Hydraulically damped, self-closing hinge

A hydraulically damped, self-closing hinge for hinging a closure member to a support, the hinge comprising:

• a first hinge member comprising a first barrel and a first leaf fixed to said first barrel and configured to be fixed to one of:
• the support and the closure member;
• a second hinge member pivotably mounted on the first hinge member through an intermediary of a first and a second rolling bearing, the second hinge member comprising a second barrel and a second leaf fixed to said second barrel and configured to be fixed to the other one of:
• the support and the closure member;
• a damping mechanism interposed between said hinge members and configured for damping a closing movement of said closure member, the damping mechanism comprising:
• a closed cylinder cavity that has a longitudinal direction and is filled with a volume of hydraulic fluid;
• a damper shaft having a first end extending into the cylinder cavity;
• a piston within said cylinder cavity, the piston dividing the cylinder cavity into a high pressure compartment and a low pressure compartment, the piston being operatively coupled to said damper shaft to be movable between two extreme positions in said longitudinal direction;
• a one-way valve allowing fluid flow from the low pressure compartment to the high pressure compartment when said closure member is being opened;
• and
• at least one restricted fluid passage between the compartments;
• and
• an energy storing mechanism interposed between said hinge members and configured to store energy when said closure member is being opened and to use said energy to effect closure of said closure member,
• wherein
• said first barrel has a main body and a hollow shaft extending from said main body with the damper shaft extending through the hollow shaft, the second barrel being pivotably mounted on said hollow shaft through an intermediary of said rolling bearings, each having an inner race and an outer race, the inner races of said rolling bearings radially engaging an outer surface of said hollow shaft, the outer races of said rolling bearings radially engaging an inner surface of said second barrel, the inner race of the first rolling bearing being axially engaged by a first abutment on said first barrel, the inner race of the second rolling bearing being axially engaged by a second abutment fixed onto said hollow shaft, the outer race of the first rolling bearing being axially engaged by a third abutment on the inner surface of said second barrel, the outer race of the second rolling bearing being axially engaged by a fourth abutment on the inner surface of said second barrel.