JP2002323034A - Hinge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grease stay groove of a resin friction object by surely and easily making a grease oil film necessary for the smooth rotation of a metal rotary shaft and by devising the prevention of the resin friction object from breaking. SOLUTION: The grease stay groove of the resin friction object is shaped into V and angled at the centerline so that grease stays there.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hinge device for pivotally supporting an upper cover or the like to which a liquid crystal monitor is attached, in a device such as a notebook personal computer. The present invention relates to a hinge device having a structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, devices such as notebook personal computers have become increasingly smaller and lighter for convenience in carrying. In addition, the upper cover, to which the liquid crystal display unit is assembled in the notebook computer, is pivotally supported on the notebook computer body by a hinge device. In this case, the hinge device can freely open and close the upper cover and can be freely rotated to any position. It is necessary to provide a lock function that can fix the.

In particular, in recent years, the upper cover has tended to become heavier in view of assembling a screen having a larger screen size in order to make the liquid crystal display portion easier to see. As a result, the hinge device for pivotally supporting the upper cover also has a structure in which the cover holding force is increased, and as a result, the hinge device becomes larger,
This has hindered the reduction in size and weight of the equipment.

Accordingly, the present inventor has proposed a hinge device having a compact structure having the above-mentioned function without impairing the size and weight of the device (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-206621).
issue).

This hinge device has a bearing structure in which a metal rotary shaft is supported by a friction member made of resin. That is, the bearing friction body is composed of a resin molded product having a tapered shape,
A metal rotary shaft, which also has a tapered shape, is fitted into this resin friction body, a nut is screwed into the screw part attached to the rotation shaft, and the rotation shaft is tightened to the resin friction body, so that the resin friction body and metal rotation shaft Is pressed.

Here, since the friction member made of resin and the rotating shaft made of metal are pressed together, the resistance when the rotating shaft made of metal becomes too strong, and the rotating shaft is locked and cannot move. There is a possibility that it will occur. In order to avoid this, as shown in FIG. 9, four to eight grease accumulating grooves (T) are provided on the fitting surface for inserting the rotating shaft made of metal of the resin friction body (A). Reservoir groove (T)
Grease is sealed in the metal shaft (B)
A grease film is formed between the resin and the friction body made of resin (A).

[0007]

The grease reservoir groove (T) formed in the resin friction body (A) used in the conventional hinge device has a relatively wide cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. It was a narrow rectangle. However, the tapered outer surface of the metal rotary shaft (B) is tightly fitted into the tapered inner surface of the resin friction member (A), and the rotating metal inner surface of the resin friction member (A) is rotated. It is rubbed while being strongly pressed by the shaft (B). As a result, the opening edge portion of the grease reservoir groove (T) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the resin friction body (A) is crushed by the tapered outer peripheral surface of the metal rotary shaft (B), as shown in FIG. And the opening of the grease reservoir groove (T) may be blocked.

As described above, when the opening of the grease collecting groove (T) is closed, the grease oil in the grease collecting groove (T) does not go out, and the resin friction body (A) and the metal rotary shaft ( This will prevent the formation of a grease oil film for lock prevention, which can be performed during B). When the generation of the grease oil film is insufficient, the rotation of the metal rotary shaft (B)
The rotating shaft (B) made of metal is seized on the friction body (A) made of resin, so that the rotation becomes impossible and there is a possibility that the friction body (A) made of resin is cracked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a lubricating oil reservoir which is formed between a resin friction body and a rotating shaft and which does not hinder the generation of an anti-lock lubricating oil film. An object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device having a groove structure and capable of ensuring a smooth rotational operation with a sense of resistance for a long period of time.

