Adjustable pressure relief latch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10435929-B2
Application number	US-201615245332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2016
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A latch including a housing having side members each having an elongated slot, a bolt mounted rotatably to the housing and positioned between the side members of the housing, an adjustment mechanism, and a pin and roller positioned slidably within the elongated slots of the side members of the housing. The adjustment mechanism includes a compression spring, a central cap for receiving the pin and roller therethrough, and a nut for adjusting the load on the compression spring. The bolt is moveable between a first, closed position, in which the pin and roller are engaged with the bolt, and a second open position, in which the pin and roller are disengaged from the bolt. The latch can be opened automatically when a defined load, as adjusted by the adjustment mechanism, is provided on the bolt to disengage the pin and roller from the bolt.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A latch, comprising:
a housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, first and second side members, each of which includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an elongated slot extending from the outer surface to the inner surface and between the first and second ends, the first and second side members forming a space between the inner surfaces thereof, a base portion positioned at the second end and including first and second coves, each of which is positioned adjacent to an outer surface of a corresponding one of the first and second side members, the base portion including a first slot located intermediate the first and second coves and extending to the space, and a mounting portion positioned at the first end and including a second slot and extending to the space;
a bolt mounted rotatably to the housing proximate to the first end thereof and positioned between the first and second side members of the housing, the bolt including a curvilinear portion, a first end located on the curvilinear portion, a linear portion, and a second end located on the linear portion, the bolt being moveable rotatably between a first position, in which the linear portion of the bolt extends through the space and the second end of the bolt extends through and protrudes from the second slot of the mounting portion of the housing, and a second position, in which the curvilinear portion of the bolt extends through and protrudes from the second slot and the linear portion is positioned external of the second slot, the first end of the bolt being adapted to engage an external structure when the bolt is in its first position;
first and second compression springs, one of which is positioned within the first cove of the housing and the other of which is positioned within the second cove of the housing, each of the first and second compression springs including an end cap;
an adjustment mechanism positioned within the housing intermediate the first and second compression springs, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a third compression spring, a center cap located at one end of the third compression spring, and a nut positioned at an opposite end of the third compression spring; and
a pin and roller extending through the end caps of the first and second compression springs and the center cap of the third compression spring, the pin and roller being positioned slidably within the elongated slots of the first and second side members of the housing.

2. The latch of claim 1 , wherein the nut is attached threadedly to the second end of the housing.

3. The latch of claim 2 , wherein a load of the nut on the third compression spring is adapted to be adjusted by turning the nut relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

4. The latch of claim 3 , wherein the nut is further secured to the housing by a cotter pin.

5. The latch of claim 3 , wherein the bolt includes a notch formed within the linear portion thereof and adjacent to one end of the curvilinear portion, and wherein the bolt notch is adapted to receive the pin and the roller when the bolt is in its first position.

6. The latch of claim 5 , wherein the bolt is mounted rotatably to the housing by a rivet.

7. The latch of claim 6 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be rotated from its second position to its first position by providing pressure on the second end of the bolt and rotating the bolt to make contact with the pin and roller and pushing to pin and roller away until the pin and roller engages the notch of the bolt.

8. The latch of claim 7 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be rotated from its first position to its second position when a load is provided on the first end of the bolt, such that the bolt pushes the pin and roller in the elongated slots of the side members of the housing and loaded by the first, second, and third compression springs.

9. The latch of claim 8 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be rotated from its second position to its first position by providing pressure on the second end of the bolt and rotating the bolt to make contact with the pin and roller and pushing to pin and roller away until the pin and roller engages the notch of the bolt.

10. A latch, comprising:
a housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, first and second side members, each of which includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an elongated slot extending from the outer surface to the inner surface and between the first and second ends, the first and second side members forming a space between the inner surfaces thereof, a base portion positioned at the second end and including first and second coves, each of which is positioned adjacent to an outer surface of a corresponding one of the first and second side members, the base portion including a first slot located intermediate the first and second coves and extending to the space, and a mounting portion positioned at the first end and including a second slot and extending to the space;
a bolt mounted rotatably to the housing proximate to the first end thereof and positioned between the first and second side members of the housing, the bolt including a curvilinear portion, a first end located on the curvilinear portion, a linear portion, and a second end located on the linear portion, the bolt being moveable rotatably between a first position, in which the linear portion of the bolt extends through the space and the second end of the bolt extends through and protrudes from the second slot of the mounting portion of the housing, and a second position, in which the curvilinear portion of the bolt extends through and protrudes from the second slot and the linear portion is positioned external of the second slot, the first end of the bolt being adapted to engage an external structure when the bolt is in its first position;
an adjustment mechanism positioned within the housing and including a compression spring, a center cap located at one end of the compression spring, and a nut positioned at an opposite end of the compression spring; and
a pin and roller extending through the center cap of the compression spring, the pin and roller being positioned slidably within the elongated slots of the first and second side members of the housing.

11. The latch of claim 10 , wherein the nut is attached threadedly to the second end of the housing.

12. The latch of claim 11 , wherein a load of the nut on the compression spring is adapted to be adjusted by turning the nut relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

13. The latch of claim 12 , wherein the nut is further secured to the housing by a cotter pin.

14. The latch of claim 12 , wherein the bolt includes a notch formed within the linear portion thereof and adjacent to one end of the curvilinear portion, and wherein the bolt notch is adapted to receive the pin and the roller when the bolt is in its first position.

15. The latch of claim 14 , wherein the bolt is mounted rotatably to the housing by a rivet.

16. The latch of claim 15 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be rotated from its second position to its first position by providing pressure on the first end of the bolt and rotating the bolt to make contact with the pin and roller and pushing to pin and roller away until the pin and roller engages the notch of the bolt.

17. The latch of claim 16 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be rotated from its first position to its second position when a defined load is provided on the first end of the bolt, such that the bolt pushes the pin and roller in the elongated slots of the side members of the housing and load

Assignees

• Arconic Inc

Inventors

• Do Thai

Classifications

• Y10T292/444

  Swinging catch · CPC title

• B64D29/06

  Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings · CPC title

• Y10T292/0969

  Spring projected · CPC title

• E05B2015/0431

  Modifying spring characteristic or tension (E05B2015/0441 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05B2015/0441

  Tensioning after mounting · CPC title