From the retractable keyboard tray you use at work to the cupboard doors in your kitchen, hinges are a part – often unnoticed – of everyday life.
Sometimes, they take on bigger applications, such as industrial refrigerator door in the restaurant kitchen or the counter pass-through at a store.
In these more demanding scenarios, selecting the appropriate type of hinge, whether it's robust lid supports or adaptable gas spring hinges, becomes a significant factor in maintaining functionality and longevity.
The diversity and specific features of these hinges play a pivotal role in meeting the varied needs of both residential and commercial settings.
Selecting the right motion control solution for your application – especially those that require more – isn’t something as simple as going down to your favorite hardware store and finding an appropriately sized hinge. Rather, its about working with an experienced motion control solution provider and weighing several factors to get the right support for your project (no puns intended)
In this quick reference guide, we’ll look at:
As no two hinge applications are identical, so too must the selection of a heavy lid support provider be tailored to each unique set of requirements and conditions.
Thus, different heavy-duty lid support hinges provide different benefits. Some are better suited for a task that is not within a tight space. To determine the best support provider, consider:
Like lids, motion control solutions come in many different sized and shapes.
When considering the most suitable options for controlling and supporting moving lids, it's important to understand the differences and applications of gas spring hinges and lid stays.
Gas spring hinges are ideal for lower-cycle hinge use and on a light load. These tend to be relatively quiet as well. Gas spring hinges tend to take up more space than a mechanical spring hinge, which means for those tighter areas this is not the ideal option.
Lid stays are used in certain situations to control the lid open range. These situations include chest lids, open-front desks, and upward-opening doors. Many stays are rated to support a certain number of inch-pounds (in-lbs). The deeper and heavier the lid, the more lifting and holding power that will be required.
Generally, lid stays are an option that is selected because no hinges are needed. However, in the case of torsion hinges, the two can work in tandem to provide a convenient method of controlling the moving lid while avoiding space issues. While this may seem beneficial, the choice to utilize counterbalance hinges can mean better safety and control.
|
Feature |
Gas Spring Hinges |
Lid Stays |
|
Ideal Use |
Lower-cycle, light load |
Control lid open range |
|
Noise Level |
Relatively quiet |
Quiet |
|
Space Requirements |
More space required |
Less space required |
|
Application Examples |
General purpose, less specific |
Chest lids, open-front desks, upward-opening doors |
|
Load Capacity |
Lower capacity |
Rated for specific inch-pounds, suitable for heavier lids |
|
Need for Hinges |
Required |
Not needed, but can work with torsion hinges |
Counterbalance hinges can be used for pivoting loads. Some examples of counterbalance hinge use include kitchen appliances, freezer doors, and fold-out furniture. Murphy beds are a great example of the effective use of a counterbalance hinge.
Ergonomic office equipment also often uses a counterbalance hinge, providing easy access to the keyboard or mouse, for example, while helping reduce the risk of repetitive injury when these computer accessories are not within comfortable reach.
Regardless of their location - industrial sites or office spaces, kitchens or hotels, counterbalance hinges provide the right support for objects with considerable weight. This is done with special design specifications to keep some of the weight noticeable to provide easier use.
The Vectis DYO app can help you design the right hinge for your product. By inputting the lid weight, the lid center of gravity to the hinge pivot axis, the horizontal distance and the vertical distance, you can start designing your hinge. From there, the next step is choosing a hinge in the Vectis line.
You can opt for the Vectis200, which offers a torque range of 90 to 200 in-lbs; a Vectis600, which offers a torque range of 160 to 600 in-lbs; a Vectis1200 (torque range 350-1200 in-lbs), and a Vectis1800 (torque range 450-1800 in-lbs).
Setting up an order means using slide bar variables to find the optimum torque curve and also adjusting the open and close feel to your desired parameters. From there, you can make sure you have the right quantity selected and move forward with your order.
While you are figuring out the above specifications, you should also keep in mind that the graph shows the Spring Torque Curve (displayed as an orange line), and that curve can be adjusted using a few of the additional parameters available. It can be set above, on, or below the black line and at different angles. This helps control the spring-based torque amounts applied at every angle.
Contact our experienced engineers to address any unanswered questions regarding the right heavy-duty lid support provider. You can also download the resource below for more information.