[0010]

The invention according to claim 1 is
The same tapered peripheral surface of the rotary shaft is press-fitted into the tapered bearing hole of the resin friction body, and the tapered inner surface of the rotary shaft is pressed into contact with the tapered inner surface of the bearing hole of the resin friction body by tightening means. At the same time, a lubricating oil reservoir groove is formed on the tapered inner surface of the bearing hole of the resin friction body, and lubricating oil is supplied from the lubricating oil reservoir groove between the inner surface of the bearing hole and the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft. In the hinge device having a structure in which a lubricating oil film is formed in the meantime to rotate the rotating shaft with a sense of resistance, the lubricating oil sump groove has a cross-sectional shape in which the inner surface of the bearing hole of the resin-made friction body has a rotating shaft. The hinge device has a shape in which the opening of the lubricating oil reservoir groove is not closed even when the compression force is applied. The cross-sectional shape includes a shape in which the opening is hardly crushed or a shape in which the opening is not closed even if crushed.

The invention according to claim 2 is the hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil sump groove has a V-shaped cross section.

According to a third aspect of the invention, when the width of the opening is W and the depth of the groove is H, the cross-sectional shape of the lubricating oil sump groove is W> H. 2. The hinge device according to claim 1.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the hinge according to the second or third aspect, the lubricating oil sump groove has a cross-sectional shape in which an edge of an opening in the groove has a corner drop shape. Device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the lubricating oil sump groove is formed to be elongated and spirally arranged at an angle with respect to a center line of the resin friction body. A hinge device according to claim 2, 3, or 4.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is an example of a hinge device 3 for pivotally supporting an upper door 1 of a notebook personal computer on a personal computer main body 2.

The bearing body 4 of the hinge device 3 is integrally formed of a zinc die-cast product, and a cylindrical holding portion 6 for holding a resin friction member 5 described later, and the bearing body 4 is attached to the personal computer body 2. And a fixing leg 7. A metal rotary shaft 8 fixedly supporting the upper door 1 as a rotating member is fitted into the resin friction body 5. The rotary shaft 8 is made of, for example, iron such as stainless steel.

A cylindrical metal collar 9 is closely fitted around the outer periphery of the resin friction member 5 protruding from the holding portion 6. The metal collar 9 has its base end 11 attached to the holding part 6.
Are attached so as not to rotate around the outer periphery of the edge. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of locking notches 12 are formed at the base end 11 of the metal collar 9, while the locking notches 12 are formed on the outer periphery of the holding portion 6. Are provided. Then, when the metal collar 9 is fitted on the outer periphery of the holding portion 6, each notch 12 is fitted and locked into the corresponding locking projection 13, thereby preventing the rotation of the metal collar 9. It has become. Further, when the metal collar 9 is fitted on the outer periphery of the holding portion 6, it is preferable to attach the metal collar 9 to the outer periphery of the holding portion 6 by bonding, welding, or the like.

The resin friction member 5 is a cylindrical resin molded product and has a tapered bearing hole 15 therein.
Are formed. As a material of the resin friction body 5, for example, there is a polycarbonate material (Poycarbonate Materials). In addition, polycarbonate molding material (Polycarbonate Molding Material
It is preferred to mold using s). As shown in FIG. 3, the taper angle 2θ of the bearing hole 15 is 10 ° to 25 °.
°, and particularly preferably 14 °.

The resin friction body 5 has its base end 17 fitted into the inner hole 16 of the holding portion 6 of the bearing body 4 and is held by the bearing body 4 so as not to rotate. The peripheral surface of the base end portion 17 of the resin friction body 5 is not a circular surface but an irregular shape, for example, a flat surface 18 is formed on at least a part of the peripheral surface. On the other hand, an inner hole 16 of the holding portion 6 into which the odd-shaped base end portion of the resin friction body 5 is fitted has a shape to be engaged with the flat surface 18.

Also, as shown in FIG.
The base end portion 17 is a small-diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the protruding end portion 19 protruding from the inner hole 16 of the holding portion 6. The metal collar 9 is closely fitted around the outer periphery of the protruding end 19 of the resin friction body 5.

