Pivoting cable actuating mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10279917-B1
Application number	US-201815938471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 28, 2018
Priority date	Mar 28, 2018
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A cable actuating mechanism that actuates through a central pivot axis of a pivoting mechanism including two articulating cable actuators that contact opposing ends of a floating pin that passes through the center of the pivot. One actuator is affixed to a stationary assembly of the pivot device and the other actuator is affixed to a rotating body of the device. A first cable pulled at one end of the device pulls a second cable at an opposing end of the device through the articulating cable actuators. The cable actuating mechanism can be used to unlock a seat recline lock device in an aircraft seat equipped with a pivoting armrest, among other applications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable actuating mechanism, comprising:
a first articulating cable actuator affixed to a rotating seat component comprising a first cable coupled at one end to the first articulating cable actuator and at an opposing end to an actuator configured to apply a pulling force on the first cable;
a second articulating cable actuator affixed to a stationary seat component comprising a second cable coupled at one end to the second articulating cable actuator and at an opposing end to a device responsive to a pulling force on the second cable; and
a pivoting mechanism comprising a floating pin disposed through a center of a pivot shaft coupling the rotating seat component and the stationary seat component, the first articulating cable actuator contacting one end of the floating pin and the second articulating cable actuator contacting an opposing end of the floating pin such that pulling force on the first cable pulls the second cable to actuate the device;
wherein the actuator is a push button actuator, the rotating seat component is an armrest, the stationary seat component is a seat spreader, and the device is a hydraulic lock configured to unlock in response to pulling force from the second cable.

2. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein pulling force on the first cable articulates the first articulating cable actuator to move the floating pin to articulate the second articulating cable actuator causing the second cable to be pulled.

3. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first articulating cable actuator is pivotally attached to the rotating seat component and the second articulating cable actuator is pivotally attached to the stationary seat component.

4. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the pivoting mechanism further comprises a damper configured to dampen rotation of the pivoting mechanism.

5. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein actuation of the cable actuating mechanism is consistent regardless of an angular position of the rotating seat component relative to the stationary seat component.

6. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first cable is a jacketed cable, a naked cable, or a rod.

7. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second cable is a jacketed cable and a jacket of the jacketed cable is fixed at one end to the stationary seat component.

8. An aircraft seat recline cable actuating mechanism, comprising:
a first articulating cable actuator affixed to a rotating armrest comprising a first cable coupled at one end to the first articulating cable actuator and at an opposing end to an actuator configured to apply a pulling force on the first cable;
a second articulating cable actuator affixed to a stationary component comprising a second cable coupled at one end to the second articulating cable actuator and at an opposing end to a seat recline lock device responsive to a pulling force on the second cable; and
a pivoting mechanism comprising a floating pin disposed through a center of a pivot shaft coupling the rotating armrest and the stationary component, the first articulating cable actuator contacting one end of the floating pin and the second articulating cable actuator contacting an opposing end of the floating pin such that pulling force on the first cable pulls the second cable segment to actuate the seat recline lock device.

9. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein pulling force on the first cable articulates the first articulating cable actuator to move the floating pin to articulate the second articulating cable actuator causing the second cable to be pulled.

10. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the first articulating cable actuator is pivotally attached to the rotating armrest and the second articulating cable actuator is pivotally attached to the stationary component.

11. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the pivoting mechanism further comprises a damper configured to dampen rotation of the pivoting mechanism.

12. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein cable actuation is consistent regardless of an angular position of the rotating armrest relative to the stationary component.

13. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the first cable is a jacketed cable, a naked cable, or a rod.

14. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the second cable is a jacketed cable and a jacket of the jacketed cable is fixed at one end to the stationary assembly.

15. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the pivoting mechanism further comprises at least one additional actuator for actuating a device having a function different from a function of the seat recline lock device.

16. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is a push button and the stationary component is a seat spreader.

17. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein a total width across the rotating armrest and the stationary assembly is less than 8 cm.

18. The cable actuating mechanism of claim 8 , wherein a total width across the rotating armrest and the stationary assembly is less than 5 cm.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Wilkey Robert D
• Pozzi Alexander N
• Garing Francis Xavier L

Classifications

• B64D11/064 Primary

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B60N2/231 Primary

  by hydraulic actuators · CPC title

• B64D11/0644

  Adjustable arm rests · CPC title

• B60N2/767

  Angle adjustment · CPC title

• F16C1/16

  in which the end-piece is guided rectilinearly · CPC title