A locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover and its usage method

Abstract

A locking mechanism and usage method for an aircraft equipment hatch cover, comprising a hatch cover lock shaft and a movable handle. The hatch cover lock shaft is arranged on the aircraft equipment hatch cover. One end of the hatch cover lock shaft is connected to the latch of the hatch cover, and the other end of the hatch cover lock shaft has a T-shaped interface. The movable handle is provided with a handle, a handle shaft, and a limiting mechanism. The handle shaft is fixedly connected to the handle, a rotating pin is arranged on the handle shaft, and the limiting mechanism is embedded between the handle shaft and the handle. The handle shaft and the rotating pin of the movable handle match the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft. By locking the relative positions of the movable handle and the hatch cover lock shaft 13, the opening / closing and attitude adjustment of the hatch cover can be achieved by operating the handle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of aircraft design technology, and particularly relates to a locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover and a using method thereof. Background Art

[0002] For the airtight hatch cover of the equipment compartment that needs to be separated from the aircraft after being opened, quick-release locks are usually used on the aircraft to achieve opening and closing. However, when the number of quick-release locks is large, it is difficult to ensure the fitting accuracy of all connection interfaces, which in turn results in strict requirements for the hole position tolerance of part manufacturing, high manufacturing costs, and great assembly difficulty; in addition, the quick-release locks have a short service life, long disassembly and assembly time of the hatch cover, and high maintenance costs. Therefore, after consideration, a latch mechanism is designed on the hatch cover, and the opening and closing of the hatch cover are realized by rotating the hatch cover lock shaft to drive the expansion and contraction of the bolt. The operation is convenient. For the hatch cover that is opened by rotating a lock shaft or other mechanisms, the external handle is generally designed on the hatch cover. Due to the requirements of the aircraft aerodynamic shape, the external handle is usually designed as an embedded type and is pressed out for use when needed; however, for the hatch cover with limited design space and low usage frequency, designing an embedded handle is not the best choice whether considering the design difficulty or the design weight and the economy of the later aircraft operation. Therefore, it is necessary to design a ground equipment handle to meet the need of opening and closing the hatch cover from the outside of the aircraft. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to design a locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover and a using method thereof, which while reducing the design weight of the hatch cover, enables the opening / closing and attitude adjustment operations of the hatch cover through a movable handle, realizes locking with the hatch cover lock shaft when operating the hatch cover with the movable handle, and separates from the hatch cover after the hatch cover is operated to close.

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover, characterized in that it includes a hatch cover lock shaft and a movable handle. The hatch cover lock shaft is arranged on the aircraft equipment hatch cover. One end of the hatch cover lock shaft is connected to the latch of the hatch cover, and the other end of the hatch cover lock shaft has a T-shaped interface. The movable handle is provided with a handle, a handle shaft, and a limiting mechanism. The handle shaft is fixedly connected to the handle. A rotating pin is arranged on the handle shaft. The limiting mechanism is embedded between the handle shaft and the handle. The handle shaft and the rotating pin of the movable handle match the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft.

[0006] The handle has a central hole for connecting the handle shaft. The front section of the handle shaft is a solid shaft, and the rotary pin is provided on the front section of the handle shaft. The rear section of the handle shaft has an inner hole, and there are limit grooves on both sides of the rear section of the handle shaft. A vertical long circular hole is provided in the middle of the handle shaft. The handle limit mechanism is embedded in the rear section of the handle shaft. The limit mechanism includes a pin shaft, a U-shaped part, a screw, a limit pin, a steel wire, and a knurled nut. The pin shaft matches the inner hole of the handle shaft. The front section of the pin shaft is a solid shaft, on which a limit pin is provided. Both ends of the limit pin pass through the long circular hole in the middle of the handle shaft. The rear section of the pin shaft is a stepped hollow tube. The front section of the screw is embedded in the hollow tube of the pin shaft. A first spring is provided between the front section of the screw and the hollow tube of the pin shaft. The rear section of the screw is threaded and matches the knurled nut. The central hole of the U-shaped part is sleeved on the front section of the screw, and both sides of the U-shaped part are embedded in the guide grooves on both sides of the rear section of the handle shaft. A second spring is provided between the U-shaped part and the outer side of the hollow tube of the pin shaft. The screw and the pin shaft are connected by a steel wire. The knurled nut and the rear section of the screw pass through the handle central hole, and the knurled nut is limited by the handle central hole.

