Automatic Latch Assembly for Aircraft Cargo Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual operation of safety latches in storage compartments of airplanes is time-consuming and prone to human error, leading to safety issues when securing boxes in succession, as the first box must be manually locked and unlocked to allow or prevent reverse movement.
Innovation Solution
A latch assembly with a safety latch that automatically raises and resets using an elastic force, and a trigger latch that allows automatic securing and unlocking of boxes without manual operation, enabling boxes to be inserted and removed efficiently while ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual operation of safety latch is used to secure boxes, then the box can be securely locked, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly performs automatic raising and resetting of the safety latch without requiring manual intervention. The system uses the insertion motion of the box itself to trigger the latch raising mechanism, and automatically resets when the box is removed, making the system self-servicing and eliminating time-consuming manual operations while maintaining secure locking
Solution Approach 2:
The safety latch is pre-positioned in a lowered state and automatically raised to the locked position as the box is inserted into the storage compartment. This preliminary positioning and automatic activation eliminates the need for manual operation after box insertion, reducing time loss while ensuring security
2Reliability
If manual raising of safety latch is required, then the box can be secured, but human error such as forgetting to raise the latch may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic raising mechanism eliminates the need for human intervention to raise the safety latch. The system uses the box insertion motion itself to trigger the latch raising through the trigger latch mechanism, ensuring that security is always maintained without relying on human memory or attention, thus preventing errors while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger latch provides automatic feedback based on the box insertion motion. When the box is inserted, it automatically activates the trigger latch which then raises the safety latch. This feedback mechanism ensures that the security action is always taken in response to the insertion event, eliminating human error while keeping the system simple to operate
3Reliability
If safety latch must be manually reset, then the first box can be secured, but subsequent box insertion requires manual resetting
Solution Approach 1:
The safety latch automatically resets to the lowered position when the first box is removed from the storage compartment. This self-resetting function eliminates the need for manual resetting operations, allowing subsequent boxes to be inserted and secured without additional manual steps, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The latch system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The safety latch automatically transitions between lowered and raised positions based on the presence or absence of a box. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to different operational states automatically, reducing the number of manual steps required while ensuring security is maintained
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 assembly automatically secures boxes in their intended positions, reducing manual effort and the risk of human error, allowing for safe and efficient insertion and removal of boxes without manual intervention, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency in airplane storage compartments.
Implementation Method 1
The safety latch (2) is raisable, e.g. by an elastic force, from its lowered end position to its raised end position
Data Source
AI summary
A latch assembly (1) is presented which comprises a safety latch (2) and a trigger latch (4). The safety latch (2) is releasable to raise from a lowered end position into a raised end position for, in use with an object, locking the object. The trigger latch (4) is adapted for fixing the safety latch (2) in its lowered end position and operable for releasing the safety latch (2). The safety latch (2) is adapted to be reset from its raised end position into its lowered end position for unlocking the object. Moreover, a storage compartment having at least one latch assembly (1) is presented.