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US 5,960,674 AGranted
Mechanical actuator with integral travel stop and down lock
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDavid J. Brockmeyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strong helical compression spring biases the plunger of a unidirectional actuator to an extended position. The actuator is a self contained unit having an integral travel stop to limit extension of the plunger and an integral down lock mechanism which locks the plunger when the maximum extended position is reached.
Claims22
A mechanical actuator comprising:
- an elongated guide fitting;
- a plunger guided for extension and retraction in opposite directions relative to the guide fitting;
- a spring mechanically interconnected between the guide fitting and the plunger for biasing the plunger to an extended position, the plunger and guide fitting having respective portions interengageable to limit the maximum extension of the plunger relative to the guide fitting;
- and
- a lock mechanism operable to lock the plunger to the guide fitting when the maximum extension of the plunger is reached and prevent substantial retraction of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the lock mechanism being manually releaseable to permit retraction of the plunger from the maximum extension by application of force in excess of the biasing force applied by the spring.
2 more elements
A mechanical actuator comprising:
- an elongated guide fitting;
- a plunger guided for extension and retraction relative to the guide fitting;
- a spring mechanically interconnected between the guide fitting and the plunger for biasing the plunger to an extended position, the plunger and guide fitting having respective portions interengageable to limit the maximum extension of the plunger relative to the guide fitting;
- and
- a lock mechanism operable to lock the plunger to the guide fitting when the maximum extension of the plunger is reached and prevent substantial retraction of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the lock mechanism being manually releasable to permit retraction of the plunger from the maximum extension by application of force in excess of the biasing force applied by the spring, the spring being a helical compression spring having a hollow core closely received over the guide fitting.
2 more elements
A mechanical actuator comprising:
- an elongated guide fitting;
- a plunger guided for extension and retraction relative to the guide fitting, the plunger being slidable within the guide fitting;
- a spring mechanically interconnected between the guide fitting and the plunger for biasing the plunger to an extended position, the plunger and guide fitting having respective portions interengageable to limit the maximum extension of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the spring being a helical compression spring having a hollow core closely received over the guide fitting;
- and
- a lock mechanism operable to lock the plunger to the guide fitting when the maximum extension of the plunger is reached and prevent substantial retraction of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the lock mechanism being manually releasable to permit retraction of the plunger from the maximum extension by application of force in excess of the biasing force applied by the spring, the spring being a helical compression spring having a hollow core closely received over the guide fitting, the lock mechanism including a lock rod slidable within the plunger and a lock segment mounted in the plunger for movement transversely thereof, the lock rod biasing the lock segment to a position projected from the plunger, the guide fitting further having an internal groove positioned to receive the lock segment when the plunger is at the maximum extension.
2 more elements
A mechanical actuator comprising:
- an elongated guide fitting;
- a plunger guided for extension and retraction relative to the guide fitting;
- a spring mechanically interconnected between the guide fitting and the plunger for biasing the plunger to an extended position, the plunger and guide fitting having respective portions interengageable to limit the maximum extension of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the spring having a hollow core closely received over the guide fitting;
- a lock mechanism operable to lock the plunger to the guide fitting when the maximum extension of the plunger is reached and prevent substantial retraction of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the lock mechanism being manually releasable to permit retraction of the plunger from the maximum extension by application of force in excess of the biasing force applied by the spring;
- a canister interfitted with the plunger and biased by the helical compression spring;
- and
- a thin-walled cylindrical shroud encircling at least a portion of the helical compression spring, the canister being partly telescoped within the shroud.
4 more elements
A mechanical actuator comprising:
- an elongated guide fitting;
- a plunger guided for extension and retraction relative to the guide fitting, the plunger being slidable within the guide fitting;
- a spring mechanically interconnected between the guide fitting and the plunger for biasing the plunger to an extended position, the plunger and guide fitting having respective portions interengageable to limit the maximum extension of the plunger relative to the guide fitting;
- a lock mechanism operable to lock the plunger to the guide fitting when the maximum extension of the plunger is reached and prevent substantial retraction of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the lock mechanism being manually releasable to permit retraction of the plunger from the maximum extension by application of force in excess of the biasing force applied by the spring, the lock mechanism including a lock rod slidable within the plunger and a lock segment mounted in the plunger for movement transversely thereof, the lock rod biasing the lock segment to a position projected from the plunger, the guide fitting further having an internal groove positioned to receive the lock segment when the plunger is at the maximum extension.
1 more element
A mechanical actuator comprising:
- an elongated guide fitting;
- a plunger guided for extension and retraction relative to the guide fitting;
- a spring mechanically interconnected between the guide fitting and the plunger for biasing the plunger to an extended position, the plunger and guide fitting having respective portions interengageable to limit the maximum extension of the plunger relative to the guide fitting;
- a lock mechanism operable to lock the plunger to the guide fitting when the maximum extension of the plunger is reached and prevent substantial retraction of the plunger relative to the guide fitting, the lock mechanism being manually releasable to permit retraction of the plunger from the maximum extension by application of force in excess of the biasing force applied by the spring;
- a canister interfitted with the plunger and biased by the spring;
- and
- a thin-walled cylindrical shroud encircling at least a portion of the helical compression spring, the canister being partly telescoped within the shroud.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.