Pressure relief latch

A pressure relief latch for use with first and second aircraft panels enclosing an interior space of said aircraft susceptible to high pressure, the pressure relief latch comprising:

• a housing comprising a first end and a second end, the housing further comprising a first attachment plate comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a plurality of openings therethrough for attaching the housing to the first aircraft panel;
• a cutout portion defined in the first attachment plate and extending from the upper surface to the lower surface thereof;
• first and second support tabs depending from the lower surface of the attachment plate at the first end of the housing, said first and second support tabs being spaced apart and defining a channel therebetween, said first support tab defining a first elongate aperture therethrough and said second support tab defining a second elongate aperture therethrough;
• first and second hinge plates depending from the lower surface of the attachment plate at the second end of the housing, said first and second hinge plates being spaced apart and defining a channel therebetween;
• first and second locking plates depending from the lower surface of the attachment plate between the first and second support tabs and the first and second hinge plates, the first and second locking plates being spaced apart and defining a channel therebetween;
• a pivot pin extending between the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate;
• a locking pin extending between the first locking plate and the second locking plate;
• a roller support pin extending from the first elongate aperture of the first support tab and the second elongate aperture of the second support tab;
• a handle disposed within the cutout portion of the first attachment plate, the handle pivotably attached to the pivot pin and comprising first and second spaced-apart hinge members depending therefrom, the first and second spaced-apart hinge members defining a channel therebetween, the first hinge member defining a third elongate aperture therethrough, and the second hinge member defining a fourth elongate aperture therethrough;
• a handle pin extending between the third aperture of the first hinge member and the fourth aperture of the second hinge member;
• a safety release pivotably attached to the handle and comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, the safety release further comprising first and second hooks depending from the lower surface thereof, wherein when said safety release is engaged, said first and second hooks engage the locking pin to prevent upward rotation of the handle;
• a yoke attached to the roller support pin, the yoke comprising roller disposed on a first side thereof;
• a first spring plate attached to the yoke on a second side thereof;
• a second spring plate attached to the handle pin;
• a spring support attached to the first spring plate and the second spring plate and extending therebetween;
• a first spring disposed along the length of the spring support between the first spring plate and the second spring plate;
• a second spring disposed along the length of the spring support between the first spring plate and the second spring plate, the second spring having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first spring such that the first spring is disposed within the second spring;
• a keeper assembly comprising a second attachment plate, the second attachment plate comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a plurality of openings extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the openings for receiving fasteners therethrough for attaching the keeper assembly to said second aircraft panel;
• a keeper housing depending from the lower surface of the second attachment plate, the keeper housing defining a bore extending therethrough;
• a keeper disposed within the bore of the keeper housing and extending from a first side of the keeper housing to engage the roller when the pressure relief latch is in a closed position,
• wherein when the pressure relief latch is in a closed position, the keeper engages the roller such that the latch retains said first and second panels in a closed position,
• and further wherein when the safety release is actuated, the first and second hooks disengage the locking pin, allowing upward rotation of the handle, the upward rotation of the handle causing the roller to disengage the keeper.