Back to results
US 8,919,829 B2Granted
Pressure relief latch, high repeatability
AssigneeHartwell Corporation
InventorJames R. Hernandez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure relief latch for use in securing panels on an air-craft. The latch includes an apparatus and method to retain the latch in a latched condition under certain conditions. The latch includes a detention assembly which includes at least a portion which has a coefficient of thermal expansion which differs from a housing of the latch.
Claims10
A pressure relief latch mechanism comprising:
- a housing;
- a bolt coupled to the housing for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position, the bolt includes a pair of spaced apart detents on spaced apart sides of the bolt and a corresponding groove communicating with and extending along a portion of the bolt between each of the pair of spaced apart detents;
- a detention assembly configured to be positioned within the housing and including a pair of spaced apart detent balls, a ball support associated with each detent ball for supporting the corresponding detent ball, a detent spring and an expansion spacer associated with each detent ball wherein the expansion spacer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that differs from that of the housing in order to allow for compensation in the spring rate of the detent spring at different temperatures;
- wherein each detent ball is configured to selectively engage the corresponding pair of detents when the bolt is in the closed position and roll along the corresponding groove between the corresponding detents when the bolt is moved between the closed position and an open position.
1 more element
A method of maintaining a panel in a closed position comprising the steps of:
- attaching a latch mechanism to the panel wherein the latch mechanism includes a housing, a bolt coupled to the housing for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position, the bolt includes a pair of spaced apart detents on spaced apart sides of the bolt and a corresponding groove communicating with and extending along a portion of the bolt between each of the pair of spaced apart detents, and a detention assembly configured to be positioned within the housing in order to allow for compensation in the spring rate of the detent spring at different temperatures and including
- a pair of spaced apart detent balls, a ball support associated with each detent ball for supporting the corresponding detent ball, a detent spring and an expansion spacer associated with each detent ball wherein the expansion spacer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that differs from that of the housing;
- adjusting the detention assembly to adjust the retention force used to hold the panel in a closed position;
- and
- closing the panel so the bolt of the latch mechanism holds the panel in a closed position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.