Mechanical logic-gate pivot tube
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorBlake David Raybern
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical logic gate system for an aircraft seat which includes a flywheel operatively connected to a pivot tube and control cables. The control cables attach to swivel locking and tracking mechanisms which enable swiveling and tracking of the aircraft seat. Spring pin plungers are configured to extend into the flywheel for locking it in place. When both spring pin plungers are retracted from the flywheel via control cables, the aircraft seat is disabled from swiveling.
Claims20
A mechanical logic-gate system for an aircraft seat comprising:
- a flywheel having a first control arm and a second control arm, wherein the flywheel is operatively coupled to a pivot tube configured to control a plurality of control cables;
- a first spring pin plunger configured to disengage with the first control arm via tensioning of a first cable, and a second spring pin plunger configured to disengage with the second control arm via tensioning of a second cable;
- and
- a return spring configured to bias rotation of the flywheel in a first direction such that upon the first and second spring pin plungers both being disengaged with the first and second control arms of the flywheel, respectively, the return spring rotates the flywheel thereby disabling swiveling capability of the aircraft seat;
- and
- the aircraft seat being enabled to swivel when at least one of the first or second spring pin plungers are engaged with the first or second control arms of the flywheel, respectively.
A mechanical logic-gate system for an aircraft seat comprising:
- a mechanical logic-gate operatively coupled to a pivot tube, wherein the pivot tube is operatively coupled to a plurality of control cables for controlling a plurality of seat adjustment locking mechanisms by rotating about a longitudinal axis of the pivot tube, the mechanical logic-gate comprising:
- a flywheel having a first control arm and a second control arm, wherein the flywheel is configured to rotate about the pivot tube independently of the pivot tube;
- a swivel locking control cable operatively coupling the flywheel to a swivel locking mechanism;
- a first spring pin plunger mechanically coupled to the pivot tube on a first side of the flywheel, wherein the first spring pin plunger comprises a spring-loaded pin extending from a first limit cable;
- and
- a second spring pin plunger mechanically coupled to the pivot tube on a second side of the flywheel opposite the first side, wherein the second spring pin plunger comprises a spring-loaded pin extending from second limit cable,
- wherein the first spring pin plunger is configured to insert into a hole of the first control arm of the flywheel and the second spring pin plunger is configured to extend into a hole of the second control arm of the flywheel such that the flywheel actuates the swivel locking mechanism based on tension of the first limit cable and/or the second limit cable, wherein the actuation of the swivel locking mechanism is achieved by rotation of the pivot tube based on coupling of the pivot tube and the flywheel.
A mechanical logic-gate system for an aircraft seat comprising:
- a flywheel operatively coupled to a pivot tube and to a plurality of control cables wherein the pivot tube is configured to rotate independently of the flywheel when a first and second spring pin plunger are disengaged from the flywheel;
- the aircraft seat being disabled from swiveling when the first and second spring pin plungers are retracted from the flywheel;
- and
- the aircraft seat being enabled to swivel when at least one of the first or second spring pin plungers are engaged with the flywheel causing the pivot tube to rotate with the flywheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.