Hatch/Lid opening help against gravity- references ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around mechanisms and designs that can facilitate the effortless opening and closing of large hatches or lids, focusing on non-powered, compact energy storage and release systems. Participants explore various mechanical solutions, including springs and counterweights, while considering specific requirements such as compactness and temperature resistance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks references for compact, non-powered mechanisms to assist with hatch opening and closing.
  • Another participant suggests using counterweights, springs, and gas springs, asking for more specific details or drawings of the intended design.
  • A participant specifies a need for compact spring or counterweight ideas that are not affected by temperature, ruling out gas springs and noting a required range of motion of about 100 degrees.
  • One suggestion involves using torsion springs, although another participant argues that they may be too large in diameter for the required torque of 300 Nm over a 100-degree opening.
  • A different approach is proposed, suggesting the use of hydraulics to convert rotation to translation, combined with a traditional linear spring and plunger for energy storage.
  • A participant expresses interest in hydraulic systems and requests examples or references to learn more about such concepts.
  • Another participant admits to limited knowledge of hydraulics and refers to Wikipedia for general information on fluid power.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on the best mechanisms for the task, with no consensus reached on a specific solution or design approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the limitations of their proposed mechanisms, such as the impact of size, torque requirements, and temperature effects on the effectiveness of the suggested systems.

achopra1
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I am looking for references to systems/designs/mechanisms that can help make the opening/closing efforts of large Hatches/Lids near effortless.
Not looking for powered systems - more like energy storage/release mechanisms. Preferably very compact designs.
Appreciate it if somebody can help point to references or even commercial systems...
 
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That's done all the time using counterweights, springs, gas springs, and other devices. Maybe you could be a bit more specific or post a drawing of what you're trying to do.
 
I am looking for spring/counter weight ideas that are extremely compact and not affected by temperature. That cuts out gas springs. The range of motion needs to be about 100 degrees so most simple springs will not work.
 
How about a http://www.engineersedge.com/spring_torsion_calc.htm" ?
 
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Torsion springs are too big in diameter for large hatches. I am talking about say 300 Nm torque requirement over 100 degree opening
 
Maybe use hydraulics to change the rotation to a translation, and use a traditional linear spring and plunger to store the energy?
 
That sounds interesting. I have not dealt with hydraulic systems. Can you point to some systems that use concepts like these so I can look and learn ?
 
I know almost nothing about hydraulics, sorry. So I'll punt and refer you to wikipedia.org. When I searched on hydraulics at wikipedia, it redirected me to the more general topic of "fluid power":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_power
 

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