Pivoting cable actuating mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019300175-A1
Application number	US-201916357531-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 19, 2019
Priority date	Mar 28, 2018
Publication date	Oct 3, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cable actuating mechanism that actuates through a central pivot axis of a pivoting mechanism including two articulating cable actuators that contact opposing ends of a floating pin that passes through the center of the pivot. One actuator is affixed to a stationary assembly of the pivot device and the other actuator is affixed to a rotating body of the device. A first cable pulled at one end of the device pulls a second cable at an opposing end of the device through the articulating cable actuators. The cable actuating mechanism can be used to unlock, for example, a seat recline lock device in an aircraft seat equipped with a pivoting armrest, among other applications within and outside of an aircraft cabin environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cable actuating mechanism, comprising:
a first articulating cable actuator affixed to a rotating component and a first cable coupled at one end to the first articulating cable actuator and at an opposing end to an actuator configured to apply a pulling force on the first cable; a second articulating cable actuator affixed to a stationary component and a second cable coupled at one end to the second articulating cable actuator and at an opposing end to a device responsive to a pulling force on the second cable; and a pivoting mechanism comprising a floating pin slidably disposed through a center of a pivot shaft coupling the rotating component and the stationary component, the first articulating cable actuator contacting one end of the floating pin and the second articulating cable actuator contacting an opposing end of the floating pin such that pulling force on the first cable pulls the second cable to actuate the device.

2 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein pulling force on the first cable articulates the first articulating cable actuator to move the floating pin to articulate the second articulating cable actuator causing the second cable to be pulled.

3 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first articulating cable actuator is pivotally attached to the rotating component and the second articulating cable actuator is pivotally attached to the stationary component.

4 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the pivoting mechanism further comprises a damper configured to dampen rotation of the pivoting mechanism.

5 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein cable actuation is consistent regardless of angular position of the rotating component relative to the stationary component.

6 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first cable is a jacketed cable, a naked cable or a rod.

7 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second cable is a jacketed cable, and a jacket of the jacketed cable is fixed at one end to the stationary component.

8 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the pivoting mechanism further comprises at least one additional actuator for actuating a second device having a function different from a function of the device.

9 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a push button and the stationary component is a seat frame member.

10 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a total width across the rotating component and the stationary component is less than 8 cm.

11 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a total width across the rotating component and the stationary component is less than 5 cm.

12 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a push button actuator, the rotating component is an armrest, the stationary component is a fixed seat spreader, and the device is a hydraulic lock configured to unlock a seatback pivotally attached to the fixed seat spreader in response to pulling force from the second cable.

13 . A cable actuating mechanism that actuates through a central pivot axis of a pivoting mechanism, the pivoting mechanism comprising:
a floating pin slidably disposed through a center of a pivot shaft; a first articulating cable actuator pivotally attached to a rotating component and positioned in contact one end of the floating pin; a second articulating cable actuator pivotally attached to a stationary component and positioned in contact with an opposing end of the floating pin, the rotating component rotatably coupled to the stationary component; a first cable attached to the first articulating cable actuator and an actuator; and a second cable attached to the second articulating cable actuator and a device; wherein the actuator is actuated to pull the first cable to pivot the first articulating cable actuator to move the floating pin thereby pivoting the second cable actuator to pull the second cable to operate the device.

14 . The cable actuating mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the rotating component is an armrest, the stationary component is a seat frame member, and the device is a lock device for unlocking recline of a seatback pivotally attached to the seat frame member.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Wilkey Robert D
• Pozzi Alexander N
• Garing Francis Xavier L

Classifications

• B60N2/231 Primary

  by hydraulic actuators · CPC title

• B64D11/064 Primary

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B64D11/0644

  Adjustable arm rests · CPC title

• F16C1/14

  Construction of the end-piece of the flexible member; Attachment thereof to the flexible member · CPC title

• B60N2/767

  Angle adjustment · CPC title