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US 6,269,748 B1Granted
Release mechanism
AssigneeNEA Electronics, Inc.
InventorsEdward Rudoy, Larry Leroy McCormick, Edwin E. Vega, Craig W. Courtney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for retaining an object and then releasing that object upon actuation, the device utilizing an actuator that resists less force than that exerted by said object, and is adapted for use with a V-band clamp.
Claims16
A release mechanism for restraining an object subject to a first force and for releasing the object, said mechanism comprising:
- actuator means for resisting a second force until actuation and upon actuation ceasing resistance to the second force, the second force being lesser than the first force;
- transmission means, moveably mounted to said release mechanism and urged by the second force in a predetermined direction, the movement of said transmission means being resisted by said actuator means until actuation and upon actuation such resistance being reduced to a level lower than the second force;
- securing means for releaseably securing the object to said release mechanism;
- and
- linkage means for transmitting movement of said transmission means to said securing means;
- wherein said securing means releases the object upon transmission of the movement of said transmission means by the linkage means to said securing means.
3 more elements
A release mechanism having a base portion and a release portion, for restraining and releasing an object, said mechanism comprising:
- a release pin having two ends, a first end located in said release portion and interconnected with said object, and a second end comprising a circumferential locking groove capable of being releaseably engaged with said base portion;
- a sectored annular retainer movably located in said base portion and having a restraining position and bearing against and restraining said locking groove and release pin relative to said base portion in the restraining position, for preventing movement of said release pin while said annular retainer is in its restraining position;
- a collar located in said base portion, movable between a first position and a second position, for restraining movement of said sectored annular retainer when said collar is in the first position and allowing movement of said sectored annular retainer when in the second position;
- and
- an actuator located in said base portion and having latched and unlatched conditions, resisting movement of said collar from the first position to the second position when said actuator is in the latched condition;
- wherein activation of said actuator causes said actuator to assume the unlatched condition, allowing said collar to move from the first position to the second position, releasing said annular retainer and releasing said release pin.
3 more elements
A release mechanism having a base portion and a release portion, for restraining and releasing an object, said mechanism comprising:
- a release pin having two ends, a first end located in said release portion and interconnected with the object, and a second end comprising a circumferential locking groove capable of being releaseably engaged with said base portion;
- a sectored annular retainer movably located in said base portion and having a restraining position and bearing against and restraining said locking groove and said release pin relative to said base portion in the restraining position, for preventing movement of said release pin while said annular retainer is in its restraining position;
- a collar located in said base portion, movable between a first position and a second position, for restraining movement of said sectored annular retainer when said collar is in the first position and allowing movement of said sectored annular retainer when in the second position;
- and
- an actuator located in said base portion and having latched and unlatched conditions, resisting movement of said collar from the first position to the second position when said actuator is in the latched condition;
- wherein activation of said actuator causes said actuator to assume the unlatched condition, allowing said collar to move from the first position to the second position, releasing said annular retainer and releasing said release pin, and
- wherein the base portion has a release pin aperture,
- said base portion further comprising
- a debris cover located adjacent to and bearing upon said second end of said release pin, said debris cover having a larger cross-sectional surface area than that of the release pin aperture;
- and
- a debris compression spring, connected at one end to said debris cover and at the other end to said base portion;
- whereby release of said release pin enables said debris cover and said debris compression spring to urge said release pin through the release pin aperture and to block the release pin aperture.
9 more elements
A release mechanism having a base portion and a release portion, for restraining and releasing and object, said mechanism comprising:
- a release pin having two ends, a first end located in said release portion and interconnected with the object, and a second end comprising at least one locking indentation capable of being releaseably engaged with said base portion;
- at least one retainer pin movably located in said base portion and having a restraining position and bearing against and restraining said locking indentation and said release pin relative to said base portion in the restraining position, for preventing movement of said release pin while said at least one retainer pin is in its restraining position;
- a collar located in said base portion, movable between first and second positions, for restraining movement of said at least one retainer pin when said collar is in the first position and allowing movement of said at least one retainer pin when in the second position;
- and
- an actuator located in said base portion and having latched and unlatched conditions, resisting movement of said collar from the first position to the second position when said actuator is in the latched condition;
- wherein activation of said actuator causes said actuator to assume the unlatched condition, allowing said collar to move from the first position to the second position, releasing said at least one retainer pin and releasing said release pin.
