Adjustable locking strut
AssigneePacific Scientific Company
InventorWilliam S. Wright, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable locking strut is connected to a pair of relatively movable mechanical elements and permits relative motion between these elements below a predetermined motion threshold. Above this predetermined motion threshold, relative movement between the mechanical elements is prohibited through the engagement of nonoverhauling threaded members connected to the mechanical elements. These nonoverhauling threaded members are specially designed so that, when synchronized, they do not engage one another. A synchronizing, overhauling threaded member is utilized to maintain the nonoverhauling threaded elements synchronized below the predetermined motion threshold, but is inoperative above the predetermined motion threshold so that said relative motion between the mechanical elements is prohibited above this threshold.
Claims34
An adjustable locking strut for permitting relative motion between first and second mechanical elements below a predetermined motion threshold and for prohibiting such relative motion above said predetermined threshold, comprising:
- a first nonoverhauling threaded member mounted in a fixed axial position on said first mechanical element, said first threaded member mounted for rotation about its axis relative said first mechanical element;
- a second nonoverhauling threaded member mounted rotationally and axially in a fixed position on said second mechanical element, the threads of said first and second threaded members being interengaged and formed with sufficient clearance to prohibit contact therebetween when the threads of said first threaded member are axially centered with respect to the threads of said second threaded member;
- and
- means for rotating said first threaded member during relative motion of said first and second mechanical elements below said predetermined threshold and for thus maintaining said threads of said first threaded member axially centered with respect to the threads of said second threaded member, said means being inoperative above said predetermined threshold.
A mechanism for arresting motion between a pair of mechanical elements above a predetermined motion threshold, comprising:
- a first internally threaded member mounted on one of said pair of mechanical elements;
- a second externally threaded member mounted on the other of said pair of mechanical elements, said member having threads which, when synchronized and engaged with the threads of said first threaded member, do not contact the threads of said first threaded member;
- and
- means for maintaining the threads of said second threaded member in synchronism with the threads of said first threaded member only when said motion between said pair of mechanical elements is below said motion threshold.
A shock mounting strut for controlling motion between a pair of relatively moving mechanical elements, comprising:
- a first nonoverhauling threaded member mounted in an axially fixed, rotatable position on one of said mechanical elements;
- a second nonoverhauling threaded member mounted in a fixed axial and rotational position on the other of said mechanical elements, the threads of said first and second members being engaged;
- and
- means for rotating said first member during relative movement of said elements below a predetermined motion threshold, said means being inoperable above said motion threshold.
A mechanism for controlling relative motion of two mechanical elements, comprising:
- frangible means mounted on said mechanism to break when said relative motion exceeds a motion threshold;
- and
- means connected to said elements and responsive to said frangible means for permitting said relative motion below said motion threshold and for permanently prohibiting relative motion of said elements once said motion threshold has been reached and said frangible means has broken.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.