US 6,629,712 B2 · Extendable latch

Abstract

An extended latch mounted to a structure for securing an adjacent structure. The extended latch is a remotely-actuated latch mechanism that allows the adjacent structure to be released and moved apart from the structure, and later rejoined with the structure without disengagement of the latch mechanism from either structure. The extended latch includes a housing that has a first wall and a second wall that are aligned with and positioned parallel to each other. An extendable linkage is rotatably mounted to the housing. The extendable latch also includes a strut having a central axis and opposing ends. One end of the strut is rotatably mounted to the extendable linkage. The other end of the strut is rotatably mounted to a keeper bar. The extendable latch also includes a detent mechanism rotatably mounted to both the housing and the extendable linkage. The detent mechanism has a blocking position in which the detent mechanism is adjacent to the strut, and an unblocking position in which the detent mechanism is away from the strut.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An extendable latch for use with an aircraft cowl comprising:

a housing having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall aligned with and positioned parallel to the second wall;
an extendable linkage rotatably mounted to the housing;
a keeper bar;
a strut, having a central axis and opposing ends, one end of the strut rotatably mounted to the extendable linkage, the other end of the strut rotatably mounted to the keeper bar;
a detent mechanism rotatably mounted to both the housing and the extendable linkage, the detent mechanism having an over center blocking position in which the detent mechanism is adjacent to the strut to maintain an attached cowl in a closed load position and an unblocking position in which the detent mechanism is away from the strut;
the detent mechanism includes
a blocking link, having opposing ends, one end of the blocking link rotatably mounted to the housing, the other end of the blocking link adjacent to the strut when the detent mechanism is in the blocking position;
and
a connecting link, having opposing ends, one end of the connecting link rotatably mounted to the extendable linkage the other end of the connecting link rotatably mounted to the blocking link.

6 more elements

An extendable latch comprising:

a housing having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall aligned with and positioned parallel to the second wall;
an extendable linkage;
at least one step rivet, having a center region, rotatably mounting the extendable linkage to the housing;
a keeper bar;
a strut, having a central axis and opposing ends, a pin rotatably mounting one end of the strut, having a collar, to the extendable linkage, a mounting keeper rotatably mounting the other end of the strut to the keeper bar, the extendable linkage has an over-center position where the collar is located between the first wall and the second wall and the central axis of the strut is located below the center region of the step rivet;
and
a detent mechanism including;
a blocking link, having opposing ends, one end of the blocking link rotatably mounted to the housing;
a connecting link, having opposing ends, one end of the connecting link rotatably mounted to the extendable linkage, the other end of the connecting link rotatably mounted to the blocking link;
and
the detent mechanism having an over center blocking position in which the end of the blocking link not rotatably mounted to the extendable linkage is adjacent to the strut to maintain a closed load position, and an unblocking position in which the blocking link is away from the strut.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Extendable latch

Life of this patent

Extendable latch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16