Latch Assembly with Dynamic Bolt Expansion for Secure Heat Sink Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat dissipating devices secured to electronic boards with elastic members are not firmly fixed, leading to potential damage when the device vibrates or is hit, as the elasticity cannot effectively prevent movement and contact with the processing unit.
Innovation Solution
A latch assembly comprising a hollow pillar with engaging portions and a bolt that moves between positions to expand the second engaging portion, securely fixing the second object to the first object without the need for elastic members, ensuring immobility and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic members such as springs are used to secure the heat dissipating device to the electronic board, then the assembly process is simplified, but the fixing firmness is insufficient causing the device to shake during vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The latch structure employs a dynamic expansion mechanism where the second engaging portion transitions from a contracted state during assembly to an expanded state during fixation. The bolt's movement along the inserting hole causes the second engaging portion to expand outward, increasing its engagement size and securing the heat dissipating device firmly to the electronic board, thereby resolving the contradiction between easy assembly and reliable fixation.
2Reliability
If the second engaging portion is expanded by the bolt to firmly fix the objects, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to the movable bolt mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The latch structure integrates multiple functions into a single unified mechanism. The hollow pillar combines the first engaging portion for initial assembly, the second engaging portion for secure fixation, and the inserting hole for bolt movement. The bolt simultaneously serves as both a positioning element and an expansion actuator, merging assembly and fixation operations into one coordinated action, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Reliability
If the heat dissipating device is firmly fixed to prevent shaking, then the reliability improves, but the ease of repair worsens due to the secure locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The latch structure's dynamic nature allows it to transition between assembly and disassembly states. By reversing the bolt's movement direction, the second engaging portion contracts from its expanded fixation state back to a contracted state, enabling easy removal. This dynamic reversibility provides both firm fixation during operation and simple disassembly for repair, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of repair.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An assembly includes a second member and a latch (12). The second member has a through hole. The latch includes a hollow pillar (121) and a bolt (122). The hollow pillar includes a first engaging portion (1211) and a second engaging portion (1212) opposite to each other. The hollow pillar has an inserting hole (121a). The inserting hole passes through the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion. The first engaging portion is disposed through the through hole. The bolt is inserted into the inserting hole and is movable between a first inserting position and a second inserting position. When the bolt is moved to the second inserting position along a direction from the first engaging portion pointing to the second engaging portion, the second engaging portion is expanded by the bolt to make the size of the second engaging portion become larger.