Tool-less Rotation Mount for Aircraft Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounts for electronic devices, particularly in aircraft cockpits, face challenges in securely mounting and orienting touch-sensitive display devices while ensuring portability, protection, and ease of use, with existing solutions often requiring tools for assembly and potentially failing under crash forces.
Innovation Solution
A mount system featuring a keyed insert and receiver with a spring plate mechanism that allows for tool-free assembly and secure locking of the display device, utilizing a key base, keyed plate, retaining ring, key set ring, and spring plate to facilitate rotation and alignment, ensuring secure engagement without visible alignment and resisting crash forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mounting systems are used for electronic devices in aircraft cockpits, then the devices can be mounted and oriented, but the systems require tools for assembly and may fail under crash forces
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate keyed insert and key receiver components that can be independently assembled. The keyed insert includes a keyed plate with key features that engage with corresponding receiving and locking notches in the key set ring, allowing tool-free assembly while maintaining structural integrity under crash forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring plate is designed to be movable between the key set ring and receiver base, providing dynamic adjustment capability. This allows the mounting system to absorb impact forces during crash events while maintaining secure engagement of the keyed components, thus improving crash resistance without requiring tools for assembly.
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented for the display device, then the device can be firmly mounted, but the assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The keyed insert and key receiver are designed as nested components where the keyed insert fits within the key receiver structure. The keyed plate with its key features nests into the key set ring with receiving and locking notches, creating a secure mounting mechanism that appears simple despite providing reliable secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring plate automatically engages with the keyed features through its movable design, providing self-service locking functionality. When the keyed insert is inserted, the spring plate moves to engage the key features and lock them in place without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms, thus achieving secure mounting with minimal complexity.
3Length of stationary object
If a low profile mounting system is used, then the mount does not interfere with cockpit components, but the alignment and securing mechanism becomes more difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment mechanism utilizes the radial dimension of the keyed plate and key set ring rather than requiring additional axial space. The key features extend from the periphery of the keyed plate and engage with notches in the key set ring, allowing precise alignment to be achieved within the limited profile height of the low-profile mounting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyed plate and key set ring feature asymmetric key features and notches that provide unique alignment positions. This asymmetric design ensures proper orientation of the display device while maintaining a compact low profile, as the asymmetric features guide alignment during insertion without requiring additional alignment space or complex adjustment mechanisms.
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 secure, tool-free mounting system that enhances portability and crash resistance, allowing for easy orientation and quick locking/unlocking, while maintaining a low profile and avoiding interference with cockpit components.
Implementation Method 1
The spring plate is movable between the key set ring and the receiver base
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A mount includes a keyed insert and a key receiver (32). The keyed insert includes a key base (34) and a keyed plate (36) mounted to the key base (34) and having one or more key features (56a-56c) extending from a periphery of the keyed plate (36). The key receiver (32) accepts the keyed insert and includes a receiver base (50), a retaining ring (40), a key set ring (44), a key entrance ring (42), and a spring plate (46). The retaining ring (40) is connected to the receiver base (50). The key set ring (44) is disposed between the retaining ring (40) and the receiver base (50) and includes one or more receiving notches (62a-62c) and one or more locking notches (64a-64c). The one or more receiving notches (62a-62c) is configured to receive the one or more key features (56a-56c) the one or more locking notch (64a-64c) is spaced away from the one or more receiving notch (62a-62c) and is configured to lockingly engage the one or more key features (56a-56c).