Push-Button Latch Assembly to Prevent Wear and Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push-button mechanisms for maintaining a pressed position suffer from reliability issues due to wear and misalignment, leading to reduced operational lifespan and increased risk of jamming.
Innovation Solution
A push-button design featuring a plunger sub-assembly with a translation-to-rotation converting part, a latch part, and a latch spring element, which allows for reliable locking and unlocking through rotation or pulling action, reducing wear and misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radial force locking mechanism with balls or fingers is used, then locking function is achieved, but edges of recesses become worn after repeated operations reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
A spring element is introduced as an intermediary between the translating part and the rotating part of the plunger sub-assembly. This spring element absorbs the impact forces during locking operations, preventing direct transmission of shock loads to the relief portion and latch part, thereby reducing wear and extending operational lifetime
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element is pre-loaded to provide cushioning before the locking operation occurs. This beforehand cushioning absorbs the impact energy when the latch part engages with the relief portion, preventing damage that would otherwise occur during repeated locking operations
2Reliability
If radial force locking mechanism is used, then locking is achieved, but misalignment of constituting elements occurs causing jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger sub-assembly incorporates a translation-to-rotation converting part that dynamically converts linear motion into rotational motion during the locking operation. This dynamic conversion ensures proper alignment of the latch part with the relief portion throughout the operation, preventing misalignment and jamming
Solution Approach 2:
The relief portion is designed with an asymmetric profile featuring a slanted surface that guides the latch part into proper alignment during rotation. This asymmetric geometry ensures that the latch part naturally aligns with the relief portion during the locking operation, preventing misalignment issues
3Reliability
If rotation of cylinder with protruding rim segment is used, then locking is achieved, but repeated bumping alters shapes of parts causing improper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element acts as a mediator between the rotating part and the latch part, absorbing impact forces during engagement. This prevents direct transmission of shock loads that would otherwise cause deformation of the relief portion and latch part over repeated operations
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element changes its stiffness parameter during operation, being softer during impact absorption and stiffer during normal operation. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate repeated locking operations without permanent deformation of critical components
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 design enhances the reliability and longevity of the push-button by minimizing wear and preventing misalignment, ensuring consistent operation over an extended lifespan while reducing the risk of jamming.
Implementation Method 1
a latch spring element separated from the translation-to-rotation converting part, and connecting the latch part to the translation-to-rotation converting part so that rotation of the translation-to-rotation converting part drives the latch part, through the latch spring element, into a position that leads to abutment of the latch part against the relief portion
Implementation Method 2
the push-button may further comprise a pull-back spring intermediate between the push-head and the casing of the push-button, the pull-back spring being arranged so that the user pressing the push-head causes compression of this pull-back-spring. Then, the compressed pull-back spring may complete driving action of the latch spring element for producing the abutment of the latch part against the relief portion
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A push-button (100) includes a plunger sub-assembly (10) that comprises a translation-to-rotation converting part (5), a latch part (6) and a latch spring element (56). The latch spring element connects the latch part to the translation-to-rotation converting part so that rotation of the translation-to-rotation converting part caused by a user pressing the push-button drives the latch part into a position where said latch part abuts a relief portion in the internal surface of a casing (30) of the push-button. Such arrangement of the plunger sub-assembly avoids that numerous repeated locking operations damage to the latch part and/or relief portion. Lifetime of the push-button is thus increased.