Electro-mechanical Latch Cocking Mechanism Reduces Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-mechanical ball latches require excessive force to cock and latch, making them inefficient and cumbersome to operate.
Innovation Solution
A spring-loaded electro-mechanical ball latch with a cocking mechanism that includes a rotatable lever arm and torsional spring, allowing for reduced force requirements through mechanical advantage and integration with a solenoid unit, enabling easy operation with a standard wrench.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional ball latch mechanism is used, then the latch can be secured, but excessive force (30-32 pounds) is required to cock and latch, making it cumbersome to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic cocking mechanism with a lever arm that rotates about a lever axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The lever arm transitions from a retracted position to a cocked position where it bears against the plunger, dynamically applying force to move the plunger to the loaded position. This dynamic mechanism reduces the operational force required from 30-32 pounds to approximately 4 pounds while maintaining reliable latching through the ball bearing interference between the trigger and plunger.
2Ease of operation
If a cocking mechanism with lever arm is added, then force requirements are reduced to approximately 4 pounds, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cocking mechanism with the existing housing structure. The lever arm is supported in the housing and rotates about a lever axis that is integrated into the overall mechanism. The bias element (torsional spring) is also integrated into the housing, providing automatic return to the retracted position. This merging approach reduces device complexity by utilizing the existing housing space and structural elements rather than adding separate, standalone components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the external user input and the internal plunger-latching system. Instead of directly applying force to the plunger, the user applies torque to the lever arm, which then mediates this force through rotational motion to move the plunger to the loaded position. This intermediary approach reduces the direct force requirement on the plunger while maintaining the latching function.
3Ease of operation
If the lever arm is positioned to bear against the plunger, then the plunger can be forced to the loaded position, but the lever arm must be rotatable about a lever axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, adding structural constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of motion by rotating the lever arm about a lever axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plunger. This perpendicular axis orientation allows the lever arm to apply force in a different dimensional plane, enabling the plunger to be forced to the loaded position through rotational motion rather than linear motion. This dimensional change facilitates the force reduction while providing clear structural guidance for the axis orientation.
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 mechanism reduces the force needed to cock or latch the ball latch from 30 to 32 pounds to approximately 4 pounds, providing a more efficient and user-friendly operation while maintaining a low profile within the existing housing.
Implementation Method 1
The cocking mechanism may comprise a second bias element (32) biasing the lever arm to the retracted position within the housing, and the second bias element may comprise a torsional spring
Implementation Method 2
The actuator may comprise a solenoid
Implementation Method 3
a ball bearing (20) located in contacting relation with the ball bearing surface of the trigger, the ball bearing being radially movable relative to the longitudinal axis between a first position (FIG. 5), wherein the ball bearing interferes with the bearing surface of the plunger when the trigger is in the latched position
Implementation Method 4
The bias element may comprise a coil spring
Data Source
AI summary
A ball-latch mechanism comprising a plunger supported in a housing and linearly movable from a loaded to an extended position, a trigger rotatable from a latched position, which interferes with linear movement of the plunger, to an unlatched position, which permits linear movement of the plunger from the loaded position, a bias element biasing the plunger from the loaded position, a cocking mechanism comprising a lever arm rotatable about a lever axis from a retracted position within the housing, wherein a bearing surface of the lever arm is outside of a range of motion of the plunger, and a cocked position, wherein the bearing surface of the lever arm bears against the plunger and the plunger is in the loaded position, whereby the plunger may be forced to the loaded position by the lever arm by application of torque to a torque receiving surface of the lever arm.