Container retention and release apparatus having integral swaybrace and retention features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11459102-B2
Application number	US-201816200267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2018
Priority date	Nov 26, 2018
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A container retention and release apparatus includes an actuator a swaybrace and retention assembly pivotally coupled to the actuator. The swaybrace and retention assembly pivot relative to the actuator between a first position to retain a container and a second position to release the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container retention and release apparatus, comprising:
an actuator including a cylinder and a piston movably coupled to the cylinder, the piston movable relative to the cylinder between a first stroke position in which the piston is retracted relative to the cylinder and a second stroke position in which the piston is extended relative to the cylinder;
a swaybrace arm pivotally coupled to the piston; and
a retention pin coupled to the swaybrace arm, the retention pin configured to releasably engage a receptacle of a container, the receptacle extending inwardly from an outer surface of the container, the swaybrace arm configured to pivot relative to the piston between a first position that retains the retention pin in the receptacle of the container when the piston is at the first stroke position and a second position that releases the retention pin from the receptacle of the container when the piston is at the second stroke position.

2. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container retention and release apparatus is in a stored condition when the piston is at the first stroke position, and the container retention and release apparatus is in a deployed condition when the piston is at the second stroke position.

3. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the swaybrace arm is configured to retain the retention pin in the receptacle of the container as the piston moves from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position.

4. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 2 , further including a latch configured to prevent movement of the piston from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position when the container retention and release apparatus is in the stored condition.

5. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 4 , further including a drive system configured to move the latch between a latched position that prevents movement of the piston from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position, and an unlatched position that allows movement of the piston from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position.

6. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 2 , further including a lock configured to engage the swaybrace arm when the swaybrace arm is in the first position and the container retention and release apparatus is in the stored condition, wherein the engagement of the lock and the swaybrace arm prevents pivotal movement of the swaybrace arm from the first position toward the second position.

7. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the lock includes a wedge slidably coupled to a guide that is supported by the actuator.

8. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the guide is supported by the cylinder.

9. A container retention and release apparatus, comprising:
an actuator including a cylinder and a piston movably coupled to the cylinder, the piston movable relative to the cylinder between a first stroke position in which the piston is retracted relative to the cylinder and a second stroke position in which the piston is extended relative to the cylinder;
a first swaybrace arm pivotally coupled to the piston;
a second swaybrace arm pivotally coupled to the piston;
a first retention pin coupled to the first swaybrace arm, the first retention pin configured to releasably engage a first receptacle of a container, the first receptacle extending inwardly from an outer surface of the container; and
a second retention pin coupled to the second swaybrace arm, the second retention pin configured to releasably engage a second receptacle of the container, the second receptacle extending inwardly from the outer surface of the container;
wherein each one of the first and second swaybrace arms is configured to pivot relative to the piston between a first position that retains a corresponding one of the first and second retention pins in a corresponding one of the first and second receptacles of the container when the piston is at the first stroke position, and a second position that releases the corresponding one of the first and second retention pins from the corresponding one of the first and second receptacles of the container when the piston is at the second stroke position.

10. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first swaybrace arm and the second swaybrace arm are configured to pivot relative to a pivot axis that is non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the piston.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first swaybrace arm and the second swaybrace arm are configured to pivot relative to a common pivot point.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first swaybrace arm is configured to pivot relative to a first pivot point, and the second swaybrace arm is configured to pivot relative to a second pivot point, the second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point.

13. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the container retention and release apparatus is in a stored condition when the piston is at the first stroke position, and the container retention and release apparatus is in a deployed condition when the piston is at the second stroke position.

14. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each one of the first and second swaybrace arms is configured to retain the corresponding one of the first and second retention pins in the corresponding one of the first and second receptacles of the container as the piston moves from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position.

15. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a latch configured to prevent movement of the piston from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position when the container retention and release apparatus is in the stored condition.

16. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a drive system configured to move the latch between a latched position that prevents movement of the piston from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position, and an unlatched position that allows movement of the piston from the first stroke position toward the second stroke position.

17. The container retention and release apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first lock configured to engage the first swaybrace arm when the first swaybrace arm is in the first position and the container retention and release apparatus is in the stored condition, wherein the engagement of the first lock and the first swaybrace arm prevents pivotal movement of the first swaybrace arm from the first position toward the second position; and
a second lock configured to engage the second swaybrace arm when the second swaybrace arm is in the first position and the container retention and release apparatus is in the stored condition, wherein the engagement of the second lock and the second swaybrace arm prevents pivotal movement of the second swaybrace arm from the first position toward the second position.

18. A container retention and release apparatus, comprising:
a container having an outer surface and a receptacle, the receptacle extending inwardly from the outer surface;
an actuator including a cylinder and a piston movably coupled to the cylinder, the piston movable relative to the cylinder between a first stroke position in which the piston is retracted relative to the cylinder and a second stroke position in

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Keller Cory Gordon
• Eveker James V

Classifications

• B64D5/00

  Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight · CPC title

• B64D1/02 Primary

  Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles (jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12) · CPC title

• F16B9/09

  rods and flat surfaces interengaging by projections and mating sockets · CPC title

• B64D1/06 Primary

  Bomb releasing; Bomb doors · CPC title