Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Separable-fastener or required component thereof – Including member having distinct formations and mating...
Patent
1983-05-20
1986-05-20
Lyddane, William E.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Separable-fastener or required component thereof
Including member having distinct formations and mating...
24603, 24631, 24639, 244151B, 280801, 297468, A44B 1126
Patent
active
045891729
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a locking device for a central strap, i.e. a central belt lock, particularly for a parachute harness, and comprises a housing, a main pin or journal which is manually rotatable and axially movable therein, and an anchor plate which cooperates with a plurality of retaining bolts for the belt attachment or coupling members. Central belt locks of this kind serve to release parachutists rapidly from their parachutes after landing, so that they are not dragged over the ground or through water if the wind drives the parachute along.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Central belt locks having the features recited are already known, for example from German Pat. Nos. 10 70 034, 12 05 321 and 20 43 634. In each case, the parachutist must actuate the belt lock himself by turning the main journal manually by means of a preferably disc-shaped handle, and pressing it axially into the release position, with the result that the retaining belts are pulled out of the eyelets in the belt attachment members, so that the body harness falls away from the person.
However, it may be that, as a result of shock, cold, or injury, the parachutist is not in a position to actuate his belt lock manually, an is consequently left in a largely helpless state in the harness. This is particularly dangerous if the parachutist has fallen into the sea, since he can then be dragged down by the parachute and drown before rescue arrives. To avoid this danger, it has already been proposed that the connecting member between the cords of the parachute and the shoulder straps of the harness be released automatically, when they are submerged under water, by using the higher conductivity of sea water effective via electrical or pyrotechnic means for such automatic release thereof. The disadvantage of this is that modifications of structure have to be made to the harness and to the means for connection with the cords of the parachute.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Proceeding on the basis of the foregoing prior art as known and described, an object of the present invention is to provide a central belt lock which contains an automatic release mechanism activated by sea water. The normal mechanical operation and manual actuation of the lock should not be restricted or limited, and the size of the lock should not be increased substantially. It is a further object that the mechanical securing normally provided should be able to be bridged by the automatic release mechanism in the secured position of the lock, but otherwise the same remains operational.
These objects are realized by a central belt lock which is characterized primarily in that the main journal has at least one longitudinal bore in which a push rod is mounted in such a way as to be longitudinally movable, and an actuator being associated with the push rod, being activated upon contact with water, and axially displacing the push rod and hence the anchor plate with the retaining bolts.
The push rod may be secured against rotation relative to the main journal, and at its end facing the anchor plate it may have a narrowed portion and a bar, which pass through an opening in the anchor plate.
The push rod may cooperate with a locking member which secures it against axial displacement and releases it when the actuator is activated.
The rotary handle of the belt lock may contain an inner space in which the actuator and transfer members or transmission means including a sliding contact and an angle lever are accommodated. The actuator may act on the push rod by means of the angle lever. Alternatively, the actuator may act on a liquid via a piston, and on the push rod via a second piston.
The actuator may comprise a pyrotechnic element, at least one mechanical spring, or a chamber filled with pressurized gas and a piston.
The actuation transfer or activating force output of the actuator may act on a sliding contact which is movably mounted at right-angles to the push rod and pushes against the angle lever by means of a projection
REFERENCES:
patent: 2171496 (1939-08-01), Waite et al.
patent: 2504125 (1950-04-01), Hight
patent: 2899732 (1959-08-01), Cushman
patent: 3132399 (1964-05-01), Cooper
patent: 3146846 (1964-09-01), Gutshall
patent: 3608160 (1971-09-01), Coyle
patent: 3624674 (1971-11-01), Gaylord
patent: 3744102 (1973-07-01), Gaylord
patent: 3994049 (1976-11-01), Johansen et al.
patent: 4050122 (1977-09-01), Turner et al.
patent: 4339854 (1982-07-01), Ikesue
Hoenigs Michael
Reuschenbach Hermann
Autoflug GmbH
Brittain James R.
Lyddane William E.
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