[0007] The steel wire is a U-shaped circlip. A groove for embedding the steel wire is provided at the rear end head of the screw, and both ends of the steel wire are clamped in the clamping holes on the pin shaft.

[0008] The front end of the knurled nut has a shoulder and a smooth rod. The shoulder is limited by the edge of the handle central hole, and there is also a limiting circlip between the smooth rod part of the knurled nut and the handle central hole.

[0009] The present application also provides a method for using the above-mentioned locking mechanism for the hatch cover of an aircraft equipment, which is characterized by including the following: 1) When using the movable handle to open the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment, first rotate the knurled nut to move the U-shaped part and the limit pin towards the handle direction to the extreme position of the oblong hole, then insert the handle shaft and the rotating pin into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft, rotate the handle counterclockwise until the rotating pin contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft, and then rotate the knurled nut to move the U-shaped part and the limit pin away from the handle direction, so that the limit pin fixed on the pin shaft is inserted into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft, lock the relative position of the movable handle and the hatch cover lock shaft, and then rotate the handle counterclockwise. The handle drives the hatch cover lock shaft to rotate through the handle shaft to complete the opening of the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment, and the movable handle is integrated with the opened hatch cover of the aircraft equipment; 2) When using the movable handle to close the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment, first rotate the knurled nut to move the U-shaped part and the limit pin towards the handle direction to the extreme position of the oblong hole, then insert the handle shaft and the rotating pin into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft, rotate the handle clockwise until the rotating pin contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft, and then rotate the knurled nut to move the U-shaped part and the limit pin away from the handle direction, so that the U-shaped part is inserted into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft, lock the relative position of the movable handle and the hatch cover lock shaft, and then rotate the handle clockwise. The handle drives the hatch cover lock shaft to rotate through the handle shaft to complete the closing of the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment. After the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment is closed, rotate the knurled nut again to move the U-shaped part and the limit pin towards the handle direction to the extreme position, and rotate the movable handle counterclockwise to separate the movable handle from the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft.

[0010] The advantages of the present invention are as follows: The present invention is a locking mechanism for the hatch cover of an aircraft equipment, with a novel principle and ingenious layout. It is not only used for the opening / closing and attitude adjustment of the hatch cover, but also can lock the movable handle and the hatch cover lock shaft, facilitating the disassembly and installation of the hatch cover. At the same time, it can also realize the function of separating from the hatch cover after disassembling and installing the hatch cover; among them, the movable handle is internally provided with a limiting mechanism, which enables the handle to ensure connection with the hatch cover at different positions, with reliable structure and safe use.

[0011] The following further describes the present application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Description of the Drawings

[0012] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the movable handle;

[0013] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the handle shaft;

[0014] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the limiting mechanism;

[0015] Figure 4 It is a sectional view schematic diagram of the limiting mechanism;

[0016] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the neutral position of the movable handle limit pin and the U-shaped part

[0017] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the movable handle and the cover lock shaft in the closed position

[0018] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the movable handle and the cover lock shaft in the open position

[0019] 1 - Handle, 2 - Handle shaft, 3 - U-shaped part, 4 - Rotating pin, 5 - Limit pin, 6 - Pin shaft, 7 - Steel wire, 8 - Knurled nut, 9 - Screw rod, 10 - First spring, 11 - Second spring, 12 - Bolt, 13 - Cover lock shaft, 14 - Elastic retaining ring, 21 - Limit groove, 22 - Rotating pin hole, 23 - Elongated hole, 24 - Threaded hole, 25 - Inner hole, 26 - Steel wire card slot Specific implementation manner

