Dual switch rotary latch
AssigneeHartwell Corporation
InventorJohn J. Boyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary latch mechanism for releasably securing a first structure relative to a second structure. The rotary latch mechanism includes a housing adapted to be attached to the first structure, an actuator assembly coupled to the housing, a linkage coupled to the actuator assembly and arranged for movement along the housing with movement of the actuator assembly, and a bolt coupled to the housing and to the linkage, the bolt arranged for pivotal movement relative to the housing with movement of the linkage. The bolt is adapted to move between a latched position engaged with the second structure to secure the first structure relative to the second structure and an unlatched position spaced apart from the second structure to allow movement of the first structure relative to the second structure.
Claims20
A rotary latch mechanism for releasably securing a first structure relative to a second structure, the rotary latch mechanism comprising:
- a housing adapted to be attached to the first structure;
- an actuator assembly coupled to the housing, the actuator assembly including a column arranged for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis relative to the housing and a handle coupled to the column and arranged for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis relative to the column, the handle movable between a locked position in which the handle is trapped relative to the housing to block pivoting movement of the handle relative to the housing and an unlocked position in which the handle extends away from the housing to allow pivoting movement of the handle relative to the housing about the first pivot axis, the handle engages with the column to pivot the column about the first axis in response to pivoting movement of the handle relative to the housing about the first pivot axis;
- a linkage coupled to the column, the linkage configured to move along the housing in response to pivoting movement of the column about the first pivot axis;
- a bolt coupled to the housing and to the linkage, the bolt configured to pivot about a third pivot axis relative to the housing in response to movement of the linkage along the housing, the bolt arranged to move between a latched position engaged with the second structure to secure the first structure relative to the second structure and an unlatched position spaced apart from the second structure to allow movement of the first structure relative to the second structure;
- a first sensor coupled to the housing and arranged for operation by the handle, the first sensor configured to provide a signal indicating whether the handle is in the locked or unlocked position;
- and
- a second sensor coupled to the housing and arranged for operation by the linkage, the second sensor configured to provide a signal indicating whether the bolt is in the latched or unlatched position.
A rotary latch mechanism comprising:
- a housing;
- an actuator assembly coupled to the housing, the actuator assembly including a column arranged for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis relative to the housing and a handle coupled to the column and arranged for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis relative to the column, the handle movable between a locked position in which the handle is trapped relative to the housing to block pivoting movement of the handle relative to the housing and an unlocked position in which the handle extends away from the housing to allow pivoting movement of the handle relative to the housing about the first pivot axis, the handle engages with the column to pivot the column about the first axis in response to pivoting movement of the handle relative to the housing about the first pivot axis;
- a linkage coupled to the column, the linkage configured to move along the housing in response to pivoting movement of the column about the first pivot axis, the linkage including a cage and an arm coupled to the cage and to the bolt;
- a bolt coupled to the housing and to the linkage, the bolt configured to pivot about a third pivot axis relative to the housing in response to movement of the linkage along the housing, the bolt arranged to move between a latched position and an unlatched position,
- wherein the column of the actuator assembly includes a post and a driver coupled to the post, wherein the handle is coupled to the post, wherein the driver and the post are arranged for pivoting movement about the first axis in response to pivoting movement of the handle relative to the housing about the first pivot axis, wherein the linkage includes a cage and an arm coupled between the cage and to the bolt, wherein the driver is configured to engage with the cage to move the linkage along the housing in response to pivoting movement of the column about the first axis, wherein the housing is formed to define a groove, wherein a projection extends from the cage toward the housing and into the groove, and wherein the projection is arranged to move along the groove in response to movement of the linkage and to engage with the housing to limit movement of the linkage relative to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.