Further, the bearing hole 1 of the resin friction body 5
A grease collecting groove 21 is formed on the inner surface of the taper 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the grease reservoir groove 21 here is arranged in an elongated shape in parallel with the center line O of the resin friction body 5. The cross-sectional shape of the grease reservoir groove 21 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. Each corner 22 in the opening of the grease accumulation groove 21, that is, each opening edge has a corner drop shape having a small radius (R) shape. The grease reservoir groove 21 contains grease oil as a lubricant. The grease collecting groove 21 is provided on the rotating shaft 8.
It is preferable that the tapered peripheral surface be limited to the area of the tapered inner surface of the bearing hole 15 of the resin friction body 5 to be joined. That is, the grease collecting groove 21 is formed in the bearing hole 1.
5 does not penetrate the region of the tapered inner surface. By arranging the grease reservoir groove 21 in this manner, the grease oil holding capacity is increased, and unnecessary leakage of the grease oil can be prevented, and the strength of the resin friction body 5 due to the formation of the grease reservoir groove 21 can be reduced. Can be prevented.

On the other hand, the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 8 fitted into the resin friction body 5 also has a tapered outer peripheral surface 2 of the same taper type corresponding to the tapered inner surface of the bearing hole 15.
5 is formed. The tapered peripheral surface of the metal rotary shaft 8 is inserted into the tapered bearing hole 15 of the resin friction body 5, and the bearing hole 15 is tightened by tightening means described later.
The tapered inner surface of the metal rotary shaft 8 is pressed against the tapered inner surface.

One end of the rotary shaft 8 penetrates through the holding portion 6 of the bearing main body 4 from the resin friction body 5 and
6, a tip end 27 of one end has a washer 31 for preventing damage to the main body and a washer 32 for preventing rotation.
Is fitted. The washers 31 and 32 are both metal plates, but may be made of a relatively strong hard resin.

Further, a male screw 33 is formed at the tip end portion 27 of the rotary shaft 8, and a tightening nut 34 is screwed to the male screw 33. Then, connect the nut 34 with the male screw 33
Then, the rotary shaft 8 is drawn into the nut 34 side, and the tapered inner surface of the bearing hole 15 is pressed against the tapered peripheral surface of the metal rotary shaft 8. The washers 31, 32 are also tightened by the reaction at that time. When the washers 31 and 32 are tightened, the main body damage prevention washer 31 is pressed against the back surface 26 of the holding portion 6, and the rotation prevention washer 32 is pressed against a tightening nut 34 and is integrated with the rotating shaft 8. The main body damage preventing washer 31 is
The anti-rotation washer 32 may be integrally connected to the tightening nut 34 by locking means (not shown).

Normally, the rotation preventing washer 32 is fixed to a tightening nut 34 and rotates together with the rotating shaft 8. Further, the washer 31 for preventing damage to the main body is fixed to the holding portion 6. The rotation preventing washer 32 and the main body damage preventing washer 31 slide relative to each other to allow the rotation of the rotating shaft 8.

In this embodiment, the friction member 5 made of resin is fitted on the rotating shaft 8 and assembled as shown in FIG. 1, and the rotating shaft 8 made of metal is further tightened with the nut 34. For this reason, this tightening force is applied to the resin friction body 5 via the tapered peripheral surface of the metal rotary shaft 8, and the resin friction body 5
The stress which tries to extend outside is generated. The resin friction body 5 itself tends to expand outward by receiving this stress, but the metal collar 9 fitted on the outer periphery of the resin friction body 5 prevents the expansion and blocks the escape of the tightening force. Then, the tightening force of the resin friction body 5 stopped by the metal collar 9 becomes a repulsive force, and produces an action of pressing the metal rotary shaft 8 against the metal friction shaft 5.

In this manner, the resin-made friction member 5 produces a solid and strong elastic action even though it is a compact part by itself, and has a function as an elastic member which produces a sufficient spring effect with a small thickness. Will be. In addition, when sliding by the wedge action by the fitting between the tapered surfaces of the resin friction body 5 and the rotating shaft 8, the rotating shaft 8 can generate necessary resistance when rotating.

