Reinforced plastic locking dogs
AssigneeMarathonNorco Aerospace, Inc.
InventorsRyan A. Wheeler, Julio Palma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hold open rod may include: an outer tube and an inner tube; a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the inner tube with the outer tube; a locking groove in an outer surface of the inner tube; a locking dog and an outer housing covering the locking dog and at least part of the locking mechanism, the outer housing defining a cavity to contain the locking dog when the locking dog is in the outer radial position and also having an angled inner wall configured to engage the locking dog to move the locking dog to the inner radial position when the outer housing is moved to a locking position. A method of actuating a locking rod may be provided.
Claims17
A lockable hold open rod comprising:
- an outer tube and an inner tube, the inner tube configured to slide in and out of an open end of the outer tube along a longitudinal axis;
- a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the inner tube with the outer tube;
- a locking groove in an outer surface of the inner tube;
- a locking dog having an inclined surface and a flat surface, the flat surface configured to slide along the outer surface of the inner tube when the locking dog is in an outer radial position and fit in the locking groove when the locking dog is in an inner radial position;
- an outer housing covering the locking dog and at least part of the locking mechanism, the outer housing defining a cavity to contain the locking dog when the locking dog is in the outer radial position and also having an angled inner wall configured to engage the inclined surface of the locking dog to move the locking dog to the inner radial position when the outer housing is moved to a locking position;
- and
- a spring biasing the outer housing to the locked position,
- wherein the hold open rod is configured to be attached to access structure of an aircraft;
- and
- wherein the outer housing is arranged on the outer tube and extends past the open end of the outer tube along the longitudinal axis.
A method of actuating a locking rod comprising:
- arranging an outer tube and an inner tube, the inner tube configured to slide in and out of an open end of the outer tube along a longitudinal axis;
- moving a lock collar axially along the outer tube;
- sliding the inner tube with respect to an outer tube to align a locking groove with a locking dog, the locking dog having an inclined surface and a flat surface;
- and
- moving the flat surface of the locking dog radially inward into the locking groove by sliding an inclined surface on the lock collar against the inclined surface on the locking dog wherein the locking dog is a reinforced plastic material,
- wherein the locking rod is configured to be attached to access structure of an aircraft;
- and
- wherein the lock collar is arranged on the outer tube and extends past the open end of the outer tube along the longitudinal axis.
A lockable hold open rod comprising:
- an outer tube and an inner tube, the inner tube configured to slide in and out of an open end of the outer tube along a longitudinal axis;
- a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the inner tube with the outer tube;
- a locking groove in an outer surface of the inner tube;
- a means for radially engaging the inner tube having an inclined surface and a flat surface, the flat surface configured to slide along the outer surface of the inner tube when the means for radially engaging the inner tube is in an outer radial position and fit in the locking groove when the means for radially engaging the inner tube is in an inner radial position;
- and
- an outer housing covering the means for radially engaging the inner tube and at least part of the locking mechanism, the outer housing defining a cavity to contain the means for radially engaging the inner tube when the means for radially engaging the inner tube is in the outer radial position and also having an angled inner wall configured to engage the inclined surface of the means for radically engaging the inner tube to move the means for radially engaging the inner tube to the inner radial position when the outer housing is moved to a locking position,
- wherein the hold open rod is configured to be attached to access structure of an aircraft;
- and
- wherein the outer housing is arranged on the outer tube and extends past the open end of the outer tube along the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.