Aircraft Latch With Adjustable Handle For Flush Aerodynamic Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft latches with adjustable handles face challenges in minimizing aerodynamic drag while ensuring secure closure and easy operation, as existing designs often require complex adjustments and may not maintain a flush surface when closed.
Innovation Solution
A latch with a pin adjustment mechanism and a handle that can be pivoted to a closed position, featuring an adjustable screw for aligning the handle's exterior surface flush with the structure, and a hook member with a threaded shaft for adjustable positioning, allowing for secure engagement and easy tool access for adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the handle is positioned flush with the surface when closed, then aerodynamic drag is minimized, but the handle positioning becomes difficult to adjust precisely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an adjustable handle mechanism that allows the handle to be dynamically repositioned along the latch body. The handle can be moved to different positions and locked in place, enabling it to be positioned flush with the surface when closed to minimize aerodynamic drag, while still allowing for easy adjustment during installation or maintenance through the adjustable mechanism with indexing positions.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex adjustment mechanisms are used to achieve precise handle positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adjustment mechanism into discrete indexed positions along the latch body, allowing the handle to be positioned at specific predetermined locations. This segmentation provides precise positioning capability while keeping the mechanism simple, as the handle can be moved to one of several fixed positions rather than requiring continuous adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable handle mechanism is designed to be self-aligning and self-locking at the indexed positions. The handle naturally settles into the predetermined positions without requiring complex locking mechanisms or precision alignment tools, allowing for easy adjustment while maintaining positioning precision through the inherent design of the indexed system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The latch effectively minimizes aerodynamic drag by ensuring the handle is flush with the surface when closed, provides secure engagement through adjustable positioning, and allows for convenient adjustment without shimming, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the pin adjustment mechanism is an adjustable screw threadedly attached to the body. When the adjustable screw is rotated threadedly in a first direction, the first end of the handle is urged towards the body, and when the adjustable screw is rotated threadedly in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first end of the handle travels away from the body.
Implementation Method 2
the hook member includes a threaded shaft attached threadedly to the second end of the body. the body includes a hook adjustment mechanism for movably adjusting the hook member between an extended position and a retracted position.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A latch (10) includes a body (12) having a first end (13) and a second end (15), a trigger-catch-pin (64), and a pin adjustment mechanism (52) for adjusting the position of the trigger-catch-pin (64) within the body (12). The latch (10) includes a handle (32) having a first end (31) and a second end (33), an exterior surface (34), and a trigger (40). The second end (33) of the handle (32) is attached pivotally to the body (12) such that the handle (32) is moveable between a closed position, in which the trigger (40) of the handle (32) is releasably engaged with the trigger-catch-pin (64), and an open position, in which the trigger (40) of the handle (32) is disengaged from the trigger-catch-pin (64), The pin adjustment mechanism (52) is adapted to adjust the position of the trigger-catch-pin (64) within the body (12) and, in turn, the position of the first end (31) of the handle (32) relative to the body (12), so that the exterior surface (34) of the handle (32) may be positioned flush with an exterior surface of an external structure.