TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a hinge structure generally used in commercial vehicles.

The invention particularly relates to a ball structure hinge that is used in the rear cargo doors of commercial vehicles and allows the door to be stopped at a predetermined intermediate stage.

STATE OF THE ART

Today, hinges with various functions that connect the vehicle doors and the vehicle body are used in the automotive sector. Structures containing stoppers integrated on the hinge are preferred instead of tension rods that stop the vehicle door in certain positions especially in recent years.

There are studies on such systems considering the developments in the current art. However, each system has some disadvantages. In particular, the fact that the stopper structures that allow the door to be opened gradually in certain positions are in a closed chamber is very important in terms of protecting the product against external factors. Unwanted elements such as rain, mud, dust coming from the external environment affect the working performance of the product as well as reduce its life especially during the opening and closing of vehicle doors.

A ball hinge is mentioned in the patent application GB 1468656 of the prior art. There is a structure with a ball that moves on the hinge bracket and fits into the holes on the bracket in the invention. The balls in the lower and upper parts are supported by a spring. The structure of the product is exposed to many factors such as dust, dirt, and rain since it is open to the outside environment. This negatively affects the product life. Ultimately, this patent application does not solve other problems in the prior art.

A hinge with a stopper structure is mentioned in the patent application US 5054165 of the prior art. The stopper structure comprises rollers that are integrated into the movable hinge, contacting the lower and upper hinge brackets, and a spring that supports these rollers. The stopper stage recesses on the fixed hinge bracket act as a stopper for the rollers and allow the door to be opened at certain angles. The disadvantage of this system is that the roller structure that fits in the stages is open to the outside environment. Rain, dust, dirt coming from the external environment accumulate on the roller and stage surfaces and affect the working performance of the system. The life of the product is shortened and it creates continuous maintenance costs as a result.

Improvements are made in hinges containing stoppers, so new structures are needed to eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above and to provide solutions to existing systems as a result.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hinge that meets the aforementioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

The main object of the invention is to provide a hinge that allows the vehicle door to be opened at certain levels and prevents it from being exposed to external factors by working in a closed system.

An object of the invention is to provide a hinge that can be easily adapted to vehicle doors of different weights and that can be replaced with a door opening effort.

Another object of the invention is to present a hinge structure without an external pivot pin.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a hinge that is long-lasting and low maintenance cost.

In order to realize all the advantages mentioned above and to be understood from the following detailed description; to enable the vehicle door to be opened and closed on the body, the present invention is a hinge comprising;

- A fixed body fixed to the vehicle body,

- A movable body fixed to the vehicle door and rotatably mounted on the said fixed body,

- An upper flange and a lower flange formed on the fixed body to provide a rotational connection of the said movable body to the fixed body, characterized in that it comprises: - At least one hub in the said movable body structure, which allows the stopper mechanism to operate in a closed chamber,

- At least one channel formed in the hub,

- At least one spring placed in the said channel and enabling the door to be stopped at certain positions and at least one ball race located at both ends of the said spring and at least one ball inserted in the said ball race,

- At least one upper cover and lower cover that ensures that the movable body is rotatably connected with the fixed body,

- At least one upper locking channel formed on the upper cover and at least one lower locking channel formed on the lower locking element in order to restrict the movement of the balls in certain positions.

The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly by reference to the following figures and the detailed explanation thereof. The evaluation should be made by considering these figures and detailed explanation for this reason.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention should be evaluated together with the figures explained below in order to better understand the embodiment of the invention and its advantages together with the attachments.

Figure 1 is the isometric view of the hinge of the invention.

Figure 2 is the disassembled view of the hinge of the invention.

Figure 3 is the isometric view of the movable body of the invention.

Figure 4 is the isometric view of the upper cover of the invention.

Figure 5 is the isometric view of the ball race of the invention.

Figure 6 is the isometric view of the adjusting bolt of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 . Hinge

2. Movable body

21. Stopper surface

22. Hub

23. Channel

24. Upper Bearing

25. Lower Bearing

3. Fixed body

31. Abutment surface

32. Upper flange

33. Lower flange

4. Upper cover

41. Knurled surface

42. Centering surface

43. Upper locking channel

5. Bushing

6. Sealing element

7. Ball

8. Ball race

81. Ball bearing

82. Lubrication hole

83. Lubrication channel

9. Spring

10. Lower locking element

101 . Lower locking channel

102. Stage

1 1 . Adjusting bolt

111. Pressing surface

1 12. Threaded part

1 13. Key slot

12. Lower cover

121 . Screw Hole

122. Knurled structure

123. Indentation

124. Bearing surface DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred structures of the inventive hinge (1) are described only for the purpose of a better understanding of the subject matter and in such a way that they have no restrictive effect in this detailed description.

