Closure fasteners – Bolts – Sliding
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-12
2001-09-04
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Sliding
C292S157000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283515
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to latch and lock mechanisms, and lock control devices used with aircraft as a lock pin for their bombay doors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In aircraft having bombay doors traveling at high speeds, it has become extremely important to limit the time that the bombay doors are open due to aerodynamic changes produced by the surfaces which are opened and/or because of alterations in the radar imaging of the aircraft.
It therefore has become imperative to attempt to open and close bombay doors and/or other control surfaces of aircraft in a rapid and rigid manner. Therefore, the actuators which move the surfaces must work in conjunction with locking pins which will position and ensure the stability of the doors or surfaces when they are in the open or closed position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Locking mechanisms are known, some of which are employed in aircraft, and are disclosed in the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Inventor(s)
3,241,870
Cairelli
4,395,000
Deviny et al
4,810,014
McGourty et al
5,427,329
Renzelmann et al
For example, Cairelli discloses a latching mechanism having gears and a cam which coact under the effect of a clock escapement mechanism to be held in position by a control pin.
However, none of the references identified above disclose or suggest a downlock-pin actuator apparatus according to the present invention.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable downlock-pin actuator apparatus to securely lock bombay doors of aircraft.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a downlock-pin actuator consisting of a motor and flywheel for coaction with a clutch to drive a gear and linkage system for optimum storage of energy.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a downlock-pin actuator adapted for automatic actuation to control transfer movement of a pin of the actuator after a preselected period of time has elapsed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a downlock-pin actuator of relatively compact size and light weight, i.e. approximately 2 pounds to be mounted in the confined spaces of an aircraft compartment.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a downlock-pin actuator having adjustable position sensing micro-switches to generate signals for the insertion and extraction position of the lock pin.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a downlock-pin actuator which operates at a relatively high speed and produces a relatively high amount of torque for its size.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a downlock-pin actuator which operates at relatively high speed, is relatively durable, and which is relatively reliable.
The downlock-pin actuator apparatus according to the present invention includes a motor which drives a single revolution clutch which drives a gear train through one half cycle in order to insert a lock pin of the apparatus and to retain the lock pin in the locked position. The apparatus of the present invention completes another revolution to extract the pin from the locked position to unlock the mechanism.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3241870 (1966-03-01), Cairelli
patent: 4395000 (1983-07-01), Deviny et al.
patent: 4810014 (1989-03-01), McGourty
patent: 5379971 (1995-01-01), Kim et al.
patent: 5427329 (1995-06-01), Renzelmann et al.
patent: 5803404 (1998-09-01), Petrou et al.
Luu Teri Pham
Trans Technology Corp.
Weingram & Associates PC
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