Electromechanical latch
| DWPI Title: Electromechanical latch to cause enclosing device, has first motor to drive first rotary latch portion such that peg is removed from closed detent and second motor drives second rotary latch portion to position peg against open detent |
| Abstract: An electromechanical latch is described herein. The electromechanical latch is a dual-actuator latch, wherein a first actuator and a second actuator are driven with precise timing to move a first latch part relative to a second latch part, and vice versa. When the electromechanical latch is in a closed position, the first rotary latch part is positioned to prevent rotation of the second rotary latch part in a first direction. To transition the electromechanical latch from the closed position to an open position, the first actuator drives the first rotary latch part such that the second rotary latch part is able to rotate in the first direction. Thereafter, the second actuator drives the second rotary latch part in the first direction until the electromechanical latch is in the open position. |
| Use: Electromechanical latch to cause an enclosing device such as a door to an enclosure to be closed and securely held in the closed position, well-suited for use in environments with constraints imposed due to conditions existent in the environment, for transitions from a closed position to an open position and from the open position to the closed position (claimed). |
| Advantage: The latches are relatively simple mechanical systems and the latch can be manually transitioned from an open position to a closed position. The door to the enclosure can be secured in a closed position through the use of a latch. The electromechanical latch can remain in the open position for an indefinite amount of time without requiring electrical power. The electromechanical latch can be transitioned from the open position to the closed position by external forces such that the actuators need not be powered during such transition. The second rotary latch portion can be balanced about its rotary axis and the movement in the presence of vibration is prevented or minimized. |
| Novelty: The electromechanical latch (100) has first and second rotary latch portions (104,116) driven by first and second actuators (102,112). The second rotary latch portion has proximal and distal sides (118,120). A raised cam (122) comprises closed and open detents. A first motor to drive the first rotary latch portion such that a peg (106) is removed from a closed detent and a second motor to drive the second rotary latch portion in a first direction to position the peg against the open detent. The electromechanical latch is in the open position when the peg is positioned against the open detent. |
| Filed: 3/20/2014 |
| Application Number: US14220370A |
| Tech ID: SD 12588.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
| Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Clarivate content, including by framing or similar means, is prohibited without the prior written consent of Clarivate. Clarivate and its logo, as well as all other trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners and used under license. |