# US 2018/0320767 A1 · Expanding pin assembly controlled by actuator for locking and unlocking mechanical joint > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320767 A1 - Document ID: US20180320767A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/587,945 - Filed: 2017-05-05 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05 - Assignees: Sierra Nevada Corporation - Applicants: Sierra Nevada Corporation - Inventors: Jake Crine; Benjamin Paul Cunningham; Alec B. Devereaux; Sonny J. Lewis; Jonathan Peritt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320767A1 ## CPC - F16B 13/068: {expanded in two or more places} - B64C 3/56: Folding or collapsing to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft - F16H 19/02: for interconverting rotary {or oscillating} motion and reciprocating motion - F16H 25/2252: {Planetary rollers between nut and screw} - F16H 57/082: {Planet carriers} - Y02T 50/10: Drag reduction - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - F16H: GEARING - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 including a carrier operably coupled to the actuation assembly and an outer housing such that the carrier translates a first distance along the housing when the actuation assembly is actuated to provide the first output, the drive assembly further including a sun gear operably coupled to the carrier such that the sun gear is caused to rotate in a first direction after the carrier translates the first distance; and an expanding pin assembly operably coupled to the drive assembly such that the expanding pin assembly translates the first distance with the drive assembly thereby advancing an expandable part of the expanding pin assembly across at least a part of the mechanical joint, the expandable part being caused to expand when the sun gear rotates in the first direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein the sun gear is configured to rotate in a second direction when the actuation assembly is actuated to provide the second output to thereby cause the expandable part to contract. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is configured to translate along the housing thereby causing the expandable part to retract from the mechanical joint when the actuation assembly is actuated to provide the second output. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly includes one or more of a DC brush motor, a DC brushless motor, a stepper motor, an AC motor, and a rotary hydraulic actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein the outer housing includes an inner chamber with an inner wall that is threadably engaged with a ring gear positioned around a distal end of the carrier such that rotation of the carrier causes rotation of the ring gear, and wherein rotation of the ring gear causes translation of the drive assembly and the expanding pin assembly relative to the outer housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein the pin driving assembly further includes a detent feature that, when in an engaged position, is operatively coupled to both the drive assembly and the expanding pin assembly to thereby restrict translation of the expanding pin assembly relative to the drive assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The expanding pin system of claim 6, wherein the detent feature, when in a disengaged position, is uncoupled from the drive assembly to thereby allow translation of the expanding pin assembly relative to the drive assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The expanding pin system of claim 7, wherein the pin driving assembly further includes a plunger that is biased in a distal position within the pin driving assembly thereby causing the detent feature to be in the engaged position, and wherein the plunger causes the detent feature to be in the disengaged position when forced in a proximal position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The expanding pin system of claim 8, wherein the housing further includes a pin aligned with a distal end of the plunger, and wherein the pin is configured to force the plunger from the distal position to the proximal position when the pin driving assembly engages the pin during distal translation of the pin driving assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The expanding pin system of claim 1, wherein the expanding pin assembly further includes a shear pin that is rotationally restricted and threadably engaged with the sun gear such that rotation of the sun gear causes translation of the shear pin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The expanding pin system of claim 10, wherein the expandable part is positioned along a distal end of the shear pin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The expanding pin system of claim 11, wherein translation of the shear pin in a proximal direction relative to the sun gear causes the expandable part to expand. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The expanding pin system of claim 11, wherein translation of the shear pin in a distal direction relative to the sun gear causes the expandable part to contract. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The expanding pin system of claim 11, wherein the expandable part includes one or more bushings. ### Claim 15 A method of an expanding pin system coupled to a mechanical joint associated with a deployable wing of an aircraft, comprising: actuating an actuation assembly of the expanding pin system to provide a first output, the actuation assembly being operatively coupled to a pin driving assembly of the expanding pin system that is configured to releasably lock the mechanical joint; advancing, as a result of the first output, an expandable part of the pin driving assembly into the mechanical joint; and expanding, as a result of the first output, the expandable part in the mechanical joint to thereby lock the mechanical joint. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising actuating the actuation assembly to provide a second output; collapsing, as a result of the second output, the expandable part in the mechanical joint; and retracting, as a result of the second output, the expandable part from the mechanical joint thereby unlocking the mechanical joint. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: disengaging, as a result of the advancing, a detent feature of the pin driving assembly to allow the expanding. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: engaging, as a result of the retracting, the detent feature to allow the collapsing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the expandable part includes one or more bushings. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the actuation assembly includes one or more of a DC brush motor, a DC brushless motor, a stepper motor, an AC motor, and a rotary hydraulic actuator.