Closure fasteners – Bolts – Hooked end
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-12-04
Estremsky, Gary (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Hooked end
C244S129400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325428
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the mechanical arts. In particular, this invention relates to a latch assembly including sensor that releasably engages a keeper for securing an aircraft panel to an aircraft structure.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Various types of latches join and lock aircraft panels, such as an aircraft cowling, to an aircraft structure. A typical latch includes a hook mounted to an aircraft cowling that engages a keeper mounted to the aircraft structure. Sometimes, the latch is located at ground level and includes a handle directly connected to the hook such that the latch is directly operable by a latch operator. However, oftentimes the latch is located far above the ground and is not directly operable by a latch operator.
For example, cowlings are sometimes secured to the aircraft structure at the top of the cowling, near the hinge line, high above the ground, by remote, top-mounted latches. Such top-mounted latches are almost completely inaccessible and are not readily visible to operators on the ground. Several types of top-mounted latches attempt to solve the problem of inaccessibility by utilizing a remotely-actuated latch. These top-mounted latches commonly include a hook to engage the keeper. The hook is connected to, and actuated by, a push/pull cable which, in turn, is connected to a handle located at the bottom of the cowling near the ground. This allows an operator to remotely open and close the top-mounted latch from the ground by the use of the handle. When the top-mounted latch is remotely opened, the hook disengages from the keeper allowing the cowling to be opened. After closing the cowling, the top-mounted latch can be remotely closed by an operator simply toggling the handle at the bottom of the cowling.
A disadvantage of such remote latches is that if the hook or keeper are not in the proper position, or are broken, it may be possible to close the handle without the latch engaging the keeper. Other types of mechanical linkages and even electrical actuators have been used, instead of push/pull cables, to permit remote latches to be opened and closed from the ground, with the same aforementioned disadvantage.
A further disadvantage of the use of such remote latches is that there is no way for the mechanic to verify whether the hook has properly engaged the keeper from the ground. Therefore, the mechanic operating the remote latch can never be sure that the latch is properly closed. Various devices in conjunction with the previously described remote latches have been used, unsuccessfully, to verify that a top-mounted latch is properly closed. For example, previous attempts have been made to attach special devices to these remote latches to merely alert the mechanic if the latch has not properly engaged the keeper. These special devices do not prevent the latch from closing when the latch has not properly engaged the keeper. A disadvantage of utilizing these devices is that they are also subject to failure, damage, or human error.
In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for a latch assembly including sensor that prevents the latch from closing when the hook does not engage the keeper, as well as, alerts the latch assembly operator that the latch has not closed properly. The present invention satisfies these and other needs and provides further related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention resides in a latch assembly including sensor that provides advantages over known latches in that the latch assembly is prevented from closing when the latch does not engage a keeper, and the latch assembly alerts the operator that the latch assembly has not closed properly.
The latch assembly includes a latch housing and a latch, which is mounted in the latch housing. The latch includes a hook rotatably mounted within the latch housing. The hook includes a curved end, for engagement with a keeper, a base end, at the end of the hook opposite the curved end, and a central body located between the curved end and the base end. A channel extends from the top surface of the central body to the bottom surface of the central body and defines a pair of hook sidewalls. A pair of aligned slots in the central body extend through the hook sidewalls.
The latch also includes a linkage, that is moveable into and out of a locked position, and is rotatably mounted to the base end of the hook. The linkage includes a pair of compression links, which interface with the aligned slots in the hook sidewalls, and an elongated link, which is rotatably mounted to the base end of the hook and the compression links.
Furthermore, the latch includes a sensor, pivotally mounted to the hook by a sensor pivot pin with a spring coiled about the sensor pivot pin, that is moveable between a blocking position and an unblocking position. The sensor resided within a sensor slot located in the hook's curved end. The spring biases the sensor in the blocking position, where the sensor prevents the linkage from moving into the locked position and the latch assembly cannot be closed. In the unblocking position, the sensor is located away from the linkage allowing the linkage to move to the locked position.
Thus, when a latch assembly operator tries to move the linkage into the locked position, if the hook does not engage the keeper, thereby displacing the sensor, the sensor prevents the linkage from moving to the locked position and the latch assembly from closing. Because the latch assembly operator cannot move the linkage into the locked position, the operator is alerted that the hook is not properly engaged to the keeper and the latch assembly is not closed properly.
On the other hand, when the latch assembly operator moves the linkage into the locked position, if the hook engages the keeper, the keeper causes the sensor to rotate into its unblocking position away from the linkage. When the sensor is in its unblocking position, the linkage is allowed to move into its locked position and the latch assembly is allowed to close. Therefore, the latch assembly operator can move the linkage into the locked position and be assured that the hook has engaged the keeper and the latch assembly is properly closed.
Accordingly, the latch assembly including sensor alerts the latch operator as to whether or not the hook has engaged the keeper, and whether the latch assembly has closed properly, dependent upon whether the latch assembly operator can move the linkage into the locked position.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described and shown, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. The advantages of the present invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3194595 (1965-07-01), Wheeler
patent: 3259412 (1966-07-01), Wheeler
patent: 3347578 (1967-10-01), Sheehan
patent: 4318557 (1982-03-01), Bourne et al.
patent: 4613099 (1986-09-01), Smith
patent: 4759574 (1988-07-01), James
patent: 5152559 (1992-10-01), Henrichs
patent: 5518206 (1996-05-01), Arnold
patent: 6042156 (2000-03-01), Jackson
patent: 6148607 (2000-11-01), Baudu
Barnes & Thornburg
Estremsky Gary
Hartwell Corporation
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