Lock mechanism of telescopic hold open rod

A door and hold open rod assembly of an aircraft, comprising:

• a door;
• and
• a hold open rod assembly secured to the door, the hold open rod assembly configured to support the door in an opened position when the hold open rod is deployed, the hold open rod assembly including:
• a first rod segment extending along a rod central axis;
• a second rod segment surrounding the first rod segment and in a telescoping arrangement with the first rod segment;
• and
• a locking apparatus operably connected to the first rod segment and the second rod segment, the locking apparatus configured to automatically lock the first rod segment in an extended position relative to the second rod segment;
• wherein the locking apparatus comprises:
• a cylinder end fitting surrounding the first rod segment, the cylinder end fitting including at least one locking groove;
• at least one lock segment installed into the at least one locking groove in the cylinder end fitting, the at least one lock segment biased toward the at least one locking groove;
• an outer sleeve surrounding the cylinder end fitting;
• and
• an unlock sleeve disposed radially inboard of the cylinder end fitting;
• wherein the at least one lock segment is configured to engage with the at least one locking groove when the first rod segment is moved to the extended position relative to the second rod segment;
• and
• wherein the unlock sleeve is configured to block the at least one locking groove to prevent engagement of the at least one lock segment into the at least one locking groove unless the first rod segment is in the extended position.

An engine assembly of an aircraft, comprising:

• an engine body;
• a cowling configured to at least partially enclose the engine body, the cowling movable between a closed position and an opened position;
• and
• a hold open rod assembly secured to the cowling, the hold open rod assembly configured to support the cowling in an opened position when the hold open rod is deployed, the hold open rod assembly including
• a first rod segment extending along a rod central axis;
• a second rod segment surrounding the first rod segment and in a telescoping arrangement with the first rod segment;
• and
• a locking apparatus operably connected to the first rod segment and the second rod segment, the locking apparatus configured to automatically lock the first rod segment in an extended position relative to the second rod segment;
• wherein the locking apparatus comprises:
• a cylinder end fitting surrounding the first rod segment, the cylinder end fitting including at least one locking groove;
• at least one lock segment installed into the at least one locking groove in the cylinder end fitting, the at least one lock segment biased toward the at least one locking groove;
• an outer sleeve surrounding the cylinder end fitting;
• and
• an unlock sleeve disposed radially inboard of the cylinder end fitting;
• wherein the at least one lock segment is configured to engage with the at least one locking groove when the first rod segment is moved to the extended position relative to the second rod segment;
• and
• wherein the unlock sleeve is configured to block the at least one locking groove to prevent engagement of the at least one lock segment into the at least one locking groove unless the first rod segment is in the extended position.