Rotary latch system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676971-B2
Application number	US-201715620283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2017
Priority date	Jun 13, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A latch includes a base having a bore extending therethrough defining an axis, a plunger positioned within the bore and rotatable about the axis, a drive shaft positioned adjacent the base and engaged with the plunger such that rotation of the plunger about the axis causes corresponding rotation of the drive shaft about the axis, a bracket positioned adjacent the base and the drive shaft and engaged with the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft about the axis causes movement of the bracket, and a closure element coupled to the bracket such that movement of the bracket causes the closure element to move between a position wherein the closure element allows a structure to move with respect to an adjacent structure and a position in which the closure element prevents the structure from moving with respect to the adjacent structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A latch, comprising:
a base including a planar portion and a projection, said planar portion having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said planar portion being adapted to be secured to a first structure such that said first side of said planar portion abuts the first structure, said projection protruding from said second side of said planar portion and having a first end at said second side of said planar portion and a second end opposite said first end, the base further including a bore extending from said first side of said planar portion to said second end of said projection, at least a portion of said bore being internally threaded, said bore defining a perpendicular axis that is perpendicular to said planar portion;
an elongated plunger having a first end and a second end opposite said first end of said plunger, wherein said second end of said plunger is threaded, said plunger being movably positioned within said bore of said base so as to be oriented along the perpendicular axis and rotatable about the perpendicular axis between at least a first position and a second position;
a dog leg having a first end, a second end opposite said first end of said dog leg, a top surface, a bottom surface opposite said top surface, a bulb formed at said first end of said dog leg, and a threaded bore extending through said bulb from said bottom surface to said top surface, wherein said threaded bore of said dog leg is threadedly engaged with said second end of said plunger;
a drive shaft positioned adjacent said second end of said projection of said base and coupled to said base so as to be rotatable about the perpendicular axis but constrained from other motion, said drive shaft being coupled to said second end of said plunger such that rotation of said plunger between its first position and its second position causes said drive shaft to rotate about the perpendicular axis between a first position and a second position;
a bracket positioned adjacent said second end of said projection of said base and coupled to said base so as to be linearly movable along an axis that is parallel to said planar portion of said base and perpendicular to the perpendicular axis, said bracket being coupled to said drive shaft such that rotation of said drive shaft between its first position and its second position causes linear motion of said bracket between a first position and a second position; and
a closure element coupled to said bracket such that the linear motion of said bracket between its first position and its second position causes motion of said closure element between a first position and a second position, wherein, when said closure element is in its first position, said closure element abuts a second structure adjacent the first structure so as to prevent movement of the first structure with respect to the second structure, and wherein, when said closure element is in its second position, said closure element is positioned so as to allow movement of the first structure with respect to the second structure.

2. The latch of claim 1 , wherein said drive shaft includes a substantially cylindrical portion having a first end, a second end, a bore extending from said first end of said substantially cylindrical portion to said second end of said substantially cylindrical portion, a projection extending from said substantially cylindrical portion intermediate said first and second ends of said substantially cylindrical portion, and a slot extending from said bore of said substantially cylindrical portion along and at least partially through said projection, said slot being sized and shaped to receive said dog leg,
wherein said plunger is positioned within said bore of said drive shaft,
wherein said dog leg is positioned within said slot of said drive shaft, and
wherein rotation of said dog leg within said slot of said drive shaft and about the perpendicular axis, by rotation of the plunger between its first position and its second position, causes the corresponding rotation of said drive shaft about the perpendicular axis between its first position and its second position.

3. The latch of claim 2 , wherein said base includes a first groove within said second end of said projection and a second groove within said second end of said projection, said first and second grooves being angularly offset from one another about the perpendicular axis such that when said plunger is in its first position, said dog leg is rotationally aligned with said first groove, and such that when said plunger is in its second position, said dog leg is rotationally aligned with said second groove.

4. The latch of claim 3 , wherein a position of said dog leg along the perpendicular axis is biased such that said dog leg engages one of said first and second grooves of said base when said dog leg is rotationally aligned with one of said first and second grooves of said base, whereby when said dog leg engages one of said first and second grooves of said base, said dog leg is constrained from rotation about the perpendicular axis, and whereby said drive shaft is constrained from rotation about the perpendicular axis between its first position and its second position.

5. The latch of claim 4 , further comprising a compression spring,
wherein said drive shaft includes a flange extending at least partially across said bore at said second end of said drive shaft, and
wherein said compression spring is positioned between said dog leg and said flange of said drive shaft so as to bias the position of said dog leg along the perpendicular axis.

6. The latch of claim 4 , wherein when said dog leg engages one of said first and second grooves of said base, said plunger is rotatable with respect to said dog leg about the perpendicular axis, wherein said threaded engagement of said second end of said plunger with respect to said bore of said dog leg causes rotation of said plunger about the longitudinal axis resulting in motion of said plunger along the perpendicular axis, whereby a position of said plunger along the perpendicular axis is adjustable.

7. The latch of claim 1 , wherein said drive shaft includes a substantially cylindrical portion having a first end, a second end, a bore extending from said first end of said substantially cylindrical portion to said second end of said substantially cylindrical portion, and a projection extending from said substantially cylindrical portion intermediate said first and second ends of said substantially cylindrical portion,
wherein said bracket includes a bottom surface facing said base, a top surface opposite said bottom surface, a first side, a second side opposite said first side of said bracket, and a hole extending through said bracket from said bottom surface to said top surface, said hole having a generally L-shaped profile, and
wherein when said drive shaft rotates about the perpendicular axis between its first position and its second position, said projection of said drive shaft and said hole of said bracket cooperate to drive the linear motion of said bracket between its first position and its second position.

8. The latch of claim 7 , further comprising a swivel arm coupled to said base so as to be rotatably movable with respect to said base about an axis perpendicular to the perpendicular axis and parallel to said planar portion of said base and constrained from other movement with respect to said base,
wherein said bracket is coupled to said swivel arm such that the linear motion of said bracket between its first position and its second position causes rotation of said swivel arm between a first position and a second position, and
wherein said swivel arm is coupled to said closure element such that the rotation of said swivel

Assignees

• Arconic Inc

Inventors

• Do Thai

Classifications

• E05B41/00

  Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked {(indicator lights E05B17/10)} · CPC title

• E05B35/008 Primary

  for simple tool-like keys · CPC title

• E05C3/10

  the handle or member moving essentially in a plane substantially parallel to the wing {or frame} · CPC title

• B64D29/06

  Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings · CPC title

• E05B15/0086

  Toggle levers (toggle fasteners E05C19/14) · CPC title