Compliant Drawer Latch Assembly for Over-Travel Shock Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hard stops in storage chassis cause drawers to rebound after over-traveling, leading to shock imparted to storage devices and other assemblies, potentially resulting in data corruption or damage, and require additional manual operations to return to a latching position.
Innovation Solution
A compliant drawer latch system with a latch strike plate assembly that compresses a return spring when the drawer over-travels, allowing it to return to a latching position without rebounding, reducing shock and simplifying assembly and disassembly without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard stop is used to prevent drawer over-travel, then the drawer is prevented from falling on the floor or damaging other assemblies, but the drawer rebounds after contact causing shock to storage devices and requiring additional manual operations to return to latching position
Solution Approach 1:
The latch strike plate assembly incorporates a compressible element (spring or elastomer) that is pre-positioned to engage the drawer before it reaches the hard stop position. This cushioning element gradually absorbs the drawer's kinetic energy during compression, preventing the sudden impact and rebound that would otherwise occur at the hard stop, thereby eliminating shock to storage devices while maintaining reliable drawer positioning
2Ease of operation
If a hard stop is used to limit drawer travel, then the drawer is prevented from over-traveling, but the abrupt contact causes rebound and requires additional manual closure operations
Solution Approach 1:
The latch strike plate assembly with its compressible element automatically returns the drawer to the latching position after over-travel by utilizing the stored elastic energy in the compressed spring or elastomer. This self-returning mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention to reclose the drawer, saving time and simplifying operation while maintaining precise drawer positioning
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a compliant latch system with compressible element is used to reduce shock, then rebound is eliminated and storage devices are protected, but the assembly and disassembly may require tools
Solution Approach 1:
The latch strike plate assembly is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently assembled and disassembled from the chassis. This segmentation allows the compressible element to be pre-assembled with the strike plate in a simple manner, and the entire assembly to be installed or removed as a single unit, maintaining ease of manufacture and assembly while providing shock reduction functionality
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 compliant drawer latch system effectively reduces shock to storage devices and other assemblies by returning an over-traveled drawer to a latching position resiliently, eliminating the need for additional manual closure operations and simplifying maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the latch return spring arranged between the latch strike plate and the latch spring cap plate. When the drawer over-travels the latch strike plate compresses the latch return spring up to a predetermined distance, and the compressed latch return spring applies force to the latch strike plate to return the latch strike plate to a latching position
Data Source
AI summary
A compliant drawer latch is provided. The compliant drawer latch includes a first portion affixed to an inside surface of a chassis, and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion includes a latch strike plate, a latch spring cap plate, and a latch return spring arranged between the latch strike plate and the latch spring cap plate. A drawer contacts the latch strike plate when the drawer is seated in the chassis. When the drawer over-travels the latch strike plate compresses the latch return spring up to a predetermined distance, and the compressed latch return spring applies force to the latch strike plate to return the latch strike plate to a latching position when the drawer rebounds from over-travel.