Locking mechanisms for ram air turbines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9976636-B2
Application number	US-201514692800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2015
Priority date	Apr 22, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A locking mechanism for a ram air turbine (RAT) includes a base clevis configured to mount to a housing and to have a base link clevis connector portion defining a plurality of base link clevis connector arms and a base link clevis having a base connector portion defining base connector arms that are configure to movably connect to the base link clevis connector arm. The locking mechanism also includes a pin operatively connecting the base connector portion to the base link clevis connector portion in a rotatable relationship and a spring positioned around the pin, wherein a first spring end abuts the base clevis and a second spring end abuts the base link clevis to bias the base link clevis to an unlocked position. A sleeve is positioned between the spring and the pin to maintain a wind diameter of the spring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locking mechanism for a ram air turbine (RAT), comprising:
a base clevis configured to mount to a housing and to have a base link clevis connector portion defining a plurality of base link clevis connector arms, wherein the base clevis includes at least one slotted aperture for receiving an alignment feature of the housing, wherein the at least one slotted aperture is defined in the base clevis to face the housing;
a base link clevis having a base connector portion defining a plurality of base connector arms that are configured to movably connect to the base link clevis connector arms;
a pin operatively connecting the base connector portion to the base link clevis connector portion in a rotatable relationship;
a spring positioned around the pin, wherein a first spring end abuts the base clevis and a second spring end abuts the base link clevis to bias the base link clevis to an unlocked position; and
a sleeve positioned between the spring and the pin to maintain a wind diameter of the spring, wherein the sleeve is configured to improve the stability of the locking mechanism and enhance the force translation from the spring to the locking piston;
a piston link operatively connected to the base link clevis; and
a sliding clevis operatively connected to the piston link, wherein the sliding clevis is configured to connect to a lock piston which moves linearly in an axial direction of actuation, wherein the at least one slotted aperture opens in an axial direction of actuation of the lock piston such that the slotted aperture is configured to receive the alignment feature of the housing that extends in the axial direction of actuation, wherein the slotted aperture is slotted in a direction transverse to the axial direction of actuation.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is at least as long as the length of a total wind of the spring.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is as long as a length of pin within the base link clevis connecter arms or the base connector arms.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is a cylindrically shaped member.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve includes chamfered ends.

6. A locking mechanism for a ram air turbine (RAT), comprising:
a base clevis configured to mount to a housing and to have a base link clevis connector portion defining a plurality of base link clevis connector arms, wherein the base clevis includes at least one slotted aperture for receiving an alignment feature of the housing, wherein the at least one slotted aperture is defined in the base clevis to face the housing, wherein the at least one slotted aperture opens in an axial direction of actuation of a lock piston of the locking mechanism, wherein the lock piston moves linearly in an axial direction of actuation such that the slotted aperture is configured to receive the alignment feature of the housing that extends in the axial direction of actuation, wherein the slotted aperture is slotted in a direction transverse to the axial direction of actuation.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the base clevis includes chamfered edges.

8. The locking mechanism of claim 6 , further comprising:
a base link clevis having a base connector portion defining a plurality of base connector arms that are configure to movably connect to the base link clevis connector arms;
a pin operatively connecting the base connector portion to the base link clevis connector portion in a rotatable relationship;
a spring positioned around the pin, wherein a first spring end abuts the base clevis and a second spring end abuts the base link clevis to bias the base link clevis to an unlocked position; and
a sleeve positioned between the spring and the pin to maintain a wind diameter of the spring, wherein the sleeve is at least as long as the length of a total wind of the spring.

9. The locking mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is as long as a length of pin within the base link clevis connecter arms or the base connector arms.

10. The locking mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is a cylindrically shaped member.

11. The locking mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve includes chamfered ends.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Prokup Christopher S
• Bannon David G
• Osborn Mark A
• Bradley Gregory J
• Seidel William E

Classifications

• F16H21/44 Primary

  for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions · CPC title

• B64D41/007

  Ram air turbines · CPC title

• F16H21/06 Primary

  which can be made ineffective when desired · CPC title