Here, the grease oil sealed in the grease accumulating groove 21 seeps out between the resin friction body 5 and the metal rotary shaft 8, and the resin friction body 5 and the metal rotary shaft 8
Since the grease film is formed in between, the resin friction body 5 and the metal rotary shaft 8 are not firmly fixed even when pressed, and the normal rotation of the metal rotary shaft 8 is not hindered. That is, the resistance force when rotating the metal rotary shaft 8 does not become too strong, and the rotary shaft does not lock and does not move. For example, 7 kg / mm
A required resistance can be easily obtained by providing a certain level of resistance, and at the same time, a function of locking the metal rotary shaft 8 at an arbitrary rotated position is also achieved. Then, a normal rotation operation can be guaranteed, and the resistance is constant and the sense of resistance is stabilized.

Further, it is possible to change to a plug-in method of assembling the resin friction body 5 to the bearing main body 4, and in this case, the assembly cost can be reduced, the apparatus can be reduced in size, and the weight can be reduced. Since the number of points is small, the price is low and the appearance is excellent.

On the other hand, in order to obtain a necessary sense of resistance between the friction member 5 made of resin and the rotating shaft 8 made of metal, the nut 34 is used.
As a result, the metal rotary shaft 8 strongly presses against the inner surface of the resin friction body 5 to deform the opening edge of the grease reservoir groove 21. However, since the cross-sectional shape of the grease collecting groove 21 is substantially V-shaped, the opening is difficult to be crushed, and even if the edge of the opening is slightly crushed, the opening is closed. Can be avoided.
Further, since each corner 22 of the opening of the grease reservoir groove 21, that is, each edge, has a small radius (R) shape, the shape is more difficult to be crushed.

It should be noted that, instead of the round (R) shape, a straight shape may be formed so that the corners are dropped. Also,
The cross-sectional shape of the grease reservoir groove 21 is not limited to a typical V-shape having a narrow bottom, but may be a trapezoidal V-shape having a width at the bottom.

As described above, in the grease collecting groove 21 of the present embodiment, the edge of the opening is difficult to be crushed even when the compressive force of the rotating shaft is received, and the opening is formed even if it is slightly crushed. It does not block the part.

(Second Embodiment) A hinge device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the grease accumulation groove 21 is different. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the width of the opening in the cross-sectional shape of the grease collecting groove 21 is W and the depth of the groove is H, the shape is a substantially rectangular shape in which W> H. The other configuration is the same as the first configuration described above.
This is the same as that of the embodiment.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, even if the inner surface of the bearing hole of the resin friction body 5 receives the pressing force from the rotary shaft 8 and the edge of the grease accumulation groove 21 is deformed, the opening of the grease accumulation groove 21 is thereby formed. It does not mean that the department will be blocked. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the grease collecting groove 21 in the present embodiment is a shape that does not block the opening.

(Third Embodiment) A hinge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the grease reservoir groove 21 is disposed at an angle to the center line O of the resin friction body 5. As described above, when the grease collecting groove 21 is arranged obliquely with respect to the center line O of the resin friction body 5,
The following functions and effects are obtained.

The resin-made friction member 5 is generally formed integrally by a molding technique. When the tapered peripheral surface of the metal rotary shaft 8 is pushed into the resin-made friction member 5, the pushing force is applied to the radiation passing through the center line O. The resin friction body 5
It becomes the force of the direction to push.

Here, when the grease accumulation groove 21 is provided along the direction parallel to the center line O as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the thickness of the wall portion is increased over the entire length of the grease accumulation groove 21. It becomes a thin part, and the strength of that part decreases. Since the grease collecting groove 21 having low strength is formed along the direction parallel to the center line O, the metal rotating shaft 8 is formed.
If the resin friction member 5 is strongly tightened, the resin friction body 5 may be broken along the grease reservoir groove 21.

If the required resistance is low, the grease collecting groove 21 may be arranged along the direction parallel to the center line O as in the first embodiment.

However, when the grease collecting groove 21 is arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the center line O of the resin friction body 5 as in the case of the present embodiment, the radially expanding force is applied to the grease collecting groove 21. Is applied only to a part of the friction member, the strength is increased, and the resin friction body 5 is not broken.
Therefore, this embodiment is particularly suitable for a case where a strong feeling of resistance is required.

