Back-Locking Lens Adapter Pawl Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent use of bayonets to fix lenses in lens adapters leads to wear and tear, resulting in gaps between the lens and adapter over time, affecting camera performance.
Innovation Solution
A back-locking lens fixing device with a tube body, first and second male pawl portions, and a rotational portion that locks the lens in place without using a bayonet, limiting translational and rotational degrees of freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bayonet is used to fix the lens in the lens adapter, then the lens can be securely mounted, but the bayonet will be continually worn with increasing frequency of use
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into multiple independent pawl portions (first male pawl portions on the lens and second male pawl portions on the connecting base) that work together to secure the lens. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stress across multiple contact points, reducing wear on any single component and eliminating the need for a traditional bayonet mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a traditional bayonet mechanism where the lens rotates to lock, this invention inverts the approach by using pawl portions that engage through complementary shapes (receiving grooves and limiting flanges). The lens is secured through a different mechanical principle that avoids the rotational wear inherent in bayonet designs.
2Ease of operation
If the bayonet is used frequently for locking and loosening, then the lens can be quickly changed, but the bayonet will be continually worn
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is designed to rotate relative to the connecting base, allowing the lens to be mounted and dismounted dynamically. The pawl portions engage and disengage through this rotational motion, enabling quick lens changes while distributing wear across the durable pawl and groove interfaces rather than a single bayonet contact point.
3Reliability
If a traditional locking mechanism is used, then the lens can be fixed, but gaps will be produced between the lens and lens adapter after wear
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates receiving grooves and limiting flanges that are precisely formed during manufacturing to accommodate the pawl portions. These pre-formed features ensure that the pawls engage at the correct positions, maintaining precise alignment and preventing gaps from developing even after extensive use and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting base and lens connecting portions are designed with complementary geometric features (receiving grooves, limiting flanges, pawl portions) that work together as a composite system. This composite approach ensures that wear on one component does not compromise the overall precision, as the complementary features maintain proper engagement and alignment throughout the service life.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens adapter and its back-locking lens fixing device are provided here. The lens fixing device comprises a connecting base (3) which has a receiving hole (31) for receiving the connecting end of the tube body (1) axially opened on it; the lens fixing device further comprises a limiting portion (4) mounted on the connecting base (3), which comprises a rotational portion (41) rotatably sleeved outside of the connecting base (3) and three second male pawl portions (42) those are connected with the rotational portion (41) and extend into the receiving hole (31) through a sidewall of the connecting base (3). The design lens adapter and its back-locking lens fixing device are clever and practical.