Rotating Inner Pawl Lock Assembly for Cargo Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking assemblies for unit load devices in cargo handling systems often face operational difficulties due to design parameters and conditions, making it hard for operators to easily engage and disengage pawls during cargo loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
A lock assembly with a rotating pawl body and an inner pawl that is rotatably coupled, utilizing a biasing member to align with a restraint surface in the extended position, allowing for easy operation and increased clearance for cargo movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pawl body is extended to lock the unit load device, then the locking reliability is improved, but the clearance for cargo movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pawl assembly is divided into two functional segments: the outer pawl body for locking and the inner rotating pawl for engagement. This segmentation allows the outer pawl to remain extended for reliable locking while the inner pawl can rotate to provide necessary clearance, resolving the contradiction between locking reliability and cargo movement space.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner pawl is designed to rotate dynamically between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the outer pawl body. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between locked and clearance states, maintaining locking reliability when needed while providing clearance when the inner pawl rotates away from the restraint surface.
2Ease of operation
If the inner pawl is rotated away from the second restraint surface in the retracted position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is integrated into the pawl assembly structure, combining the spring mechanism with the pawl body and inner pawl. This merging reduces the need for separate mounting structures and simplifies the overall assembly, maintaining ease of operation while minimizing the increase in structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member automatically urges the inner pawl into alignment with the second restraint surface, providing self-aligning functionality. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex alignment structures or additional actuators, improving ease of operation without significantly increasing structural complexity.
3Productivity
If the biasing member is used to align the inner pawl with the restraint surface, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member creates a self-aligning mechanism that automatically positions the inner pawl with the restraint surface during operation. This self-service alignment eliminates the need for manual adjustment or complex positioning systems, improving loading and unloading productivity while adding minimal complexity to the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member enables dynamic alignment of the inner pawl during the locking and unlocking cycles. This dynamic self-adjustment ensures rapid and reliable engagement, enhancing productivity without requiring complex static alignment structures.
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 enhances operational ease for operators by allowing the inner pawl to be easily aligned with the restraint surface, providing increased clearance and flexibility, enabling efficient locking and unlocking of unit load devices without interference.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member associated with the inner pawl, wherein the biasing member urges the inner pawl to be aligned with the second restraint surface in the extended position of the pawl body
Data Source
AI summary
A lock assembly includes a pawl body having first restraint surface and a second restraint surface, wherein the pawl body rotates between an extended position and a retracted position, an inner pawl rotatably coupled to the pawl body, wherein the inner pawl is rotated away from the second restraint surface in the retracted position of the pawl body, and a biasing member associated with the inner pawl, wherein the biasing member urges the inner pawl to be aligned with the second restraint surface in the extended position of the pawl body.