GB2197385A

GB2197385A - Separable hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2197385A
Application number: GB08722746A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Aiken
Original assignee: IHW Engeneering Ltd; AJC Johnson Controls Ltd
Current assignee: AJC Johnson Controls Ltd
Priority date: 1986-10-02
Filing date: 1987-09-28
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-28
Also published as: GB2197385B; GB8722746D0

Abstract

A separable hinge including a first hinge leaf having a boss 16 and a second hinge leaf having a boss 30 hingedly connected by a hinge pin 14, the hinge pin being fixedly located in the first hinge boss 16 by serrations 24 and rotatably and axially withdrawable from the second hinge leaf boss. A bush 33 is located in the boss 30 to facilitate rotation. A projection 18b is provided to prevent axial withdrawl to the boss 30 in the normal operating range of the hinge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Separable hinge This invention relates to a separable hinge suitable for use in mounting of vehicle doors.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a separable hinge including a first hinge leaf and a second hinge leaf hingedly connected by a hinge pin, the hinge pin being fixedly located in the first hinge leaf and rotatably and axially withdrawable from the second hinge leaf. Preferably one hinge leaf has a boss portion of constant cross-sectional shape along its axial length and the other hinge leaf defines a recess for receiving the boss portion of said one hinge leaf, the recess having at one axial end a shoulder for engaging one axial end face of said boss portion throughout a predetermined range of relative angular positions between said leaves. Preferably both hinge leafs are formed from lengths of metal strip of constant cross-sectional shape such as rolled steel.

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 hinge according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the hinge of Fig.

1 as viewed in the direction of arrow Y; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are each a plan view of the hinge of Fig. 1 wherein the hinge leaves are shown in different angular positions; and Figure 6 is an axial section taken along line X-X in Fig. 1.

The hinge 10 illustrated includes a first hinge leaf 11 which is hingedly connected to a second hinge leaf 12 by a hinge pin 14.

Hinge leaf 11 has two arm portions 11 a and 11 b which are located generally perpendicularly to one another. The arm portion 11 a is intended to be fixedly attached to a vehicle body and thus serves as a mounting portion for the hinge leaf 11.

Arm portion 11 b has at one axial end a boss portion 16 having a central bore 1 7 passing. therethrough. At the opposition axial end arm portion 11 b has a projection 18 defining a shoulder 18a. Located between projection 18 and boss portion 16 is a recess 20 for accommodating hinge leaf 12.

The hinge pin 14 is fixedly located in bore 17 and projects axially from the boss portion 16 to extend across the recess 20. The hinge pin 14 has a series of serrations 24 so that on assembly the pin 14 is driven into the bore 17 until its head portion 1 4a engages the axial face end of the boss portion 16. The serrations 24 grip the internal surfaces of bore 17 and thereby fixedly hold the pin 14 in place.

The hinge leaf 11 is formed from a elongate strip of metal of constant cross-sectional shape such as a length of rolled steel. Thus to form a leaf 11, a suitable length is cut from the elongate strip to define the axial length of the hinge leaf 11, a milling operation is performed to create recess 20, projection 18 and define the axial length of boss portion 16. Bore 17 is then formed in the boss portion. The length of the projection 18, i.e. the extent that it projects toward the axis of hinge pin 14 can be easily adjusted to a desired length during the milling operation.

Hinge leaf 12 has an arm portion 1 2a which is intended to be fixedly attached to a vehicle door preferably by welding. Extending from the arm portion 1 2a is a hinge pin receiving boss portion 30. The boss portion 30 has formed therein a bore 31 for rotatably receiving the hinge pin 14. A bush 33 is preferably located in the bore 31 to facilitate rotation of the hinge pin. Preferably the bush is formed from a material having self lubricating properties such as Metaloplast (Registered Trade Mark).

