Latching system for securing two components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9353559-B2
Application number	US-201414258822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2014
Priority date	Apr 22, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A latching system for selectively securing together two components, such as the fan cowl doors of a nacelle of an aircraft, closed. The latching system generally includes an anchor and a latch. The latch has a handle movable from an open and a closed position. The handle is precluded from reaching the closed position unless the anchor and latch are secured. Also, the positioning of a keeper portion of the anchor may be adjustable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A latching system for selectively securing a first component with a second component, the latching system comprising:
an anchor configured to be secured to the first component; and,
a latch configured to be secured to the second component, the latch including a frame and a handle secured to the frame, the handle configured to be rotated from a closed position to an open position, and the latch further including a gripping arm having a first end configured to couple to the anchor to secure the latch to the anchor and a second end slideably received in the frame, and
wherein the handle further comprises a post and the frame further comprises an aperture configured to receive the post only if the latch is secured to the anchor and wherein the aperture and post are configured to preclude the handle from being moved to the closed position when the latch is not secured to the anchor.

2. The latching system of claim 1 further comprising:
a biasing element configured to exert a force on the gripping arm away from the anchor, and
wherein the handle is further only movable to the closed position when additionally a force exerted by the biasing element is overcome.

3. The latching system of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises
a first aperture, a first end, and a second end, the first end of the frame pivotably connected to a first end of the handle, and the second end of the frame slidably receiving the gripping arm of the latch; and, wherein the latching system further comprises
an actuating member disposed in the handle and including the post.

4. The latching system of claim 1 wherein the post of the actuating member includes a head configured to selectively lock the handle in the closed position.

5. The latching system of claim 3 further comprising:
a bracket secured to the second end of the gripping arm, the bracket including a second aperture,
wherein the post is configured to extend through the first aperture of the frame and the second aperture of the bracket only if the first aperture of the frame and the second aperture of the bracket are aligned, and wherein the first aperture of the frame and the second aperture of the bracket are configured to be aligned while the handle is moving to the closed position only when the gripping arm of the latch is secured to the anchor.

6. The latching system of claim 5 wherein the first aperture of the frame and the second aperture of the bracket are biased to be misaligned.

7. The latching system of claim 5 further comprising:
a biasing element arranged to bias the first aperture of the frame and the second aperture of the bracket in misalignment.

8. The latching system of claim 7 wherein the biasing element is selected from the group consisting of: a conical spring washer, a compression spring, a compressed gas, an elastomer part, and a hydraulic piston.

9. The latching system of claim 7 further comprising:
a tube having a closed end and an open end, the closed end of the tube secured to the bracket, the open end of the tube containing a housing, the housing secured to the second end of the frame.

10. The latching system of claim 9 wherein the gripping arm of the latch further includes a flange, and wherein the flange of the gripping arm of the latch is disposed within the housing.

11. The latching system of claim 10 wherein the biasing element is disposed within the tube between the closed end of the tube and the housing.

12. The latching system of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises:
a keeper configured to couple to the first end of the gripping arm of the latch; and,
a mounting for securing the anchor to the first component.

13. The latching system of claim 12 further comprising a shaft securing the keeper of the anchor to the mounting of the anchor.

14. The latching system of claim 13 wherein a distance between the keeper of the anchor and the mounting of the anchor in a direction along an axis of the shaft is selectively adjustable.

15. The latching system of claim 14 further comprising:
an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a distance between the keeper of the anchor and the mounting of the anchor in a direction along an axis of the shaft.

16. The latching system of claim 15 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an aperture having a threaded outer surface configured complementarily to a threaded portion of the shaft.

17. The latching system of claim 1 wherein the anchor includes a first notched portion and a second notched portion, and
wherein the first notched portion of the anchor is configured to couple to the first end of the gripping arm of the latch when the handle is being moved to the closed position, and
wherein the second notched portion of the anchor is configured to couple to the first end of the gripping arm of the latch only when the handle is being moved to the open position.

18. A latching system for selectively securing a first component with a second component, the latching system comprising:
an anchor secured to the first component; and,
a latch secured to the second component, the latch including a handle moveable from a closed position to an open position, and the latch further including a gripping arm having a first end configured to couple to the anchor to secure the latch to the anchor,
wherein the anchor includes a first notched portion configured to couple to the first end of the gripping arm of the latch when the handle is being moved to the closed position to transmit a closing force from the gripping arm to the anchor in a closing direction, and,
wherein anchor includes a second notched portion configured to couple to the first end of the gripping arm of the latch only when the handle is being moved to the open position to transmit an opening force from the gripping arm to the anchor in an opening direction, oppositely orientated from the closing direction.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas
• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Fabre Christian
• Bignolais Alain

Classifications

• F02C7/20

  Mounting or supporting of plant; Accommodating heat expansion or creep · CPC title

• B64D29/06

  Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings · CPC title

• E05C19/145 Primary

  flush · CPC title