Latch system

A latch system for an aircraft nacelle, the nacelle comprising left and right first cowls and left and right second cowls, each cowl being hingedly mounted to the nacelle for pivotal movement between a closed position adapted for aircraft operation and one or more open positions wherein access is provided to interior portions of the nacelle, the right first cowl and right second cowl being positioned adjacent and in side-to-side relationship with one another such that when the right first and second cowls are in their closed positions, they form an approximately continuous surface extending along the right side of the nacelle, the left first and left second cowls being positioned adjacent and in side-to-side relationship with one another such that when both left cowls are in their closed positions, they form an approximately continuous surface extending along the left side of the nacelle, each first cowl including a first edge along which the first cowl is hingedly mounted to the nacelle, the left and right first cowls in their closed positions substantially defining a cylindrical passage, the latch system comprising latch means associated with each first cowl, each latch means being movable to and from a latched position in which the latch means is connected to the associated first cowl at the first edge thereof and holds the associated first cowl in its closed position and prevents the associated first cowl from moving to an open position, each latch means including locking means associated with the adjacent second cowl for holding the latch means in its latched position when said adjacent second cowl is in its closed position, whereby each first cowl is held in its closed position when the adjacent second cowl is in its closed position.

A latch for an aircraft nacelle, the nacelle comprising a cowl hingedly mounted to the nacelle for pivotal movement between a closed position adapted for aircraft operation and one or more open positions wherein access is provided to interior portions of the nacelle, the latch comprising toggle linkage means movable to and from a latched position in which the toggle linkage means engages the cowl and holds the cowl in its closed position and prevents it from moving to an open position, the toggle linkage means comprising a first link arm pivotally connected to the nacelle at a first pivot point, a second link arm pivotally connected to the cowl at a second pivot point, and connecting means for connecting the first link arm to the second link arm at a connection point when the toggle linkage means is in its latched position, the latch further comprising locking means for holding the toggle linkage means in its latched position, the locking means comprising a locking member pivotally mounted to the nacelle for rotation about a third pivot point to and from a locking position in which a contact surface of the locking member abuts the toggle linkage means adjacent the connection point and holds the toggle linkage means in its latched position, the locking means being positioned such that when the locking means is in its locking position, the contact surface lies approximately along a line between the connection point and the third pivot point.