Detent alignment mechanism assembly
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsCory M. Crandall-Seibert, Jeffrey Paul Jacobs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A detent alignment mechanism assembly is provided and includes a shaft, a lock mechanism configured to selectively occupy an unlocked position at which the shaft is movable and a locked position at which the shaft is immovable, a detent mechanism coupled to the shaft and formed to define detent positions for the shaft to assume and move between and a detent alignment mechanism configured to provide to an operator of the shaft feedback and assistance corresponding to assumptions of the detent positions by the shaft during movements thereof by the operator.
Claims18
A detent alignment mechanism assembly, comprising:
- a shaft, which is configured to be pivoted about a pivot axis by an operator, and which comprises a handle at a distal end opposite the pivot axis;
- a lock mechanism configured to be lifted by the operator gripping the handle along the shaft toward the handle to selectively occupy an unlocked position, which is characterized in that the shaft is pivotable about the pivot axis, and to be released by the operator to move away from the handle toward a locked position, which is characterized in that the shaft is not pivotable about the pivot axis;
- a detent mechanism coupled to a first portion of the shaft and formed to define detent positions for the shaft to assume with the lock mechanism selectively occupying the locked position such that the detent mechanism is engaged and for the shaft to move between with the lock mechanism selectively occupying the unlocked position such that the detent mechanism is disengaged;
- and
- a detent alignment mechanism coupled to a second portion of the shaft, which is radially interposed between the first portion of the shaft and the pivot axis, the detent alignment mechanism being configured to provide to the operator feedback and assistance corresponding to assumptions of the detent positions by the shaft during pivots thereof about the pivot axis by the operator.
A detent alignment mechanism assembly for use in an aircraft, comprising:
- a housing affixed to an airframe of the aircraft;
- a shaft coupled to controllable surfaces of the aircraft, the shaft being configured to be pivoted about a pivot axis by an operator and comprising a handle at a distal end opposite the pivot axis;
- a lock mechanism configured to be lifted by the operator gripping the handle along the shaft toward the handle to selectively occupy an unlocked position, which is characterized in that the shaft is pivotable about the pivot axis relative to the housing, and to be released by the operator to move away from the handle toward a locked position, which is characterized in that the shaft is not pivotable about the pivot axis relative to the housing;
- a detent mechanism coupled to the housing and a first portion of the shaft and formed to define detent positions for the shaft to assume with the lock mechanism selectively occupying the locked position such that the detent mechanism is engaged and for the shaft to move between with the lock mechanism selectively occupying the unlocked position such that the detent mechanism is disengaged;
- and
- a detent alignment mechanism coupled to a second portion of the shaft, which is radially interposed between the first portion of the shaft and the pivot axis, the detent alignment mechanism being configured to provide to the operator feedback and assistance corresponding to assumptions of the detent positions by the shaft during pivots thereof about the pivot axis by the operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.