[0020] Refer to the attached drawings. The connection interface of the movable handle is the T-shaped interface of the cover lock shaft 13. As Figure 1 shown, the handle 1 is in a T-shaped structure for easy gripping, and the central hole of the handle is designed as a stepped through hole; the handle shaft 2 is fixed to the wall of the central hole of the handle 1 in a cross direction by the bolt 12. One end of the handle shaft 2 is provided with a U-shaped limit 21 for installing the U-shaped part 3, as shown in Figure 2 shown. The rotating pin hole 22 at the other end is used for installing the rotating pin 4, the elongated hole 23 in the middle is used for passing the limit pin 5 and serves the purpose of limiting, the threaded hole 24 is the connection hole of the bolt 12 for connecting with the central hole of the handle, the pin shaft 6 is assembled in the inner hole 25, and the steel wire card slot 26 is the through limit cavity for the steel wire 7

[0021] The said limiting mechanism is as shown in Figure 3 、 Figure 4As shown in the figure, it specifically includes a U-shaped part 3, a limit pin 5, a pin shaft 6, a steel wire 7, a knurled nut 8, a screw rod 9, a first spring 10, a second spring 11, and an elastic retaining ring 14; one end of the pin shaft 6 is equipped with a limit pin 5, and at an adjacent position to the limit pin 5 on the pin shaft, there is also a fixed clamping hole for the steel wire 7 designed. The other end is designed as a hollow tube, and the outer diameter of the hollow tube is smaller than the outer diameter of the pin shaft 6. A stepped structure is formed at the root of the hollow tube. The front section of the screw rod 9 is embedded in the hollow tube of the pin shaft 6, and a first spring 10 is provided between the front section of the screw rod 9 and the hollow tube of the pin shaft 6. The rear section of the screw rod 9 is threaded and matches the knurled nut 8. The central hole of the U-shaped part 3 is sleeved on the front section of the screw rod 9, and both sides of the U-shaped part 3 are embedded in the two side limit grooves 21 at the rear section of the handle shaft 2. A second spring 11 is provided between the U-shaped part 3 and the outer side of the hollow tube of the pin shaft 6. The screw rod 9 and the pin shaft 6 are connected by the steel wire 7. The knurled nut 8 and the rear section of the screw rod 9 pass through the handle central hole, and the knurled nut 8 is limited by the handle central hole. The steel wire 7 is a U-shaped circlip. A groove for inlaying the steel wire is provided at the rear end head of the screw rod 9, and both ends of the steel wire 7 are clamped in the fixed clamping holes on the pin shaft 6.

[0022] The front end of the knurled nut 8 has a shoulder and a smooth rod. The shoulder is limited by the edge of the handle central hole. There is also an elastic retaining ring 14 for limiting between the smooth rod part of the knurled nut 8 and the handle central hole. The smooth rod part of the knurled nut 8 passes through the central hole of the handle 1 for installation. In order to ensure that the position of the knurled nut 8 remains unchanged during rotation and prevent it from moving up and down, first, the first compression spring 10 drives the screw rod 9 to make the front end shoulder of the knurled nut 8 always fit against the inner boss of the handle 1. Second, a groove is designed at the boundary between its knurled part and the smooth rod, and the elastic retaining ring 14 is installed for limiting; the second compression spring 11 is used to ensure that the relative position between the U-shaped part 3 and the pin shaft 6 remains stable in different states.

[0023] The usage process and working principle are as follows:

[0024] First, move both the U-shaped part 3 and the limit pin 5 to the neutral position, that is, rotate the knurled nut 8 to make the U-shaped part 3 and the limit pin 5 move towards the handle direction to the extreme position of the long circular hole, as Figure 5 shown. At this time, both of them are disconnected from the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13. As Figure 3 shown, for the limit pin 5, rotate the knurled nut 8, the screw rod 9 moves downward and drives the steel wire 7. The steel wire 7 will simultaneously pull the pin shaft 6 and the limit pin 5 installed on the pin shaft 6 to move downward together, so that the limit pin 5 reaches the bottommost end of the long circular hole of the handle shaft 6. At this time, the limit pin 5 is disconnected from the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13; for the U-shaped part 3, similarly, when the knurled nut 8 drives the screw rod 9 to move downward, under the action of the first spring 10 and the second spring 11, the U-shaped part 3 moves downward to contact the bottom surface of the inner hole of the handle 1. At this time, the U-shaped part 3 is disconnected from the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13.

[0025] When opening the access cover, insert the handle shaft 2 and the rotating pin 4 into the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13, and rotate the handle counterclockwise until the rotating pin 4 contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13; at this time, the limit pin 5 is exactly at the opening position of the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13. Rotate the knurled nut 8 to move the limit pin 5 away from the handle direction, so that the limit pin 5 fixed to the pin shaft 6 is inserted into the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13, locking the relative position of the movable handle and the access cover lock shaft 13, as Figure 6 shown. Continue to rotate the handle counterclockwise to open the access cover. After the access cover is opened, the movable handle can be removed from the access cover, or it can be connected to the access cover as an integral structure all the time until the movable handle is separated from the access cover after the access cover is closed.

[0026] When closing the access cover, insert the handle shaft 2 and the rotating pin 4 into the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13, and rotate the handle clockwise until the rotating pin 4 contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13; at this time, the U-shaped part 3 is exactly at the opening position of the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13. Rotate the knurled nut 8, and the U-shaped part 3 enters the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13 under the push of the screw rod 9. At the same time, the limit pin 5 moves away from the handle direction under the action of the first spring 10 until it contacts the end face of the access cover lock shaft 13. At this time, the relative position of the movable handle and the access cover lock shaft 13 is locked, as Figure 7 shown. Continue to rotate the handle clockwise to close the access cover. After that, rotate the knurled nut 8 in the reverse direction to withdraw the limit pin 5 from the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13, and then rotate the handle 1 to withdraw the rotating pin 4 from the T-shaped interface of the access cover lock shaft 13, and the movable handle can be separated from the access cover.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover, characterized in that, It includes a hatch lock shaft and a movable handle. The hatch lock shaft is arranged on the hatch of the aircraft equipment compartment. One end of the hatch lock shaft is connected to the latch of the hatch, and the other end of the hatch lock shaft has a T-shaped interface. The movable handle is provided with a handle (1), a handle shaft (2), and a limiting mechanism. The handle shaft (2) is fixedly connected to the handle (1). A rotating pin (4) is provided on the handle shaft (2). The limiting mechanism is connected between the handle shaft (2) and the handle (1). The handle shaft (2) and the rotating pin (4) of the movable handle match the T-shaped interface of the hatch lock shaft (13). The limiting mechanism includes a U-shaped part (3), a limiting pin (5), a pin shaft (6), a steel wire (7), a knurled nut (8), a screw rod (9), a first spring (10), a second spring (11), and an elastic retaining ring (14). One end of the pin shaft (6) is installed with a limiting pin (5). An fixing hole for the steel wire (7) is also designed at an adjacent position of the limiting pin (5) on the pin shaft. The other end is designed as a hollow tube. The outer diameter of the hollow tube is smaller than the outer diameter of the pin shaft (6). A stepped structure is formed at the root of the hollow tube. The front section of the screw rod (9) is located in the hollow tube of the pin shaft (6). A first spring (10) is provided between the front section of the screw rod (9) and the hollow tube of the pin shaft (6). The rear section of the screw rod (9) is threaded and matches the knurled nut (8). The central hole of the U-shaped part (3) is sleeved on the front section of the screw rod (9). The two sides of the U-shaped part (3) are embedded in the limiting grooves (21) on both sides of the rear section of the handle shaft (2). A second spring (11) is provided between the U-shaped part (3) and the outer side of the hollow tube of the pin shaft (6). The screw rod (9) and the pin shaft (6) are connected by a steel wire (7). The knurled nut (8) and the rear section of the screw rod (9) pass through the central hole of the handle, and the knurled nut (8) is limited by the central hole of the handle.

