Magnetic Door Latch Assembly for Quiet Redundant Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional door latches for aircraft are unsightly, noisy, and lack redundancy, making them unsuitable for premium interior applications.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic door latch assembly with dual spring-loaded bolts that magnetically engage a magnetic retainer to secure the door, featuring a spring-loaded depressible button for easy operation and automatic retraction into the latch assembly when open, providing a clean aesthetic and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional latches and locks are used to secure the door, then the door can be secured when closed, but the handles are protruding, unsightly, difficult to use, and noisy to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical latches and locks with a magnetic field-based latching system. The magnetic field provides the securing force without requiring mechanical handles, levers, or keys, thereby eliminating the unsightly protruding components and noisy mechanical operations while maintaining secure door closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the door and door jamb to provide securing force. This magnetic intermediary eliminates the need for direct mechanical contact and manipulation of traditional latch components, resulting in a cleaner aesthetic and quieter operation.
2Device complexity
If traditional latches are used to secure the door, then the door can be secured when closed, but these types of traditional door latches are not suitable for premium interior applications due to being unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visible mechanical latching components with an invisible magnetic field system. The magnetic bolts and retainers are concealed within the door and door jamb structures, eliminating protruding handles and unsightly mechanical parts while maintaining secure closure, thus achieving a premium aesthetic appearance.
3Reliability
If traditional latches are used to secure the door, then the door can be secured when closed, but traditional latches do not include a built-in redundancy required for aircraft applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the latching system into multiple independent magnetic bolts (typically three) distributed across the door edge. Each bolt operates independently with its own spring mechanism, providing redundancy so that if one bolt fails, the others continue to secure the door. This segmented approach enhances reliability without requiring complex interdependent mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates spring-loaded mechanisms in each magnetic bolt that provide automatic compression and energy storage. These springs act as beforehand cushioning, ensuring that each bolt maintains consistent magnetic engagement force and can recover from minor disturbances, thereby providing built-in redundancy and reliability for aircraft applications.
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 magnetic latch assembly offers a clean, quiet, and redundant latching system suitable for premium applications, ensuring secure door closure with minimal noise and easy one-handed operation.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second spring-loaded bolts are engaged with the receiver via magnetic attraction between the respective first and second receiver magnets and the first and second bolt magnets
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic door latch assembly includes a magnetic receiver mountable in a door and a latch subassembly mountable in a door jamb. The latch subassembly includes at least one spring-loaded bolt magnetically drawn to the magnetic receiver such that, when the door is closed, the at least one spring-loaded bolt automatically extends to engage the magnetic receiver to maintain the door in a closed state. A spring-loaded depressible button is actuated to drive the at least one spring-loaded bolt apart from the magnetic receiver to allow the door to open. In embodiments, the magnetic door latch is configured for use with a wardrobe door in an aircraft interior application.