Flush Bolt Assembly with Internal Spring Nesting

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flush bolt mechanisms expose external springs to dirt, debris, and damage, as they are not contained within the latch bolt, leading to potential malfunction and reduced reliability.

Innovation Solution

A flush bolt assembly with a latch bolt that contains a spring within its interior cavity, using a guide slot and sleeve configuration to guide linear movement and store energy, ensuring the spring is protected and effectively biased for latching and unlatching operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the spring is external to the latch bolt, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the spring is exposed to dirt, debris, and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is nested within the interior cavity of the latch bolt, placing one component inside another. This nesting configuration protects the spring from external contaminants while maintaining the compact structure, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If the spring is external to the latch bolt, then the device complexity is reduced, but the spring is exposed to harmful external factors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidexposure to dirt, debris, and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is nested within the interior cavity of the latch bolt, placing one component inside another. This nesting configuration protects the spring from external contaminants while maintaining the compact structure, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If the spring is contained within the latch bolt, then the spring is protected from dirt, debris, and damage, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is nested within the interior cavity of the latch bolt, placing one component inside another. This nesting configuration protects the spring from external contaminants while maintaining the compact structure, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 solution provides a protected and reliable mechanism for the spring, enhancing the durability and functionality of the flush bolt assembly by preventing exposure to external damage and ensuring consistent operation.

Implementation Method 1

A biasing member is disposed within the interior cavity, and it is configured to store energy upon being compressed between the sleeve and the latch bolt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic energy storage: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS11802428B2Flush bolt assembly with bolt-contained spring

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 OVERHEAD DOOR CORP

AI summary

A flush bolt assembly includes a latch bolt that has a head and a body. The body has an interior cavity that is defined by a plurality of walls. A guide slot is formed in a pair of sidewalls. The assembly also includes a sleeve that defines a through hole that is configured to receive a pin. A biasing member is disposed within the interior cavity, and it is configured to store energy upon being compressed between the sleeve and the latch bolt.