Helicopter Door Latch System with Position Hold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door latch systems, particularly in helicopters, face challenges in ensuring that doors remain securely locked during flight to prevent accidental opening, as some overcenter features require complex, expensive, or heavy components and can inadvertently unlatch.
Innovation Solution
A latch system design featuring a housing with a movable pin and a control rod mechanism, utilizing a spring-loaded control knob to selectively secure the pin in either a locked or unlocked position, preventing accidental movement and ensuring door stability during flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional overcenter features are used to maintain door latch position, then the door can be held securely in locked or unlocked position, but the system requires complicated, expensive, and heavy components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of position holding from complex overcenter mechanisms by implementing a simple pin-and-hole alignment system. The pin is constrained to move only along a predetermined path with designated locked and unlocked positions, eliminating the need for complicated overcenter features while maintaining reliable position stability through geometric constraint alone
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using active mechanisms to maintain latch position, the invention inverts the approach by using passive geometric constraints. The predetermined path of the pin creates natural stable positions through its geometry, where the pin must align with specific holes to engage, thereby holding the door securely without requiring active overcenter mechanisms
2Reliability
If traditional overcenter features are used to maintain door latch position, then the door can be held securely in locked or unlocked position, but the components become expensive and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary weight by extracting only the essential position-holding function from heavy overcenter mechanisms. The solution uses a lightweight pin constrained to a predetermined path with designated engagement points, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical components while maintaining secure position holding through geometric alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by using passive geometric constraints instead of active heavy mechanisms. The predetermined path geometry creates natural stable positions where the pin aligns with holes, providing reliable position stability without requiring heavy components to maintain the latch state
3Reliability
If traditional overcenter features are used, then door latch can be held in position, but the latch can inadvertently unlatch during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the position-holding function from unreliable overcenter features by implementing a controlled pin movement system. The pin is constrained to a predetermined path with specific locked and unlocked positions, and can only transition between these positions through deliberate control rod movement, eliminating inadvertent unlatching while maintaining secure position holding
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies preliminary anti-action by designing the predetermined pin path and control mechanism to prevent accidental position changes. The geometric constraints and controlled movement path create inherent resistance to unintended unlatching, requiring deliberate action through the control rod to transition between locked and unlocked states
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 effectively prevents accidental door opening or closing, enhancing safety by maintaining the pin in a desired position, reducing the risk of damage to the helicopter or latch system, and allowing for reliable operation across various door configurations.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a spring-loaded control knob to selectively secure the pin in either a locked or unlocked position
Data Source
AI summary
A latch system has a pin movable along a pin axis, a control rod connected to the pin, a control wall comprising a control aperture comprising a lock hole joined to an unlock hole by a rod channel, and a control knob biased toward the pin, wherein the control knob comprises a lock tip sized to fit within each of the lock hole and the unlock hole.