For the above reason, it is desirable that the inclination angle of the grease collecting groove 21 with respect to the center line O of the resin friction body 5 is set to 45 ° with respect to the center line O.

According to the present embodiment, after the resin friction body 5 is assembled, the rotation is not locked and the resin friction body 5 is not broken, and the assembly is simpler than the conventional one, and there is no trouble. Can improve productivity.

Further, the friction area is changed by increasing or decreasing the number of the grease collecting grooves 21. For this reason,
By changing the number of the grease collecting grooves 21, a necessary resistance can be easily obtained.

(Fourth Embodiment) A hinge device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the number of the grease collecting grooves 21 formed on the inner surface of the bearing hole of the resin friction body 5 is eight, and the small-diameter portion side of the tapered inner surface is formed shorter every other length of the grease collecting groove 21. It is. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the grease collecting grooves 21 are arranged as uniformly as possible over the entire inner surface of the tapered bearing hole of the resin friction body 5 so that the supply of grease oil is evenly distributed and the strength of the resin friction body 5 is reduced. It can be equalized as a whole.

(Fifth Embodiment) A hinge device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the grease collecting grooves 21 formed on the inner surface of the bearing hole of the resin-made friction body 5 are all formed short and dispersed. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment.

Also in the case of the present embodiment, the grease collecting grooves 21 are arranged as uniformly as possible on the inner surface of the tapered bearing hole of the resin friction member 5 so that the supply of grease oil is evenly distributed and the strength of the resin friction member 5 is reduced. Even out overall.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, a smooth rotation operation is ensured without hindering the generation of an anti-lock lubricating oil film to be generated between a resin friction body and a metal rotary shaft. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a bearing main body and a metal collar of the hinge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a resin friction body of the hinge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state in which a metal rotary shaft and a resin friction body are assembled.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a hinge device according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a state where a metal rotary shaft and a resin friction body are assembled.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a resin friction body of a hinge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a resin friction body of a hinge device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a resin friction body of a hinge device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a metal rotary shaft and a resin friction body of a conventional hinge device are assembled.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional hinge device in which a grease reservoir groove is crushed by pressure with a metal rotary shaft in a state where a metal rotary shaft and a resin friction body are assembled.

[Explanation of symbols]

 O ... Center line 1 ... Top door 2 ... PC body 3 ... Hinge device 4 ... Body 5 ... Resin friction body 6 ... Holding part 7 ... Leg part 8 ... Metal rotation shaft 9 ... Metal collar 11 ... Base end part 12 ... Notch portion for locking 13 ... Protrusion for locking 15 ... Hole 16 ... Inner hole 17 ... Basic end portion 18 ... Flat surface 19 ... End portion 21 ... Groove 22 ... Corner portion 25 ... Taper outer peripheral surface 26 ... Back surface 27 ... Tip 31 ... Body washer preventing washer 31.32 ... Washer 32 ... Rotation preventing washer 34 ... Nut

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. The same tapered peripheral surface of a rotary shaft is press-fitted into a tapered bearing hole of a resin-made friction member, and the tapered inner surface of the rotation shaft is inserted into a tapered inner surface of the bearing hole of the resin-made friction member by fastening means. Along with pressing the peripheral surface, a lubricating oil reservoir groove is formed on the tapered inner surface of the bearing hole in the resin friction body, and lubricating oil is supplied from the lubricating oil reservoir groove to the inner surface of the bearing hole and the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft. A lubricating oil film is formed between the two surfaces of the lubricating oil film, and the rotating shaft is rotated with a sense of resistance. A hinge device wherein the opening of the lubricating oil sump groove is not closed even when the inner surface of the bearing hole of the body receives the compressive force of the rotating shaft. 2. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil reservoir groove has a V-shaped cross section. 3. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein, when the width of the opening is W and the depth of the groove is H, W> H. . 4. The hinge device according to claim 2, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the lubricating oil sump groove is such that an edge of an opening in the groove has an angle drop shape. 5. The lubricating oil sump groove is formed to be elongated,
5. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the friction member is spirally arranged at an angle with respect to a center line of the resin friction member.