Compression Latch Cam Mechanism for Sealing and Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compression latches used for securing storage compartments in restricted areas, such as medical environments, face challenges in terms of performance, cost, and ease of manufacture, necessitating an improvement in their design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A latch system comprising a housing with a cam surface and a shaft that rotates and moves axially, coupled with a pawl, which engages or disengages a frame, allowing for secure compression and easy operation, while preventing unwanted material ingress through a barrier wall and spring mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional compression latch designs are used, then basic securing function is achieved, but performance, cost, and ease of manufacture remain suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The latch is divided into distinct functional modules: a housing containing a cam mechanism, a separate shaft for actuation, a pawl for engagement, and a barrier wall for sealing. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using optimal processes and then assembled, improving overall manufacturability while maintaining reliable securing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The cam surface is extracted as a separate functional element that can be formed on the housing through various manufacturing methods (machining, molding, or additive manufacturing). This extraction allows the cam mechanism to be optimized independently from the housing structure, improving both manufacturing ease and performance
2Reliability
If complex latch mechanisms are used to improve security, then securing performance is enhanced, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a compact mechanism: the cam surface on the housing guides the shaft's axial and rotational movement, which simultaneously actuates the pawl to engage or disengage the frame. The barrier wall is integrated into the housing structure to provide sealing without requiring separate components. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft serves multiple functions: it acts as the actuation lever, guides the pawl movement through its axial displacement, and its interaction with the cam surface provides both motion guidance and force transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall mechanism
3Ease of operation
If manual operation is required for the latch, then ease of operation is maintained, but the torque requirement must be suitable for hand operation
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surface is designed with optimized curvature profiles that provide mechanical advantage during actuation. The curved cam surface allows the shaft to rotate and translate smoothly, converting small manual input torques into the larger forces needed to engage the pawl with the frame, making hand operation feasible
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 system enhances performance by ensuring secure compression, reduces costs through simplified manufacturing, and provides ease of use with a torque requirement suitable for hand operation, maintaining effective sealing and security.
Implementation Method 1
A cam surface is defined by the housing. The cam surface being configured to guide the axial movement of the shaft relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
The shaft and the pawl move together toward the proximal end of the housing upon rotation of the shaft relative to the housing as the latch transitions from the disengaged position toward the engaged position, thereby compressing the panel and the frame relative to one another
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect of the invention, a latch is configured to fix a panel relative to a frame. The latch includes a housing configured for engagement to the panel. The housing defines an aperture extending along a longitudinal axis, and further defines a cam surface facing in a direction along the longitudinal axis. A shaft extends within the aperture of the housing and along the longitudinal axis. The shaft is mounted for at least one of rotational movement relative to the housing about the longitudinal axis and axial movement relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis. A barrier wall is mounted for axial movement relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis. The barrier wall at least partially overlaps with the housing along the longitudinal axis. A shaft surface extends radially outwardly from the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis. The shaft surface contacts the cam surface defined by the housing. The shaft is configured to be coupled to a pawl for engagement of the frame. The cam surface defined by the housing is configured to guide the movement of the shaft relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis or about the longitudinal axis as the shaft is moved within the aperture defined by the housing along the longitudinal axis or about the longitudinal axis and as the shaft surface of the shaft and the cam surface of the housing move relative to one another, such that the pawl can engage or disengage the frame. The barrier wall and the housing move relative to one another along the longitudinal axis in a range of relative positions, and the barrier wall and housing together inhibit the ingress of unwanted materials into the aperture of the housing throughout the range of relative positions.