Quarter-Turn Lock Latching Structure for Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quarter turn locks face challenges in maintaining structural simplicity while ensuring resistance to vibrations and preventing unintentional opening, particularly those with one-piece locking shafts, which can fail due to inhomogeneous stress on the spring latching element.
Innovation Solution
A spring securing device with a prestressed securing element and a spring, distributed across two components, ensures homogeneous stress distribution and includes a guide for axial movement, using disk-shaped elements and latching contours for secure locking in multiple positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a one-piece locking shaft with an integrally molded latching element on the spring is used, then the structure is simple, but inhomogeneous stresses may arise within the spring leading to failure after a larger number of lock actuation cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The spring securing device is divided into two separate components: a spring and a securing element. The spring provides prestressing force while the securing element with its latching contour engages with the lock housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the spring experiencing only uniform compressive stresses and the securing element handling the latching loads, thereby eliminating inhomogeneous stresses in the spring.
2Reliability
If a two-part locking shaft with a spring securing device is used, then resistance to vibrations and shaking is improved, but the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The securing element is integrated directly onto the locking shaft as a single piece, combining the shaft and securing functions into one component. This reduces the overall part count and assembly complexity while maintaining the vibration resistance provided by the spring securing device. The spring remains as a separate component providing the necessary prestressing force.
3Reliability
If the spring securing device secures both open and closed positions, then protection against unintentional opening is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The securing element is designed with an asymmetric latching contour that provides securing in both open and closed positions through a single engagement geometry. The contour shape allows latching in one rotational position while preventing unintentional rotation in the opposite direction, eliminating the need for separate securing mechanisms for each position and reducing overall device complexity.
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 solution provides a lock with a simple structure that maintains high resistance to vibrations and shaking, reducing the risk of failure even under high actuation cycles, while ensuring secure locking in both open and closed positions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring securing device having a spring (5) and a securing element (6) that is prestressed by means of the spring (5)
Implementation Method 2
The securing element (6) has at least one latching contour (6.1, 6.2), which latches together with at least one correspondingly designed latching contour (2.1, 2.2) of the lock housing (2)
Data Source
AI summary
In one or more arrangements, a quarter turn lock is presented having a locking shaft 3 rotatably mounted in a lock housing 2 and a spring securing device 4 for securing the locking shaft against unintentional rotation relative to the lock housing in at least one rotational position, wherein the spring securing device 4 has a spring 5 and a securing element 6 interacts with the lock housing 2 in a latching manner.