Flush Latches

On Nov 12, 9:04*am, DRN wrote:

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is it possible to adjust
the B&B's latch surface to accomodate different thicknesses
of hatch/shell more easily ?

Not a dumb question at all. I think the best answer is "not really."
The design of that particular Camloc latch is predicated on it being
used on fairly thin panels as you'd expect for non-structural
inspection doors on aluminum aircraft. It seems to have been primarily
designed for applications where the door jamb is relieved where the
nose of the latch is, so that the latch catches on the skin panel and
not the jamb.

On metal aircraft, it looks like the latch will accommodate a thin
door jamb, and you can accommodate various greater gauges of jamb
thickness by adding a spacer under the latch frame and bending the
button arm so that the button fits flush into the hole in the door.

However, once you get into the .050" to .070" skin thicknesses you
often find with composites, and then add in a joggled door jamb of the
same thickness, you definitely have to get a bit creative to make it
work. But considering that these only cost $5 ea and the alternatives
are 12x to 18x the price, it seems worth a little extra thinking and
fussing with it.

By the way, Dave, the other night I was at a benefit dinner for the
elementary school in Yosemite Valley that serves the families of park
employees, and I sat right behind a guy who looked just like you,
except a bit more wiry. It turned out to be Hans Florine, the speed
climber who scaled El Capitan (2800 feet, usually around 30 pitches)
in 2.5 hours.

Thanks, Bob K.
http://www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is it possible to adjust
the B&B's latch surface to accomodate different thicknesses
of hatch/shell more easily ?

Not a dumb question at all. I think the best answer is "not really."
The design of that particular Camloc latch is predicated on it being
used on fairly thin panels as you'd expect for non-structural
inspection doors on aluminum aircraft. It seems to have been primarily
designed for applications where the door jamb is relieved where the
nose of the latch is, so that the latch catches on the skin panel and
not the jamb.

On metal aircraft, it looks like the latch will accommodate a thin
door jamb, and you can accommodate various greater gauges of jamb
thickness by adding a spacer under the latch frame and bending the
button arm so that the button fits flush into the hole in the door.

However, once you get into the .050" to .070" skin thicknesses you
often find with composites, and then add in a joggled door jamb of the
same thickness, you definitely have to get a bit creative to make it
work. But considering that these only cost $5 ea and the alternatives
are 12x to 18x the price, it seems worth a little extra thinking and
fussing with it.


Could one not just install them with shims in between the latch body
and the inner door surface until the desired thickness latching grip
was achieved? Of course the button would need a faceplate of equal
thickness to bring it back flush since it would be recessed the same
amount the body is spaced...

This is how I planned on overcoming this obstacle when/if I am faced
with it (my hatch rim I'm intending to use these latches on is rather
thickish...) I wanted to use a composite faceplate bonded on my button
anyhow, just for the 'slick' factor. It would also have an easier time
keeping it's paint on longer... The Genesis has composite faces bonded
to the buttons on it's hatch, and it does indeed look slick although
I'm not sure if they're set to the door with spacers in between to
manipulate the grip range.

-Paul