Expanding pin assembly controlled by actuator for locking and unlocking mechanical joint
AssigneeSierra Space Corporation
InventorsJake Crine, Benjamin Paul Cunningham, Alec B. Devereaux, Sonny J. Lewis, Jonathan Peritt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expanding pin system is described that can provide automated and/or power controlled locking and unlocking of an expanding pin assembly in a mechanical joint. For example, the expanding pin system can include an actuation assembly that includes a single actuator (e.g., motor) to control an expanding pin assembly for locking and unlocking a mechanical joint.
Claims19
An expanding pin system for releasably locking a mechanical joint associated with a deployable wing of an aircraft for releasably securing the deployable wing in a deployed position, the expanding pin system, comprising:
- an actuation assembly configured to provide a first output for locking the mechanical joint and a second output for unlocking the mechanical joint;
- and
- a pin driving assembly operably coupled to the actuation assembly, the pin driving assembly comprising:
- a drive assembly operably coupled to a housing, the drive assembly comprising:
- a carrier operably coupled to the actuation assembly such that actuation of the actuation assembly to provide the first output causes the carrier to translate a first distance towards the mechanical joint;
- and
- a ring gear operably coupled to the carrier such that rotational movement of the carrier causes rotational movement of the ring gear, the ring gear being operably coupled to the housing such that rotation of the ring gear causes translation of the drive assembly relative to the housing;
- and
- an expanding pin assembly operably coupled to the drive assembly such that the expanding pin assembly translates the first distance with the carrier thereby advancing an expandable part of the expanding pin assembly across at least a part of the mechanical joint for locking the mechanical joint as a result of the expandable part being expanded.
An expanding pin system for releasably locking a mechanical joint associated with a deployable wing of an aircraft for releasably securing the deployable wing in a deployed position, the expanding pin system, comprising:
- an actuation assembly configured to provide a first output for locking the mechanical joint and a second output for unlocking the mechanical joint;
- and
- a pin driving assembly operably coupled to the actuation assembly, the pin driving assembly comprising:
- a drive assembly comprising a carrier operably coupled to the actuation assembly such that the carrier translates a first distance towards the mechanical joint when the actuation assembly is actuated to provide the first output;
- and
- an expanding pin assembly operably coupled to the drive assembly such that the expanding pin assembly translates the first distance with the carrier thereby advancing an expandable part of the expanding pin assembly across at least a part of the mechanical joint for locking the mechanical joint upon expansion of the expandable part, the expanding pin assembly comprising:
- a plunger biased in a first position within the pin driving assembly thereby causing a detent feature to restrict translation of the expanding pin assembly relative to the drive assembly, and wherein the plunger, when forced into a second position, causes the detent feature to allow translation of the expanding pin assembly relative to the drive assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.