Should I use a Damping Hinge or a Friction Hinge?

I want to explain the differences between the damping hinge and the friction hinge so it is easier to make an informed decision in your design process. Even though it may seem obvious to some there are a few critical characteristics that must be recognized so the final design will perform as expected. A friction or torque hinge operates on the principle of interference where a pure friction mechanical configuration is created and and a constant torque is used to hold the articulating device in a static position and not to move unless acted upon by an external force. A very common application is a laptop hinge. A damping hinge is a device that uses a viscous fluid in a way such that the fluid is sheared in a small gap around the hinge pin or if the fluid is of a low enough viscosity it can be squeezed through an orifice , this pressures the fluid, slowing down the rotary motion. In a damping hinge ideally no friction can be present, this ensures complete rotation. In a configuration such as a horizontal cabinet door with a damping hinge at the top hinge, when you release the door it will slow close with gravity eventually leaving the door perfectly vertical. A video at our website shows the motion of a door with a slimline rotary viscous damper integrated into the pivot axis. Using our unique design experience we can actually design hybrids of these two hinges.
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This entry was posted in friction hinges, manufacturing, mechanical engineering, patents, rotary viscous damping, torque hinge, Uncategorized and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to Should I use a Damping Hinge or a Friction Hinge?

  1. thank you for your article.

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