3 more elements
A release mechanism having a base portion and a release portion, for restraining and releasing an object, said mechanism comprising:
- a release pin having two ends, a first end located in said release portion and interconnected with the object, and a second end comprising at least one locking indentation capable of being releaseably engaged with said base portion;
- at least one retainer pin movably located in said base portion and having a restraining position and bearing against and restraining said locking indentation and said release pin relative to said base portion in the restraining position, for preventing movement of said release pin while said at least one retainer pin is in its restraining position;
- a collar located in said base portion, movable between a first position and a second position, for restraining movement of said at least one retainer pin when said collar is in the first position and allowing movement of said at least one retainer pin when in the second position;
- and
- an actuator located in said base portion and having a latched condition and an unlatched condition, resisting movement of the collar from the first position to the second position when said actuator is in the latched condition;
- wherein activation of said actuator causes said actuator to assume the unlatched condition, allowing said collar to move from the first position to the second position, releasing said at least one retainer pin and releasing said release pin, and
- wherein said base portion has a release pin aperture,
- said base portion further comprising
- a debris cover located adjacent to and bearing upon said second end of said release pin, said debris cover having a larger cross-sectional surface area than that of the release pin aperture;
- and
- a debris compression spring, connected at one end to said debris cover and at the other end to said base portion;
- whereby release of said release pin allows the debris cover and said debris compression spring to urge said release pin through the release pin aperture and to block the release pin aperture.
9 more elements
A release mechanism assembly adapted for use in a V-band clamp having two ends, a first end and a second end, said release mechanism assembly comprising first and second mechanisms having a base portion and a release portion, for restraining and releasing and object,
- said first mechanism comprising:
- a release pin having two ends, a first end located in said release portion and interconnected with the object, and a second end comprising a circumferential locking groove capable of being releaseably engaged with said base portion;
- a sectored annular retainer movably located in said base portion and having a restraining position and bearing against and restraining the locking groove and said release pin relative to said base portion in the restraining position, for preventing movement of said release pin while said annular retainer is in its restraining position;
- a collar located in said base portion, movable between first and second positions, for restraining movement of said sectored annular retainer when said collar is in the first position and allowing movement of said sectored annular retainer when in the second position;
- and
- an actuator located in said base portion and having latched and unlatched conditions, resisting movement of said collar from the first position to the second position when said actuator is in the latched condition;
- wherein activation of said actuator causes said actuator to assume the unlatched condition, allowing said collar to move from the first position to the second position, releasing said annular retainer and releasing said release pin, and
- said second release mechanism interconnected in series with said first release mechanism between the first end and the second end of said V-band clamp, whereby release of either of said release mechanisms releases the V-band clamp.
5 more elements
A release mechanism for restraining and releasing an object, comprising:
- a base portion;
- a release portion;
- a release agent having one part coupled to said release portion for interconnection with the object, and another part positionable in said base portion;
- a retainer assembly in said base portion couplable with said release agent for retention thereof in, and for release thereof from said base portion;
- a release agent aperture located in said base portion;
- a cover having a larger cross-sectional surface area than the release agent aperture and located adjacent to and bearing upon said release agent one part;
- a compression spring, coupled between said cover and said base portion;
- whereby, upon release of said release agent, said cover is biased by said compression spring to urge said release agent through, and thereafter to block the release agent aperture.
5 more elements
A release mechanism assembly, comprising first and second mechanisms, adapted for use in a clamp having first and second ends, for restraining and releasing an object, in which:
- said first mechanism includes
- a base portion,
- a release portion,
- a release agent having one part coupled to said release portion for interconnection with the object, and another part positionable in said base portion,
- a retainer assembly in said base portion having an arrangement therewith for coupling with, and uncoupling from said release agent for retention thereof in, and for release thereof from said base portion, and
- an actuator located in said base portion and having latched and unlatched conditional arrangements with said retainer assembly, to effect the coupling and uncoupling thereof;
- and
- said second release mechanism has an interconnection in series with said first release mechanism between the first and second ends of the clamp, whereby release of either of said first and second release mechanisms releases the clamp.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.