Balk device for door lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12215530-B2
Application number	US-202218074152-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2022
Priority date	Jun 10, 2022
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

An assembly is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft assembly includes a latch, a balk element and a fitting. The latch is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The balk element is rotatable between a balked position and an un-balked position. The balk element is configured to block the latch from moving to the locked position when the balk element is in the balked position. The fitting includes a keeper. The fitting is movable between an open position and a closed position. The fitting is configured to push the balk element into the un-balked position as the fitting moves into the closed position. The latch is configured to move to the locked position and engage the keeper when the fitting is in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a latch movable between an unlocked position and a locked position;
a balk element rotatable between a balked position and an un-balked position, the balk element configured to block the latch from moving to the locked position when the balk element is in the balked position; and
a fitting comprising a keeper, the fitting movable between an open position and a closed position, the fitting configured to push the balk element into the un-balked position as the fitting moves into the closed position, and the latch configured to move to the locked position and engage the keeper when the fitting is in the closed position;
wherein the latch is rotatable about a latch axis between the unlocked position and the locked position, the balk element is rotatable about a balk element axis between the balked position and the un-balked position, and the balk element axis is angularly offset from the latch axis.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the balk element axis is perpendicular to the latch axis.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first mount; and
a second mount;
the balk element disposed between and rotatably connected to the first mount and the second mount.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the balk element comprises a lever arm;
the lever arm is configured to block movement of the latch to the locked position when the balk element is in the balked position; and
the fitting is configured to engage the lever arm when the fitting is in the closed position.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lever arm includes an arm base and an arm lip at a distal end of and projecting out from the arm base.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spring element configured to bias the balk element from the un-balked position to the balked position.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the spring element comprises a torsional spring.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a second spring element further configured to bias the balk element from the un-balked position to the balked position.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a stop element configured to stop rotation of the balk element at the balked position when the balk element is rotating in a direction from the un-balked position to the balked position.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a stop element configured to stop more than a predetermined amount of rotation of the balk element past the un-balked position when the balk element is rotating in a direction from the balked position to the un-balked position.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the fitting further comprises a first wall and a second wall;
the keeper is located between and connected to the first wall and the second wall; and
the first wall is configured to push the balk element into the un-balked position as the fitting moves into the closed position.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a stationary structure, the latch and the balk element mounted with the stationary structure; and
a door, the fitting mounted with the door;
the door secured to the stationary structure when the latch is in the locked position and is engaged with the keeper.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the door is configured as a thrust reverser door.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lock including the latch and a second latch, the second latch moveable between a second latch unlocked position and a second latch locked position, and movement of the second latch is timed with movement of the latch;
a second balk element rotatable between a second balk balked position and a second balk un-balked position, the second balk element configured to block the second latch from moving to the second latch locked position when the second balk element is in the second balk balked position; and
a second fitting comprising a second keeper, the second fitting movable between a second fitting open position and a second fitting closed position, the second fitting configured to push the second balk element into the second balk un-balked position as the second fitting moves into the second fitting closed position, and the second latch configured to move to the second latch locked position and engage the second keeper when the second fitting is in the second fitting closed position.

15. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a door moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a latch rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position; and
a balk element rotatable between a balked position and an un-balked position, the balk element configured to block the latch from moving to the locked position when the balk element is in the balked position, and the balk element configured to permit movement of the latch to the locked position when the balk element is in the un-balked position, wherein rotation of the balk element is passively actuated as the door moves into the closed position;
wherein the latch is rotatable about a latch axis between the unlocked position and the locked position, the balk element is rotatable about a balk element axis between the balked position and the un-balked position, and the balk element axis is angularly offset from the latch axis.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the balk element is configured discrete from and is not coupled to the latch.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a fitting comprising a keeper;
the fitting configured to push the balk element into the un-balked position as the door moves into the closed position; and
the latch configured to engage the keeper when the door is in the closed position.

18. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a stationary structure;
a door movable between an open position and a closed position;
a keeper mounted with the door;
a latch mounted with the stationary structure, the latch movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the latch engages the keeper and secures the door to the stationary structure; and
a balk element decoupled from the latch and rotatable between a balked position and an un-balked position, the balk element configured to block movement of the latch to the locked position when the door is not in the closed position, and the balk element configured to permit movement of the latch to the locked position when the door is in the closed position;
wherein the latch is rotatable about a latch axis between the unlocked position and the locked position, the balk element is rotatable about a balk element axis between the balked position and the un-balked position, and the balk element axis is angularly offset from the latch axis.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
a fitting comprising the keeper;
the fitting configured to push the balk element into the un-balked position as the door moves into the closed position.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Ghandour Imad D
• Huynh Ken V

Classifications

• E05C2003/126

  Only part of the latch movable for latching · CPC title

• B64D29/06

  Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings · CPC title

• F02K1/766

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

• F02K1/60

  by blocking the rearward discharge by means of pivoted eyelids or clamshells, e.g. target-type reversers · CPC title

• E05C3/12 Primary

  with latching action (devices in which the securing part is formed or merely carried by a spring and moves only by distortion of the spring, e.g. snaps, E05C19/06; tilt-plate latches E05C19/007) · CPC title