Attachment bolt locking assembly
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsStephen W. Larimore, Kenny J. Hanzlick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking assembly that mechanically locks an attachment bolt, such as one used to secure a missile launcher to an aircraft, for example, thus preventing the bolt from vibrating loose as a result of vibration experienced during flight. The locking assembly has a spring loaded locking nut that mechanically engages a hex head of an extension shaft that is coupled to the attachment bolt. Transverse pins permit axial movement of the locking nut but prevent rotation thereof. A socket is used to push the locking nut away from the hex head of the extension shaft, so that the attachment bolt can be loosened or tightened. When the socket is removed, a spring pushes the locking nut over the hex head of the extension shaft, locking the attachment bolt and preventing it from turning.
Claims6
An attachment bolt locking assembly for locking an attachment bolt comprising:
- a housing;
- an extension shaft disposed in the housing that has a hex head at one end and a hex-shaped opposite end, and wherein the hex-shaped opposite end is inserted into a hex head of the attachment bolt;
- a locking nut having a opening that surrounds the shaft and hex head of the extension shaft, and wherein the locking nut engages the hex head of the extension shaft and prevents the extension shaft from rotating, and wherein the hex head of the extension shaft is configured to receive a socket that is used to engage and disengage the locking nut;
- a pin disposed through a slot in the housing and into a hole disposed in the locking nut which allows the locking nut to move axially relative the housing, but prohibits the locking nut to rotate;
- a spring stop disposed adjacent to the opposite end of the extension shaft;
- a spring is surrounding the extension shaft having one end abutting the spring stop and having its other end abutting the locking nut;
- a retaining ring disposed along the extension shaft between the spring stop and the hex-shaped distal end of the extension shaft that retains the spring stop on the shaft.
An attachment bolt locking assembly for use in locking an attachment bolt to a missile launcher, said assembly comprising:
- a housing adapted to be disposed in the missile launcher;
- an extension shaft disposed in the housing that has a hex head at one end and a hex-shaped opposite end, and wherein the hex-shaped opposite end is inserted into a hex head of the attachment bolt;
- a locking nut having a opening that surrounds the shaft and hex head of the extension shaft, and wherein the locking nut engages the hex head of the extension shaft and prevents the extension shaft from rotating, and wherein the hex head of the extension shaft is configured to receive a socket that is used to engage and disengage the locking nut;
- a pin disposed through a slot in the housing and into a hole disposed in the locking nut which allows the locking nut to move axially relative the housing, but prohibits the locking nut from rotating;
- a spring stop disposed adjacent to the opposite end of the extension shaft;
- a spring is surrounding the extension shaft having one end abutting the spring stop and having its other end abutting the locking nut;
- a retaining ring disposed along the extension shaft between the spring stop and the hex-shaped distal end of the extension shaft that retains the spring stop on the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.