Hinged-Detent Casement Operator Crank for Low-Wear Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing casement window operator cranks lack mechanisms to maintain the crank in desired orientations without undesirable wear, particularly when transitioning between open and closed positions.
Innovation Solution
A casement operator crank design featuring a base member, handle, hinged detent, and resilient biasing member, which biases the handle towards open or closed orientations through torque generation, allowing smooth transitions and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a mechanism is added to maintain the crank in open and closed orientations, then the crank stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a hinged detent member with latch arm and armature, and a resilient biasing member. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity of the assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient biasing member automatically biases the hinged detent member to maintain the crank in desired orientations without requiring external control systems or complex actuation mechanisms. The system serves itself through the inherent elastic properties of the biasing member.
2Reliability
If a mechanism is added to maintain crank orientations, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged detent member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically respond to crank position changes. The latch arm can engage or disengage from the armature based on the crank orientation, providing reliable positioning without interfering with user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient biasing member applies only the necessary amount of force to maintain crank orientation without creating excessive resistance during transitions. The biasing force is sufficient to hold the crank in position but allows easy override by the user when opening or closing the window.
3Ease of operation
If the crank is always in operational orientation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The crank handle is designed to be movable between operational and retracted positions. When not in use, the handle can be rotated to a closed orientation where it is less visible, improving aesthetics. When needed, the user can easily rotate it back to the operational open orientation for window control.
Solution Approach 2:
The crank mechanism serves dual functions: it provides operational control for window opening/closing when in the open orientation, and provides aesthetic concealment when in the closed orientation. This multi-functionality allows the same component to satisfy both operational and aesthetic requirements at different times.
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 design maintains the crank in desired orientations with minimal wear, providing a durable and efficient operation by using a combination of hinged detent and resilient biasing member to manage torque, enhancing user experience and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient biasing member acting between the hinged detent and the handle... generate torque on the main body portion in a first direction about the handle axis biasing the main body portion toward the open orientation
Data Source
AI summary
A casement operator crank includes a base member, a handle, a hinged detent, and a resilient biasing member. The handle has a main body portion connects to the base member for rotation about a handle axis between an open orientation and a closed orientation. The hinged detent pivotally engages with the base member for rotation about a detent axis between a first orientation relative to the main body portion and a second orientation relative to the main body portion. The resilient biasing member acts between the hinged detent and the handle. The biasing member and hinged detent operably: a) bias the main body portion toward the open orientation about the handle axis when the main body portion is in the open orientation; and b) the main body portion toward the closed orientation about the handle axis when the main body portion is in the closed orientation.