from a lower surface llb of the hinge leaf 11 to receive a locking washer or clip 18 which co-operates with the lower surface llb to prevent axial movement of the pin in the opposite direction.

A bush 19 is provided having radially extending flanges 19a for providing a smooth lubricated sliding action between opposed surfaces of the pin 14 and bore 17; the shoulder 14a and upper surface Ila; and the clip 18 and lower surface llb.

The second leaf 12 is mounted on the hinge pin 14 and is adapted to be removably attached thereto by retention means 20. The retention means 20 serve to secure the hinge leaf 12 to the pin 14 such that relative rotation between the pin 14 and leaf 12 is prevented. In this way hingable movement between leafs 11 and 12 is dictated solely by rotation of pin 14 in hinge leaf 11.

The retention means 20 are operable to release the connection between the leaf 12 and hinge,, pin 14 and when in such a release condition enable the hinge leafs to be separated from one another by permitting the hinge leaf 12 to initially be moved axially away from leaf 11 and then moved radially from leaf 11.

Preferably hinge leaf 12 is provided with an eccentric face 22 which co-operates with an arm 23 formed on leaf 11 to prevent axial separation of the hinge leafs over a predetermined range of relative pivotal movement of the hinge leafs. Preferably hinge leaf 12 is provided with a projection 28 which serves as a stop to limit pivotal movement of the hinge leafs and define a position whereat axial separation of the hinge leafs may occur.

Preferably both hinge leaf 11 and hinge leaf 12 are formed from rolled metal sections which are cut to length and then machined.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the hinge pin 14 has an upper portion which projects into a bore 30 formed in hinge leaf 12. The bore 30 has a lower conical seat 32 which, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, is seated upon a conical seat 14b formed on hinge pin 14. The bore 30 also has an upper conical seat 34. Located within the upper conical seat 34 is a radially deformable sleeve 36 having a constant diameter portion 37 and a frustoconical portion 38. The edges of leaf 12 surrounding the mouth of the conical seat 34 are preferably deformed inwardly after insertion of the sleeve 36 so as to define a shoulder for restraining withdrawal of the sleeve 36 from the conical seat 34.

A bolt 34 extends through the sleeve 36 and as seen in Figure 1 is capable of being screw threadedly received in the hinge pin 14. In the condition illustrated in Figure 1, tightening of bolt 40 causes the sleeve 36 to axially bear against the conical seat 34 thereby axially urging the hinge leaf 12 toward leaf 11 so that conical seats 32 and 14b are also urged together,. The sleeve 36 and conical seat 14b are thus axially urged toward one another to clamp the hinge leaf 12 therebetween and thus restrain relative rotation between the hinge pin 14 and leaf 12. The reaction of the sleeve 36 and conical seat 14b with the conical seats 34 and 32 respectively also causes the axis of bore 30 to be positively and accurately aligned with the axis of pin 14.The sleeve 36 is also radially compressed on tightening of the bolt 40 and thus grips the shaft of the bolt and thereby restrains untightening of the bolt 40.

As seen in Figure 2, the bolt 40 is retracted from the pin 14 and accordingly it is possible, subject to reaction between arm 23 and surface 22, for hinge leaf 12 to be axially raised and then radially withdrawn from hinge leaf 11. Since the upper portion of pin 14 only projects for a short distance into bore 30, it is only necessary to axially move leaf 12 a short distance before complete separation of the hinge assembly is permitted.

Preferably a washer 50, such as a paper or fibre washer, is provided to restrain withdrawal of bolt 40 from the sleeve 36.

The sleeve 36 is conveniently formed from a suitable resilient metal or a suitable plastics material. The sleeve 36 is preferably split along its length.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 similar parts as those shown in Figures 1 to 3 have been designated with the same reference numerals.

The embodiment in Figures 4 and 5 basically illustrate an alternative way of axially compression sleeve 36 toward seat 14b. In this respect pin 14 is provided with a shaft extension 60 which extends along bore 30 and through sleeve 36. A removable resilient clip 62 is provided which engages in a peripheral groove formed in extension 60 and resiliently bears against sleeve 36 to urge it axially toward seat 14b. Such action causes the sleeve 36 to undergo radial compression also which causes the sleeve 36 to grip the pin extension 60.

To release the connection between hinge leaf 12 and the pin 14 all that is necessary is for the clip 62 to be removed.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly comprising a first hinge leaf pivotally connected to a second hinge leaf by a hinge pin, the hinge pin being rotatably mounted and axially restrained in one of said hinge leafs, the hinge pin projecting from said one hinge leaf to be received in a bor= formed in the other hinge leaf 1 the hinge pin having a radially extending seat, said bore having at one end a complementary seat for location on the seat of the pin, a clamping member located in the opposite end of the bore and means for urging said clamping member axially toward said radially extending seat to thereby clamp said other hinge leaf therebetween.

2. A hinge assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the radially extending seat on the hinge pin is defined by a conical portion.

3. A hinge assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the clamping member comprises a radially deformable sleeve having a conical portion received in a complementary seat formed in said bore.

4. A hinge assembly according to Claim 3 wherein the sleeve is formed from a resilient metal.

5. A hinge assembly according to Claim 3 wherein the sleeve is formed from a suitable plastics material.

6. A hinge assembly according to any of Claims 3, 4 or 5 wherein the sleeve is split along its length.

A A hinge assembly according to any of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the sleeve is retained in said other leaf.

8. A hinge assembly according to any of Claims 3 to 7 including a bolt threadedly received in said hinge pin and extending co-axially therewith to extend through said radially deformable sleeve.

9. A hinge assembly according to any of Claims 3 to 7 wherein the hinge pin has an axial extension which passes through the sleeve to receive a resilient clip for urging the sleeve axially toward said radially extending seat.

10. A hinqe assembly accordinq to any precedinq claim wherein one hinqe leaf is provided with an eccentric face for co-operation with an arm formed on the other hinqe leaf to prevent axial separation of the hinqe leafs over a predetermined range of relative pivotal movement.

11. A hinge assembly according to any preceding claim wherein each hinqe leaf is formed from rolled metal section which is cut and machined to shaDe.

12. A hinqe assemblv substantiallv as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawinas