Canopy Lock Pin

[WaiexN143NM]

Hi fritz, all,
Good post! where did you get that latch? or did you make it? pics of the inside please?
Have you gotten a chance to fix up the waiex from your off field landing?

take care

WaiexN143NM
Michael

[Fritz]

Hi Michael,

I'll sneak out to the airport and take some more pictures. Our's is a "sketch on a bar napkin and build it from scraps" sort of thing, I'm sure there are lots of prettier ones on the internet.


The Waiex is coming along fine. Robert did an amazing job of straightening the gear legs, the sheet metal work is almost done and we've got a Zenith 1499x carb for it. Now we just need to wait 6 to 8 weeks for a new prop ;(

[Fritz]

Here are a couple of photos of how we did our canopy latch. It won't win the Lindy award but it was quick and easy. This is a "Give Flight" project airplane so we were under the clock to "get it done now, make it pretty later".

One of the attach points is the existing canopy handle. I'd rather it was a separate pivot pin but we already had the handle installed and didn't want to redo everything. I'm keeping a close eye on the handle for wear. If it starts to wear we'll come up with a better system, maybe put a bushing on it or something.

Half closed to show the over-center link.

Closed showing the link over-center.

The force that keeps it locked is contact between the latch mounting block and the canopy "hook rail". It used to lock with a bit of a "bang" so we added a little piece of cork gasket at the contact point. Now it locks with more of a "thump", ...much nicer

If the photos don't make sense I'll sketch it up in SolidWorks.

HTH
Fritz

[WaiexN143NM]

Hi fritz,
thanks for the pics. looks like all steel except for the alum block, and the outside handle . the stub bracket gets welded to the tube? or is the tube cut and a section bent 90* ?
yes any more demensions or drawnings would be great.
and the pics are reversed. ? this goes up front to the left lower canopy. the pics look like rt front.

WaiexN143NM
Michael

[Fritz]

Oops, sorry... yes, the pictures are reversed. I used the front (selfie) camera on my phone and had a setting wrong.

I'll draw it up in CAD to fill in some of the details.

[984dm]

Fritz,

Does this latch design in any way put pressure against the canopy material? Any chance that over time (from all the vibrations related to flying), it could cause any stress cracks to develop?

Yes, I'd appreciate seeing some drawings also.

Thanks,

Dave Misner

[Fritz]

This latch doesn't put any stress on the canopy itself. All the force is between the end of the "hook rail" and the mounting block.

I made a CAD model of it to show the basics of how it works. There are lots of ways to skin a cat like this, this is just what we came up with.

I can't really make an accurate measured drawing of it that would work on any other airplane. If the canopy handle or the mounting block are in a slightly different location (even just a few thousandths) the geometry would be way off. It's definitely a "file to fit" project.

But here's a sketch that would put you in the ballpark:

[WaiexN143NM]

Hi fritz,
Wow! thanks so much for your time. will give us something to do in this madness. what is the outside handle made from? will look over the internet for something. anyone else have some good leads on a handle?

Happy Easter and good health to all.

WaiexN143NM
Michael

[lakespookie]

This latch doesn't put any stress on the canopy itself. All the force is between the end of the "hook rail" and the mounting block.

I made a CAD model of it to show the basics of how it works. There are lots of ways to skin a cat like this, this is just what we came up with.

Waiex Canopy Latch 3.JPG

Waiex Canopy Latch 5.JPG

Waiex Canopy Latch 4.JPG

Waiex Canopy Latch 6.JPG

I can't really make an accurate measured drawing of it that would work on any other airplane. If the canopy handle or the mounting block are in a slightly different location (even just a few thousandths) the geometry would be way off. It's definitely a "file to fit" project.

But here's a sketch that would put you in the ballpark:

Latch Link and Arm.jpg

This is awesome i am suprised the factory has not adopted something like this.

[DCASonex]

That latch is one of the best bits of design work I have seen in while. Keeping designs simple is not easy.

David A.