Delayed unlatching mechanism

An apparatus for securing a closure that opens by movement relative to a fixed structure having a locking bolt recess, the apparatus comprising:

• a locking bolt for engaging the locking bolt recess to prevent the opening of the closure;
• a latching lever operatively coupled with the locking bolt wherein the latching lever moves between (a) a latching lever locked position in which the locking bolt is disposed in a first position engaged with the locking bolt recess for inhibiting opening of the closure and (b) a latching lever unlocked position in which the locking bolt is disposed in a second position disengaged from the locking bolt recess for permitting opening of the closure;
• a hydraulic cylinder having a high pressure chamber and an atmospheric pressure chamber separated by a piston that is operatively engaged with a ram for engaging the latching lever;
• a hydraulic fluid reservoir in flow communication with the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic fluid reservoir holding a hydraulic fluid;
• and
• a pump to extract a portion of the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir and transfer it at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure through a hydraulic fluid line to the high pressure chamber of the hydraulic cylinder,
• wherein at least one cycle of the pump pressurizes the high pressure chamber causing the piston to move the ram, and wherein the movement of the ram moves the latching lever from the latching lever locked position to the latching lever unlocked position.