Back to results
US 9,751,641 B2Granted
Automated index pin locking apparatus
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorPaul R. Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An index pin locking apparatus may include an index head including a bore extending through the index head, the bore being sized to receive an index pin, and a pin lock movable relative to the bore between a first position disengaged from the index pin and a second position engaged to the index pin.
Claims25
An index pin locking apparatus comprising:
- an index pin comprising a shank portion, a head portion coupled to said shank portion, and an interlock portion disposed at an end of said head portion opposite said shank portion;
- and
- an index head to releasably capture said index pin, said index head comprising:
- a housing;
- a bore extending through said housing and sized to receive at least a portion of said index pin;
- and
- a pin-lock guide disposed on said housing transverse to said bore;
- a pin-lock slide coupled to said housing and movable along said pin-lock guide transverse to said bore, said pin-lock slide comprising an aperture configured to transverse said bore and receive said interlock portion of said index pin, and said aperture comprising a narrowed pin-locking portion and an enlarged pin-unlocking portion;
- and
- an actuator operatively coupled to said pin-locking slide, and
- wherein, with said index pin fully received within said bore, actuation of said actuator moves said pin-lock slide between a first position, in which said interlock portion of said index pin is positioned within said enlarged pin-unlocking portion of said aperture to disengage said pin-lock slide from said interlock portion and permit linear movement of said index pin within said bore, and a second position, in which said interlock portion of said index pin is positioned within said narrowed pin-locking portion of said aperture to positively engage said pin-lock slide to said interlock portion and prevent linear movement of said index pin within said bore.
8 more elements
A retention apparatus for supporting a structure in a predetermined position, said retention apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- and
- an index pin locking apparatus comprising:
- an index pin comprising a shank portion configured to be coupled to said structure, a head portion coupled to said shank portion, and an interlock portion disposed at an end of said head portion opposite said shank portion;
- and
- an index head coupled to said base to releasably capture said index pin, said index head comprising:
- a housing;
- a bore extending through said housing and sized to receive at least a portion of said index pin;
- a pin-lock guide disposed on said housing transverse to said bore;
- a pin-lock slide coupled to said housing and movable along said pin-lock guide transverse to said bore, said pin-lock slide comprising an aperture configured to transverse said bore and receive said interlock portion of said index pin, and said aperture comprising a narrowed pin-locking portion and an enlarged pin-unlocking portion;
- and
- an actuator operatively coupled to said pin-lock slide, and
- wherein, with said index pin fully received within said bore, actuation of said actuator moves said pin-lock slide between a first position, in which said interlock portion of said index pin is positioned within said enlarged pin-unlocking portion of said aperture to disengage said pin-lock slide from said interlock portion and permit linear movement of said index pin within said bore, and a second position, in which said interlock portion of said index pin is positioned within said narrowed pin-locking portion of said aperture to positively engage said pin-lock slide to said interlock portion and prevent linear movement of said index pin within said bore.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.