Latch-lock mechanism for load carrying airplane cargo doors
US5823473A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/1047
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A latch-lock mechanism for an airplane cargo door (34) is disclosed. The latch-lock mechanism includes straight-through drive shafts rotated by a common powered drive unit (61). Affixed to the outer ends of the drive shafts are pull-in hooks (67) that co-act with pull-in pins affixed to the fuselage of the airplane adjacent to the sides of the cargo door opening. The co-action between the pull-in hooks and the pull-in pins pulls the cargo door into a closed position against a distorted fuselage cargo door opening. During opening, the co-action between the pull-in hooks and the pull-in pins force the door open against ice jams. After being pulled into a closed position, latch cams (89) rotated by the drive shafts are closed around latch pins (131). Thereafter, lock pawls (159) are moved into a closed position. The latch-lock mechanism also includes witness ports (193) located in the cargo door (34) that enable a mechanic to verify that the lock pawls (159) are in the closed position. The lock pawls (159) are prevented from closing unless they "feel" that the associated latch cam (89) is closed. The latch-lock handle mechanism also includes a lock handle housing (141) that must be op…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.