Rotary latch mechanism
AssigneeHartwell Corporation
InventorsFrank T. Jackson, Timothy S. Rozema
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A latch mechanism for releasably securing a first structure to a second structure. The latch mechanism includes a housing adapted to be attached to the first structure and an actuator pivotally attached to the housing. Selective pivotal movement of the actuator pivots a bolt member between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch mechanism is sealed to prevent the flow of fluid through the latch mechanism.
Claims39
A latch mechanism for releasably securing a first structure to a second structure, said latch mechanism comprising:
- a housing adapted to be attached to the first structure;
- an actuator pivotally attached to said housing for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis, said actuator being selectively pivotal about said first pivot axis between a first position and a second position;
- a handle attached to said actuator, said handle adapted to facilitate pivotal movement of said actuator between said first and second positions;
- a follower associated with said actuator, said follower being movable between a third position and a fourth position by said actuator along a translation axis, the translational axis being generally perpendicular to the first pivot axis, said actuator adapted to move said follower to said third position when said actuator moves to said first position, said actuator adapted to move said follower to said fourth position when said actuator moves to said second position;
- and
- a bolt member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said bolt member being pivotally attached to said housing for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis between a fifth position and a sixth position, said follower being connected to said bolt member, said follower adapted to pivot said bolt member to said fifth position when said follower moves to said third position and to pivot said bolt member to said sixth position when said follower moves to said fourth position, said second end of said bolt member adapted to engage the second structure when said bolt member is in said fifth position such that said latch assembly is adapted to secure the first structure to the second structure, said second end of said bolt member is adapted to be disengaged from the second structure when said bolt member is in said sixth position.
A latch mechanism for releasably securing a first structure to a second structure, said latch mechanism comprising:
- a housing adapted to be attached to the first structure;
- a cam pivotally attached to said housing, said cam adapted to pivot about a first pivot axis between a first position and a second position;
- a follower coupled to said housing, said cam adapted to move said follower along a generally linear translational axis between a third position and a fourth position when said cam is pivoted between said first position and said second position, said translational axis being generally perpendicular to said first pivot axis;
- and
- a bolt member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said bolt member being pivotally attached to said housing for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis between a fifth position and a sixth position, said follower being attached to said bolt member such that said follower is adapted to pivot said bolt member to said fifth position when said follower moves to said fourth position and said follower is adapted to pivot said bolt member to said sixth position when said follower moves to said fourth position, said second end of said bolt member adapted to engage the second structure when said bolt member is in said fifth position.
The latch mechanism of clam 34 wherein said third pivot axis and said translational axis of said follower are generally located in the same plane.
A method for releasably securing a first structure to a second structure, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a latch mechanism having a housing, an actuator pivotally attached to the housing, a handle pivotally attached to said actuator, and a bolt member pivotally attached to said housing, said bolt member being coupled to said actuator member;
- attaching said housing to the first structure;
- pivoting said actuator from a first position to a second position about a first axis;
- pivoting said bolt member from an unlatched position to a latched position by said pivotal movement of said actuator from said first position to said second position about a second axis, generally perpendicular to said first axis;
- engaging the second structure with said bolt member when said bolt member is in said latched position;
- and
- pivoting the handle with respect to the actuator from an extended position to a retracted position after pivoting the actuator from said first position to said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.