The isometric view of the hinge (1 ) of the invention is given in Figure 1. The hinge (1) consists of a fixed body (3) fixed to the vehicle body and a movable body (2) fixed to the vehicle door. A stopper surface (21) is provided on the movable body (2) to stop it at the end opening point of the vehicle door. The stopper surface (21) stops the vehicle door by hitting the abutment surface (31 ) on the fixed body (3) when it reaches the maximum opening degree of the door.

The disassembled view of the hinge (1 ) of the invention is given in Figure 2. The hub (22) part on the movable body (2) is connected to the upper flange (32) and lower flange (33) parts on the fixed body (3) in a way that it rotates with the upper cover (4) and lower cover (12) parts.

The channels (23) extending along the hub (22) have at least one ball (7) in the lower and upper parts, at least one ball race (8) holding the ball (7) and at least one spring (9) allowing pressure to be applied to the ball race (8). The number of springs (9) and balls (7) or the dimensions of the springs (9) such as diameter, height, and thickness can be changed in order to provide the desired stopping efforts and the weight of the vehicle door. This structure can be operated with a single spring (9), two springs (9) or four, five springs (9) with the necessary design changes even if there is a structure with three springs (9) in the designed system. Increasing this number can be increased to the desired extent depending on the design of the hub (22). There is at least one lubrication channel (83) on the lateral surface of the ball race (8) in the structure to ensure silent operation in the channel (23). The lubrication of the ball bearing (81) where the ball (7) is placed is done through the lubrication hole (82).

The part of the upper bearing (24) located on the lower and upper parts of the hub (22) is supported by the parts of the upper cover (4) located on the upper part and the lower cover (12) located on the lower part. The knurled surface (41 ) in the structure of the upper cover (4) is mounted on the upper flange (32) on the fixed body (3) in a way that it does not turn. Similarly, the knurled structure (122) in the structure of the lower cover (12) is mounted on the lower flange (33) on the fixed body (3) in a way that it does not rotate. There is a centering surface (42) that is placed on the part of the upper bearing (24) in the movable body (2) and thus allows the movable body (2) to rotate with respect to the fixed body (3) in the continuation of the knurled surface (41) in the structure of the upper cover (4). Similarly, there is a bearing surface (124) that sits on the part of the lower bearing (25) in the movable body (2) and thus allows the movable body (2) to rotate with respect to the fixed body (3) in the continuation of the knurled structure (122) in the structure of the lower cover (12). Here, a bushing (5) is used between the centering surface (42) and the upper bearing (24) and between the bearing surface (124) and the lower bearing (25) to facilitate the rotational movement of the movable body (2). The bushing (5) used is preferably made of teflon material.

A sealing element (6) is used in the upper bearing (24) and the lower bearing (25) in order to protect the hub (22) on the movable body (2) against external factors such as rain, mud, and dust. The sealing element (6) may be in the form of an O-ring or may be used as a flat seal.

Spring (9) supported balls (7) placed in the channels (23) in the hub (22) fit into the upper locking channel (43) located in the upper cover (4) and the lower locking channel (101) located on the lower locking element (10). The movement of the balls (7) in certain positions is restricted and the door is stopped at the desired levels in this way.

The lower locking element (10) in the hub (22) in the movable body (2) can move up and down in the hub (22). However, the upper locking channel (43) located on the upper cover (4) and the lower locking channel (101) located on the lower locking element (10) should be in line with each other. For this, the positions of the upper cover (4) and lower cover (12) are adjusted and mounted in the first assembly of the product. The stages (102) in the structure of the lower locking element (10) fit into the recesses (123) in the structure of the lower cover (12). It is ensured that the lower locking element (10) remains in line with the lower cover (12) and is prevented from rotating thanks to the shape connection established here. The adjusting bolt (11) is used to move the lower locking element (10) up and down with an external intervention. The threaded part (112) on the adjusting bolt (11) allows it to move within the screw hole (121 ) on the lower cover (12). The lower cover (12) can move up and down when it is rotated with the key slot (113) in the structure of the adjusting bolt (11) since it is connected to the fixed body (3) in a way that it does not rotate. Thus, the pressing surface (111 ) located at the end of the adjusting bolt (11) presses on the lower locking element (10). Ultimately, the degree of compression of the springs (9) is easily changed by an intervention outside the hinge (1).