Lock Latch Bolt Rotation Mechanism for Hinge Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locks that project bolts through upright members for gates require disassembly to adjust the latch bolt's rotational position for left- or right-hinged closure members, making it impractical and costly to provide both configurations, as the locking mechanism is inaccessible after mounting.
Innovation Solution
A lock design where the first retaining element acts as a cam and the second as a cam follower, allowing the latch bolt to be rotated between positions without disassembly, using a mechanism that penetrates and depenetrates automatically to adjust the rotational position, eliminating the need for external holes and simplifying the operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lock is designed with a fixed latch bolt rotational position, then the manufacturing and installation process is simplified, but the lock cannot be adapted to both left- and right-hinged closure members
Solution Approach 1:
The latch bolt is designed to be rotatable between first and second rotational positions around its longitudinal axis, allowing the lock to adapt to different hinge configurations. The retaining mechanism dynamically changes the rotational position of the latch bolt from a fixed state to a configurable state with two possible orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining mechanism is divided into separate components: a block that can be positioned at different longitudinal locations on the latch bolt, a locking pin that engages with grooves in the latch bolt, and a locking screw that secures the assembly. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component to achieve the desired rotational position.
2Ease of operation
If the locking screw is positioned to be accessible after mounting, then the latch bolt can be adjusted, but the lock requires additional holes in the upright member which complicates painting or galvanizing
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is nested within the lock body structure. The locking screw is positioned such that it can be accessed through the same opening that the latch bolt uses to pass through the upright member, eliminating the need for separate access holes. The block and locking pin are nested within the latch bolt's longitudinal hole.
3Reliability
If the latch bolt is made longer to project further through the upright member, then the locking effectiveness is improved, but the adjustment mechanism becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The block is pre-positioned on the latch bolt at the appropriate longitudinal location before the latch bolt is inserted through the upright member. The locking pin is pre-aligned with the grooves in the latch bolt, so that when the latch bolt is inserted and rotated into position, the locking mechanism automatically engages without requiring additional adjustment operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The lock contains a latch bolt (10) which can be rotated between a first rotational position, wherein the lock is adapted for left-hinged closure members (2), and a second rotational position wherein the lock is adapted for right-hinged closure members. The lock comprises a retaining mechanism containing a first retaining element (29) which is fixed on the latch bolt (10) and a second retaining element (30) which is urged by means of the latch bolt spring (15) against the first retaining element (29) and which cannot rotate. In order to be able to adjust the lock to a left- or to a right-hinged closure member by simply rotating the latch bolt (10), the first retaining element (29) forms a cam whilst the second retaining element (30) forms a cam follower. The cam and the cam follower penetrate into one another in the first and the second rotational positions of the latch bolt to retain the latch bolt (10) in these rotational positions and urge the second retaining element (30) away from the first retaining element (29) against the latch bolt spring (15) when rotating the latch bolt (10) from its first rotational position to its second rotational position and vice versa.