The axial length of the hinge leaf 12 is such as to enable the hinge leaf 12 to be located in the recess 20 as illustrated in Fig. 1. One axial end face 34 of the boss portion 30 is located adjacent the boss portion 16 being spaced therefrom by an annular flange portion 33a of the bush. The cross-sectional shape of the boss portion 30 and the shape of recess 20 and projection 18 are designed such that the opposite axial end face 36 of the body portion engages against the shoulder 1 8a defined by projection 18 over a predetermined range of relative angular positions between hinge leaves 11 and 12. This range may be adjusted by changing the shape of the end face 18b of the projection 18. As shown in the drawings, the edge of the end face 36 cooperating with the shoulder 1 8a is a continuous curve.The range of angular positions possible is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5.

In Fig. 3 the hinge leaves are shown in the relative angular position adopted when a vehicle door is closed.

In Fig. 5 the hinge leaves are shown in the relative angular position adopted when the vehicle door is in its, in use, fully open position which is usually determined by a door check. Figs. 3 and 5 therefore illustrate two extremes of relative angular positions and in these positions, and positions inbetween, end face 36 engages shoulder 18a and thereby prevents axial withdrawal of hinge leaf 12 from the hinge pin 14.

If however the hinge leaves were moved beyond the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 then the end face 36 would be clear of projection 18 and therefore hinge leaf 12 is able to be withdrawn axially from the pin 14 in that position. The hinge leaf 12 is preferably provided with an arm portion 40 which is located to engage arm portion 11 b and thereby serve as a stop to limit the maximum amount of relative rotation between the hinge leaves and define a position at which axial separation can be achieved.

The leaf 12 is also made from an elongate strip of metal of constant cross-section such as rolled steel. To form a leaf 12 a suitable length is cut from the elongate strip to define the axial length of the leaf 12 and then bore 31 is then formed in the body portion.

The hinge pin 14 preferably extends beyond the shoulder 18a and is provided with stop means 50 which in the illustrated embodiment is preferably a circlip so as to prevent axial separation in all relative angular positions of the hinge leafs.

The above construction is easy to manufacture, can be made of compact size and is of sturdy construction.

Separation of a vehicle door from a vehicle body is easily achieved by removing the stop means 50, if provided, and rotating the door beyond a predetermined angular limit so as to clear the body portion 30 from the shoulder 18a and then lift the door clear in order to separate hinge leafs 11, 12.

Claims

1. A separable hinge including a first hinge leaf and a second hinge leaf hingedly connected by a hinge pin, the hinge pin being fixedly located in the first hinge leaf and rotatably and axially withdrawable from the second hinge leaf.

2. A hinge according to Claim 1 wherein one hinge leaf has a hinge pin receiving boss portion of constant cross-sectional shape along its axial length and the other hinge leaf defines a recess for receiving the boss portion of said one hinge leaf, the recess having at one axial end a shoulder for engaging one axial end face of said boss portion throughout a predetermined range of relative angular positions between said leaves.

3. A hinge according to Claim 2 wherein said one hinge leaf includes a stop arm projecting radially from said boss portion, the stop arm co-operating with said other hinge leaf to define a limit of relative angular movement beyond said predetermined range of relative angular positions and whereat said one axial end face is free of said shoulder to thereby permit axial separation of the hinge leaves.

4. A hinge according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the hinge pin is fixedly located in said other hinge leaf and extends across the recess and beyond said shoulder, the hinge pin adjacent to its terminal end being provided with removable stop means, for example a circlip, for preventing axial separation of the hinge leaves.

5. A hinge according to Claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the end face of said boss portion for co-operating with the said shoulder has a continuously curved edge.

6. A hinge according to any of Claims 2 to 5 wherein said one hinge leaf is formed from a length of metal strip of constant cross-sectional shape.

7. A hinge according to any of Claims 2 to 6 wherein said other hinge leaf is formed from a length of metal strip of constant cross-sectional shape which is machined to define said recess and shoulder.

8. A separable hinge substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.