Ring-Mount Latch Assembly for Central Vacuum Dirt Container Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch assemblies for central vacuum systems are difficult to manipulate, align, and actuate, particularly due to the weight of the dirt container, which can lead to damage or failure and inconvenience to the user.
Innovation Solution
A latch assembly featuring a ring mount with a release ring and locks that move between engaged and disengaged positions, allowing for easy removal and installation of the dirt container, with a design that supports the container's weight and distributes force for secure engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an over-center strap latch is used to attach the dirt container to the central unit, then the container can be secured to the unit, but the latch becomes difficult to manipulate, align, and actuate especially when the user must support the weight of the container
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is divided into separate functional components: a latch arm for securing, a release button for actuation, and a pivot mechanism for movement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, making the overall system easier to manipulate while maintaining secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
A pivot mechanism serves as an intermediary between the user's manual input and the latch arm's securing action. The pivot allows the latch arm to move smoothly between locked and unlocked positions, reducing the force and dexterity required by the user to manipulate the heavy container
2Quantity of substance
If the dirt container is made large to provide sufficient capacity for the central vacuum system, then the system can handle more debris, but the container becomes heavier and more difficult to manipulate and align
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed to engage automatically when the container is in the correct position, creating a self-aligning system. The pivot and latch arm geometry are configured so that the natural resting position of the latch corresponds to proper container alignment, reducing the effort needed to align the heavy container
Solution Approach 2:
The latch assembly includes features that automatically guide the container into proper alignment during attachment. The pivot mechanism and latch arm work together to self-correct minor misalignments, allowing the user to attach the heavy container with minimal manual alignment effort
3Reliability
If the latch mechanism is designed to securely hold the heavy dirt container, then the attachment is reliable, but the mechanism becomes more complex and prone to damage or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The release function is extracted as a separate, easily accessible button that operates independently from the main latch structure. This allows the secure locking mechanism to remain simple and robust while providing a convenient, low-complexity release interface for the user
Solution Approach 2:
The latch arm is designed with a pivot mechanism that allows dynamic movement between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic design enables a simple two-position system that is both reliable in its locked state and easy to release, avoiding the complexity of continuous adjustment mechanisms while maintaining security
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A central vacuum cleaner having a housing with a vacuum fan and motor and a dirt container mounted to a lower end of the housing. The dirt container includes a receptacle, a ring mount extending from the receptacle sidewall near an open top of the receptacle and a release ring. The ring mount extends around the sidewall perimeter and a bottom of the ring mount is shaped to be held by an operator to support the dirt container. The release ring is movably mounted above the ring mount and extends around the sidewall perimeter. One or more locks are mounted between the ring mount and the release ring. The locks are movable by the release ring from an engaged position to hold the dirt container to the housing to a disengaged position to permit removal of the dirt container from the housing.