Rotary actuated slam latch system

A latch system, comprising:

• a handle having two guides, the handle operably connected to a spring;
• two latch rods, wherein each of the two latch rods remain linear along their entire length, the two latch rods comprising clevises at ends, the clevises operably connected to the two guides;
• and
• wherein when the handle is rotated in a direction, the clevises move within the guides, decreasing a distance from the ends to a center of the handle, and linearly retracting the two latch rods along a same axis, thereby disengaging the two latch rods and allowing a mechanism to move;
• and
• wherein when the handle is rotated in an opposite direction, the clevises move within the guides, increasing a distance from the ends to the center of the handle, and linearly extending the two latch rods along the same axis, thereby engaging the latch rods and preventing movement of the mechanism.

A latch system comprising:

• a base plate for mounting the latch system to a mechanism to be latched;
• a handle having two guides, the handle operably connected to a torsion spring;
• two latch rods, wherein each of the two latch rods remain linear along their entire length, the two latch rods comprising clevises at the ends, each clevis having a pin that rotates and moves in one of the two guides;
• at least two guide plates attached to the base plate, the two latch rods moving linearly and in alignment within the guide plates;
• a standoff;
• a cap attached to the standoff, an end of the spring operably attached to the cap;
• two strike plates, the strike plates having ramp portions and back portions;
• a shoulder bolt providing support for a coil of the torsion spring;
• wherein the torsion spring applies equal tension to each of the two latch rods, thereby preventing binding of the latch system;
• wherein when a mechanism to be latched is moved, opposite ends of the two latch rods contact the ramp portions of the strike plates causing:
• (i) the two latch rods to retract linearly along a same axis, decreasing a distance from the ends of the two latch rods to a center of the handle;
• (ii) the clevises to move within the guides;
• and (iii) the handle to rotate in a direction increasing tension on the spring;
• and
• wherein when the two latch rods move beyond the ramp portions of the strike plates, the tension in the spring causes:
• (i) the clevises to move within the guides, (ii) the handle to rotate in an opposite direction causing the two latch rods to extend linearly along the same axis, and (iii) the two latch rods to contact the back portions of the strike plates thereby engaging the self-engaging latch system.