Handle assembly for escape hatch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12428870-B2
Application number	US-202318354224-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2023
Priority date	Jul 18, 2022
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A handle assembly for an escape hatch. A handle assembly for an escape hatch comprises an interior handle and an exterior handle. The interior handle has an interior cam associated therewith and the exterior handle has an exterior cam associated therewith. The interior cam and the exterior cam each have a concave profile surface and a curved profile surface. A middle cam is sandwiched between the interior cam and the exterior cam and has a notched profile. The interior and exterior cams are associated with a tumbler having a flag. The middle cam is associated with an output rod operatively coupled to a second flag. Each of the interior handle and the exterior handle can be successively rotated in a first arc of rotation and a second arc of rotation with one hand. The first and second arcs of rotation are respectively associated with the flag and the second flag.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A handle assembly for an escape hatch, the handle assembly comprising:
an interior handle having an interior cam associated therewith, the interior cam having a concave profile section and a convex profile section;
an exterior handle having an exterior cam associated therewith, the exterior cam having a concave profile section and a convex profile section;
a middle cam sandwiched between the interior cam and the exterior cam, the middle cam having a notch;
a tumbler, the tumbler having a flag, an inner bearing associated with the interior cam, and an outer bearing associated with the exterior cam;
a shaft extending through each of the interior cam, the middle cam, and the exterior cam, the shaft operatively coupled to each of the interior handle and the exterior handle; and
an output rod operatively coupled to the middle cam, the output rod being associated with a second flag;
wherein, each of the interior handle and the exterior handle are successively rotatable in a first arc of rotation and a second arc of rotation, the first arc of rotation being associated with displacement of the flag, the second arc of rotation being associated with displacement of the second flag.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first arc of rotation is associated with unlocking of the handle assembly from a locked position.

3. The handle assembly of claim 2 , wherein in the locked position, the interior handle and the exterior handle are precluded from being back driven by a load.

4. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first arc of rotation is about 10° and about 30°.

5. The handle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first arc of rotation is associated with rotation of the interior cam and the exterior cam.

6. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the middle cam is engaged subsequent to an engagement of the interior cam and the exterior cam.

7. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flag and the second flag each have a separate viewing window associated therewith.

8. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the output rod has a body, a first end, and a second end, the first end associated with the middle cam, the second end associated with a sleeve.

9. The handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first end comprises a C-arm.

10. The handle assembly of claim 9 , wherein rotation of the middle cam translates to a substantially linear motion of the body.

11. The handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second end comprises a second C-arm operatively coupled to the second flag.

12. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the escape hatch is openable from a closed position only after each of the first arc of rotation and the second arc of rotation is completed.

13. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exterior handle is flush with an exterior of the escape hatch.

14. A method of operating an escape hatch of an aircraft, comprising:
sandwiching a middle cam between an interior cam and an exterior cam, each of the interior cam and the exterior cam having a concave profile surface and a convex profile surface, the middle cam having a notch;
associating the interior cam with an interior handle and the exterior cam with an exterior handle;
associating a tumbler having a flag with each of the interior cam and the exterior cam;
operably coupling the middle cam to an output rod associated with a second flag;
rotating any one of the interior handle and the exterior handle in a first arc of rotation to cause the flag to be displaced; and
rotating the one of the interior handle and the exterior handle in a second arc of rotation to cause the second flag to be displaced.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first arc of rotation and the second arc of rotation are each in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising rotating any of the interior handle and the exterior handle in the first arc of rotation and the second arc of rotation in continuous motion using one hand.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the middle cam is engaged upon completion of the first arc.

18. A handle assembly for an escape hatch, the handle assembly comprising:
an interior cam, an exterior cam, and a middle cam sandwiched between the interior cam and the exterior cam, each of the interior cam and the exterior cam having a concave profile section and a curved profile section, the middle cam having a notched profile;
an interior handle and an exterior handle;
a shaft passing through each of the interior cam, exterior cam, and middle cam;
a tumbler comprising a flag, the tumbler having a bearing movable from the concave profile section of at least one of the interior cam and the exterior cam to the curved profile section thereof to unlock the handle assembly; and
an output rod having a first end operatively coupled to the middle cam and a second end operatively coupled to a sleeve associated with a second flag.

19. The handle assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a first viewing window associated with the flag and a second viewing window associated with the second flag.

20. The handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein each of the interior handle and the exterior handle are successively rotatable in a first arc of rotation and a second arc of rotation, the first arc of rotation associated with movement of the flag, the second arc of rotation associated with movement of the second flag.

Assignees

• Textron Aviation Inc

Inventors

• Lay Michael Clinton
• Johnson Evan M
• Hoetmer Isaac Anthony
• Pegg Joel Allen
• Harrison Edward Donald

Classifications

• E05B85/10

  Handles · CPC title

• E05F1/1091

  with a gas spring (E05F1/1292 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64C1/1423 Primary

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• E05C17/32

  consisting of two or more pivoted rods · CPC title

• E05B65/1033

  emergency release of windows, window grills, escape hatches or the like · CPC title