push button pen type of latch

[rmetzger]

Does anyone know of any manufacturers that offer a latch similar to the type used on push button pens? If I pick up one off the shelf rather than making my own (tooling and the like) it would simply a project. Linear movement (rotation is OK) with a holding strength of 30 lbs.

 

[ccw]

Hi rmetzger,

A mild steel pin 3/23 dia. should be sufficieint to restrain 30 lbs in single shear. This is about the same size as a ball point pen stem. So, how about modifying or replicating some ball point pen innards to operate the latch if you cannot locate a commercial source for the lock action?

CCW

 

[sreid]

See if Southco has something that will work or your application.

http://www.southco.com/

 

[rmetzger]

The pen design would work great for a demonstrator and I may go that route but I was looking for production equipment too. The quantity is low otherwise I'd consider injection molded parts and a custom. Right now I'm looking at a cnc turned part with a latch profile milled in but it'll be expensive for production.

ITW delpro was one of the few companies that had something close to what I want.

thanks

 

[MadMango]

Instead of a latch, is there any worth in looking into the use of ball detents (or spring plungers)?

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[rmetzger]

I did and am using them for a center position latch (spring detents as a damper - not fully locking) but I need something that can provide positive catch and release using only linear motion and a single actuator.

Its for a failsafe system that must operate whenever the system is moved to an "open" position to prevent closure if the main latch fails. The only actuating device I can use is the same one that is providing the simple linear motion to open the mechanism and it only provides controlable force in one direction. The movement will engage the latch and open the mechanism and I can pulse it in the same direction to provide the release movement. I cannot provide anything other than constant spring force in the other direction.