Rotatable Latch Sealing System for Equipment Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container sealing systems for moving delicate equipment fail to provide a reliable and secure seal under various environmental conditions, particularly during transit via different vehicles, as they lack an efficient mechanism to ensure consistent compression of seals between the lid and base portions.
Innovation Solution
A sealing system featuring a rotatable latch coupled to a drive gear and a linkage assembly that includes pivotally coupled arms and a deformable tang, which, upon rotation, compresses a seal between the lid and base portions of the container, ensuring a secure seal through a cam assembly and guide channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple sealing mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the seal under varying environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism employs a dynamic linkage assembly with pivotally coupled arms that convert rotational motion into linear compression motion. The arms pivot about fixed pins and are guided by channels in the lid, allowing the seal to be consistently compressed along its length as the latch rotates, thereby maintaining reliable sealing under varying conditions without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rotatable latch and the seal compression function. Through the pivotally coupled arms and guide channels, the rotational input is transformed into controlled linear compression of the seal, ensuring reliable sealing while distributing the mechanical action along the seal's length
2Reliability
If a complex sealing mechanism with multiple arms and linkages is used, then the seal compression consistency is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage assembly with pivotally coupled arms converts the simple rotational motion of the latch into effective linear compression of the seal. The dynamic pivoting action of the arms ensures consistent compression along the seal's length while requiring minimal operational force from the user, maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The cam assembly and guide channels work together to automatically guide the linkage arms through their pivot motion and ensure proper compression of the seal. The system self-regulates the compression force and path without requiring complex user input or adjustment, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring consistent sealing
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 described sealing system effectively maintains a secure seal between the lid and base portions, ensuring the integrity of the container's contents by consistently compressing a seal, even under varying environmental conditions, thereby enhancing the protection of equipment during transit.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable tang coupled to a lid portion of the container and configured to engage a bracket coupled to a base portion of the container
Data Source
AI summary
A container includes a sealing system coupled to an interior surface of the container's lid or cover. The sealing system includes a rotatable latch that, when rotated, cooperates with a number of gears to and a cam assembly formed in the lid to actuate a number of arms or links. In one embodiment, some of the arms extend approximately radially from a driven gear and operate to move an engagement member of the sealing assembly into contact with a complementary engagement member coupled to a base portion of the container. This engagement, in turn, compresses a seal or gasket located between the lid portion and the base portion of the container.