Gravity-Actuated Waste Container Latch with Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste container latches are vulnerable to unauthorized opening by animals, such as raccoons, and fail to automatically disengage when tipped over, potentially causing contents to spill during garbage truck dumping.
Innovation Solution
A latch mechanism that automatically disengages from a striker when the waste container is rotated beyond 90 degrees and includes a release weight and damper to control the disengagement process, ensuring the lid remains closed unless the container is properly oriented for dumping, and requires specific manual operations to open, making it difficult for animals to access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple latch mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing unauthorized opening by animals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism uses a movable latch member that can shift between engaged and disengaged positions based on the container's orientation. The release member moves dynamically in response to gravity when the container is tilted beyond a predetermined angle, automatically disengaging the latch without requiring complex animal-deterrent features.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter from manual operation to gravity-driven automatic operation based on container orientation. By monitoring the angular position of the container relative to vertical, the latch transitions from a static locked state to an automatic release state, simplifying the mechanism while improving reliability against animal interference.
2Reliability
If a latch mechanism requiring specific manual operations is used, then the reliability of preventing animal access is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism serves itself by using the container's own movement and gravity to automatically release the latch. When the container is tilted during legitimate dumping operations, the release member automatically moves to disengage the latch member, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining security against animals.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring active manual operation to open the latch, the system inverts the approach by having the latch automatically open when the container is tilted. The normal upright position keeps the latch engaged, while the inverted or tilted position triggers automatic release, reversing the traditional operation logic.
3Reliability
If the latch mechanism is designed to remain closed during normal operations, then the reliability of content retention is improved, but the ease of operation for legitimate dumping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism transitions from a static closed state to a dynamic state that responds to container orientation. During legitimate dumping operations, when the container is tilted beyond the predetermined angle, the latch automatically transitions from engaged to disengaged, enabling easy opening without compromising content retention during normal upright storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the orientation parameter of the container as the trigger for latch release. By monitoring whether the container is in its normal upright position or tilted at an angle, the latch automatically adjusts its state - remaining engaged for content retention during storage and disengaging for easy opening during legitimate dumping operations.
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 mechanism effectively prevents raccoons from opening the waste container while allowing automatic opening during garbage truck dumping, ensuring contents are retained and preventing spills, thus enhancing security and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a release weight operable to move in response to gravity from a first position to a second position when the latch mechanism rotates
Implementation Method 2
a damper operative to increase an amount of time for the release weight to move from the first position to the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A latch is provided for latching and automatically unlatching a lid from a waste container. The latch mechanism includes a release weight that moves responsive to gravity in a housing from a first position to a second position to cause the latch to disengage from a striker when the latch is rotated to a dump angular orientation. The latch includes a damper that controls movement of the release weight in the housing such that an amount of time for the release weight to move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position is at least two times an amount of time the release weight would take to move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position absent the effect of the damper.