Two-Part Latch System for Aesthetic Variety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aerospace and marine industries face limited aesthetic and stylistic variety in bolt latches due to high manufacturing costs associated with complex unitary assembly designs, which are costly to produce and require expensive tooling.
Innovation Solution
A two-part assembly system comprising a bolt mechanism assembly and an actuator housing assembly, allowing for interchangeable activation means such as paddles, push buttons, or rocker buttons, enabling various aesthetic and functional designs while maintaining a consistent bolt mechanism, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a unitary assembly latch is used, then aesthetic variety and functional customization are improved, but manufacturing cost and tooling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is divided into two separate components: a bolt mechanism assembly and an actuator housing assembly. The actuator housing assembly can be detached and replaced with different styles (paddle, push button, rocker) while keeping the bolt mechanism assembly in place. This segmentation allows aesthetic customization without requiring complete redesign and recasting of the entire latch, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and tooling complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a unitary assembly latch is used, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The latch is segmented into a bolt mechanism assembly and an actuator housing assembly that connect through complementary mounting means. The bolt mechanism assembly remains fixed to the panel providing structural stability, while the actuator housing assembly can be independently replaced. This segmentation reduces device complexity by allowing standardization of the bolt mechanism across different latch styles.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt mechanism assembly and actuator housing assembly are designed to work together as an integrated system through complementary mounting means, ensuring structural integrity while allowing separate manufacturing and assembly of the two components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different activation means are designed separately, then aesthetic choice and functional variety are improved, but device complexity and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bolt mechanism assembly is designed as a universal base that can accommodate multiple types of actuator housing assemblies (paddle, push button, rocker) through standardized complementary mounting means. This universality allows functional variety while simplifying assembly, as the same bolt mechanism assembly can be used with different actuator styles.
Data Source
AI summary
A bolt mechanism comprising a backing plate adapted to be mounted on a flat panel, a bolt assembly housing carried by the backing plate, a sliding bolt assembly carried on the bolt assembly housing one end of which can engage and latch to a striker, and a spring on the housing for keeping the end of the bolt extending out of the bolt assembly housing.An actuator housing assembly comprising a housing having an opening therein, a movable actuator member received in the opening, the actuator member having a front surface and a rear surface and being digitally movable in the opening, and a hammer extending from the rear surface of the movable actuator member.The actuator housing assembly is adapted to enable the attachment to and detachment from the bolt mechanism assembly.