Non-planar Door Latch Surface for Rotorcraft Vibration Migration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rotorcraft doors experience migration due to vibrations, leading to unwanted gaps, potential fatigue failure, and noise, which existing door systems fail to adequately prevent or mitigate.
Innovation Solution
A door latch system comprising a door attachment device, a roller assembly with a fork and roller element, and a receiver with a non-planar surface, which moves the door closer to the frame to create a tighter seal and prevent further migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional door system is used in rotorcraft, then the door can be installed and operated, but the door experiences migration due to vibrations leading to unwanted gaps, potential fatigue failure, and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The non-planar receiving surface is designed in advance to counteract vibration-induced door migration. The surface geometry (concave or convex) is predetermined to apply corrective forces that push the door back toward its center position, preventing migration before it causes harmful effects like gaps or fatigue failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving surface changes from a conventional planar geometry to a non-planar geometry with specific curvature characteristics. This parameter change in the surface profile allows the system to dynamically adjust to door migration caused by vibrations, maintaining proper door positioning through the geometric configuration rather than active control.
2Device complexity
If door migration is allowed to occur, then the door system remains simple, but gaps form between the door and frame leading to noise and potential fatigue failure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire door system complex, the solution applies a localized geometric feature (the non-planar receiving surface) at the specific location where door migration occurs. This localized modification addresses the migration problem without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire door assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving surface incorporates curved geometry (concave or convex surfaces) instead of a flat planar surface. This curvature allows the surface to interact with the door in a way that automatically corrects migration through geometric constraints, eliminating gaps and preventing noise without adding mechanical complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the door is kept tightly sealed to prevent migration, then gaps and noise are reduced, but the door system becomes more complex requiring additional sealing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The non-planar receiving surface creates a self-correcting system where the door's own movement against the curved surface generates the corrective force needed to maintain proper positioning. The geometry itself provides the sealing and positioning function without requiring separate active sealing mechanisms or complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a door system includes a door attachment device and a receiver. The door attachment device may be coupled to a door, and the receiver may be coupled to a door frame. A receiving surface of the receiver may be configured to at least partially receive the door attachment device along a first axis. The receiving surface may have a non-planar portion curved relative to the first axis such that the receiving surface responds to movement of the door attachment device in a direction parallel to a second axis, the second axis perpendicular to the first axis, by repositioning the door attachment device in a third direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the first axis and the second axis.