Over-center thrust reverser primary lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10662897-B2
Application number	US-201715409240-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2017
Priority date	Jan 18, 2017
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a lock apparatus that includes a latch hook having a catch at a first latch end, a first pivotal mount at a second latch end opposite the first latch end, and a second pivotal mount, a rotary actuator configured to selectably rotate a rotor shaft in a first rotary direction and in a second rotary direction opposite the first rotary direction, a rotor arm coupled to the rotor shaft at a first arm end and extending radially outward from the rotor shaft to a second arm end opposite the first arm end, and a link arm pivotably connected to the second arm end at a first link end, and pivotably connected to the second pivotal mount at a second link end opposite the first link end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lock apparatus comprising:
a latch hook having a catch at a first latch end and the latch hook configured to pivot about a first pivotal mount at a second latch end of the latch hook opposite the first latch end, and the latch hook having a second pivotal mount;
a rotary actuator comprising at least one of an electric motor, a rotary electric solenoid, and a rotary fluid actuator, wherein the rotary actuator having a rotor shaft, and the rotary actuator is configured to selectably urge rotation of the rotor shaft in a first rotary direction and the rotary actuator is configured to selectably urge rotation of the rotor shaft in a second rotary direction opposite the first rotary direction;
a rotor arm rotationally fixed to the rotor shaft at a first arm end, where the first arm end originating at the rotor shaft, and extending radially outward from the rotor shaft to a second arm end opposite the first arm end, and the rotor arm configured to urge rotation of the rotary actuator; and
a link arm pivotably connected to the second arm end at a first link end, and the link arm pivotably connected to the second pivotal mount at a second link end opposite the first link end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bias member configured to bias the rotor shaft in the first rotary direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a stop arranged at a first rotary position relative to the rotor arm and configured to be contacted by the rotor arm at the first rotary position when the rotor shaft is rotated in the first direction, and prevent rotation of the rotor shaft past the first rotary position in the first rotary direction when the rotor arm is in contact with the stop.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver configured to engage the catch.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the latch hook, the rotor arm, and the link arm form a bistable over-center mechanism configurable to at least a first configuration in which the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction to a first rotary position such that the receiver is engaged with the catch, and a second configuration in which the rotary actuator is rotated in the second rotary direction to a second position such that the receiver is disengaged from the catch.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second link arm pivotally connected to the rotor arm at the second shaft end and pivotally connected to the link arm at the first link end.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a guide configured to constrain angular movement of the link arm and permit guided linear movement of the link arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a moveable stop configured to prevent rotation of the rotor shaft past a second rotary position in the second rotary direction in a first stop configuration, and permit rotation of the rotor shaft past the second rotary position in the second rotary direction in a second stop configuration.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a moveable stop configured to prevent movement of at least one of the rotor arm and the link arm in a first stop configuration, and permit movement of the rotor arm or the link arm in a second stop configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second pivotal mount is between the first latch end and the second latch end.

Assignees

• Woodward Inc

Inventors

• Kopecek Joseph Thomas
• Sweet Julian

Classifications

• E05B47/0012

  with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68) · CPC title

• F02K1/766 Primary

  with blocking systems or locking devices; Arrangement of locking devices for thrust reversers · CPC title

• F05D2260/50

  Kinematic linkage, i.e. transmission of position · CPC title

• F05D2260/52

  involving springs · CPC title

• F02K1/763

  with actuating systems or actuating devices; Arrangement of actuators for thrust reversers · CPC title