2. The locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handle (1) has a central hole for connecting the handle shaft (2). The handle shaft (2) is fixed to the wall of the central hole of the handle (1) in a cross direction by a bolt (12). The front section of the handle shaft (2) is a solid shaft. The rotating pin (4) is arranged on the front section of the handle shaft (2). The rear section of the handle shaft (2) has an inner hole (25). There are limiting grooves (21) on both sides of the rear section of the handle shaft. A vertical long circular hole (23) is provided in the middle of the handle shaft (2). The handle limiting mechanism is arranged on the rear section of the handle shaft (2). The pin shaft (6) matches the inner hole (25) of the handle shaft. Both ends of the limiting pin (5) pass through the long circular hole (23) in the middle of the handle shaft. The rear section of the pin shaft (6) is a stepped hollow tube.

3. The locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steel wire (7) is a U-shaped circlip. A groove for inlaying the steel wire is provided at the rear end head of the screw rod (9). Both ends of the steel wire (7) are clamped in the fixing holes on the pin shaft (6).

4. The locking mechanism for an aircraft equipment hatch cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front end of the knurled nut (8) has a shoulder and a smooth rod. The shoulder is limited by the edge of the central hole of the handle. There is also an elastic retaining ring (14) for limiting between the smooth rod part of the knurled nut (8) and the central hole of the handle.

5. A method of using any of the locking mechanisms for an aircraft equipment hatch cover according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that It includes the following: 1) When opening the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment using the movable handle, rotate the handle counterclockwise until the rotating pin (4) contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13); at this time, the limit pin (5) is exactly at the opening position of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13). First, rotate the knurled nut (8) to move the U-shaped part (3) and the limit pin (5) towards the handle to the extreme position of the oblong hole (23). Then, insert the handle shaft (2) and the rotating pin (4) into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13), rotate the handle (1) counterclockwise until the rotating pin (4) contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13), and then rotate the knurled nut (8) to move the U-shaped part (3) and the limit pin (5) away from the handle, so that the limit pin (5) fixed to the pin shaft (6) inserts into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13), locking the relative position of the movable handle and the hatch cover lock shaft (13). Then, rotate the handle (1) counterclockwise, and the handle drives the hatch cover lock shaft (13) to rotate through the handle shaft (2) to complete the opening of the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment, and the movable handle is integrated with the opened hatch cover of the aircraft equipment; 2) When closing the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment using the movable handle, rotate the handle clockwise until the rotating pin (4) contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13); at this time, the U-shaped part (3) is exactly at the opening position of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13). First, rotate the knurled nut (8) to move the U-shaped part (3) and the limit pin (5) towards the handle to the extreme position of the oblong hole (23). Then, insert the handle shaft (2) and the rotating pin (4) into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13), rotate the handle (1) clockwise until the rotating pin (4) contacts the end of the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13), and then rotate the knurled nut (8) to move the U-shaped part (3) and the limit pin (5) away from the handle, so that the U-shaped part (3) inserts into the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13), locking the relative position of the movable handle and the hatch cover lock shaft (13). Then, rotate the handle (1) clockwise, and the handle drives the hatch cover lock shaft (13) to rotate through the handle shaft to complete the closing of the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment. After the hatch cover of the aircraft equipment is closed, rotate the knurled nut (8) again to move the U-shaped part (3) and the limit pin (5) towards the handle to the extreme position, and rotate the movable handle counterclockwise to separate the movable handle from the T-shaped interface of the hatch cover lock shaft (13).

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