Folding support with locking function

Abstract

This invention relates to a folding strut with a locking function, operable to unfold or fold, and includes: a first link and a second link hinged together via a hinge member; a sleeve configured to be fitted over the hinge member of the folding strut and operable to slide along at least a portion of the folding strut and rotate about the folding strut between a locked position and an unlocked position; a rolling bearing disposed between the sleeve and the folding strut and fixed to the folding strut; and a locking mechanism disposed within the sleeve, the locking mechanism including a limiting member that, when the sleeve is rotated to the locked position, axially stops at least a portion of the sleeve to restrict or allow sliding of the sleeve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the support design of large aircraft doors, and more specifically to a folding strut with a locking function, which is particularly suitable for supporting and limiting the internal space of hatches or doors such as large aircraft doors in the fuselage. Background Technology

[0002] Stirrups, as a common support mechanism, are widely used in aircraft hatches, doors, and other applications requiring openable support. They provide stable support when the hatch or door is open, limiting its opening angle and ensuring operational safety and ease of use. However, in practical applications, the internal space of aircraft hatches is often limited, especially for large fuselage doors, which typically house various pipes, equipment, and structural reinforcements, leaving very little space for the installation and use of struts. Existing strut structures usually require significant installation space and operating stroke, making them unsuitable for use in confined spaces.

[0003] A common type of strut in existing technology uses a nested installation of an outer cylinder and a telescopic rod. This is achieved by setting grooves within the outer cylinder and the telescopic rod, and using an external sleeve to engage the steel column at the groove position. However, during use, this nested structure experiences frequent sliding friction between the steel column and the groove, easily leading to component wear. Over time, the engaging effect decreases, affecting the reliability of the support. Furthermore, this structure requires a large axial movement space during expansion and contraction, making it less suitable for openings with limited installation space.

[0004] Another existing strut design uses a two-bar hinge, with a spring pushing a sleeve to move on the outside of the strut to achieve folding and unfolding. While this structure reduces installation space requirements to some extent, its locking mechanism is not stable enough and can easily unlock or fold unexpectedly under stress or vibration, posing a safety hazard. Furthermore, the sleeve experiences sliding friction with the strut surface as it moves outward, resulting in significant operational resistance and potential surface wear over time, thus affecting the strut's lifespan.

[0005] In addition, some struts are locked using knobs or bolts, requiring manual tightening or loosening, which is cumbersome and does not allow for quick folding and unfolding, resulting in poor usability. Some struts incorporate multiple springs and push rods internally, using complex mechanical transmissions to lock and release. While this provides a certain degree of locking, the complex structure, numerous parts, and difficulty in assembly and maintenance, coupled with multiple internal friction pairs, mean that wear issues persist, and durability needs improvement.

[0006] In summary, existing strut structures have certain shortcomings in terms of installation space adaptability, ease of operation, locking reliability, and wear resistance, making it difficult to fully meet the usage requirements of aircraft hatches or doors in confined spaces. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a folding strut that is simple in structure, requires little effort to operate, has reliable locking, and is suitable for limited spaces, in order to improve the convenience and safety of opening and closing aircraft hatches. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing struts, such as poor adaptability in confined spaces, laborious operation, unreliable locking, and easy wear, a folding strut with locking function is provided.

[0008] Specifically, this locking folding strut is operable to unfold or fold, and includes: a first link and a second link hinged together via a hinge member; a sleeve configured to be fitted onto the hinge member of the folding strut and operable to slide along at least a portion of the folding strut and rotate about the folding strut between a locked position and an unlocked position; a rolling bearing disposed between the sleeve and the folding strut and fixed to the folding strut; and a locking mechanism disposed within the sleeve, the locking mechanism including a limiting member that, when the sleeve is rotated to the locked position, axially stops at least a portion of the sleeve to restrict or allow sliding of the sleeve. The locking and unlocked positions can be switched by rotating the sleeve, and the axial stop provided by the limiting member effectively prevents accidental operation in the unfolded or folded state.

[0009] In one specific embodiment, the sleeve includes a sleeve body, sleeve balls, and a sleeve ring. The sleeve ring is fixedly connected to the sleeve body at at least one end of the sleeve and forms a groove, with the sleeve balls embedded in the groove between them. The opening size of the groove is smaller than the diameter of the sleeve balls to prevent them from dislodging. This ball bearing structure transforms traditional sliding friction into rolling friction, significantly reducing the resistance during sleeve movement. This makes the unfolding and folding of the support rod smoother and less strenuous, while also greatly reducing wear between components and extending service life.

[0010] Optionally, the sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve balls, and the groove includes a plurality of spherical grooves or annular tracks to accommodate the plurality of sleeve balls. The shape of the groove can be modified accordingly based on the number of sleeve balls.

[0011] Furthermore, the sleeve includes a receiving space, wherein the folding strut with locking function includes a spring disposed within the receiving space between the folding strut and the sleeve.

[0012] In one specific embodiment, the rolling bearing includes a bearing body, bearing balls, and a retaining element. The bearing balls are embedded in the bearing body and contact the inner wall of the receiving space of the sleeve. The retaining element extends radially outward from the bearing body. The spherical balls also significantly reduce the resistance during sleeve movement.

[0013] In the embodiment shown in this invention, the sleeve includes a guide rail, and a limiting member extends into the guide rail. The cooperation between the limiting member and the guide rail effectively prevents misoperation in the unfolded or folded state.

[0014] In addition, the locking mechanism also includes a retaining ring and a retaining ring. The retaining ring is disposed on the first connecting rod, and the retaining rings are disposed between the retaining ring and the rolling bearing and between the rolling bearing and the spring, respectively, to prevent the axial movement and rotation of the rolling bearing.

[0015] Advantageously, the outer wall of the sleeve is provided with a locking position mark to indicate the locking position of the sleeve in the unfolded or folded state of the folding strut, which improves the intuitiveness and convenience of operation.

[0016] In the embodiment shown in this invention, the hinge component includes a pivot, a connecting plate, a stop pin, a slider, and a compression spring. The pivot is disposed in the adjacent ends of the first and second links. The connecting plate connects the pivot in the first and second links and moves with the rotation of the pivot. The stop pin is disposed in at least one of the first and second links to limit the range of motion of the connecting plate. The connecting plate is connected to the compression spring via the slider, such that when the folding strut is in the folded state, the connecting plate presses against the slider to compress the compression spring. The first link has a channel to receive at least a portion of the slider and the compression spring. When it needs to be unfolded again, the compression spring releases energy, providing assistance for the initial unfolding of the strut.

[0017] Furthermore, it also includes a connector and a bearing, at least one of which is configured to be detachably mounted to at least one end of the folding strut. The connector and bearing can be replaced as needed for the actual cap.

[0018] Additional features and advantages of the folding strut with locking function described herein will be set forth in the detailed description below, and will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the following description or from practice of the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0019] With reference to the above objectives, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the following detailed description of the embodiments, and its advantages are apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example, without limiting the scope of the inventive concept.

[0020] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a folding strut with locking function according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the folding strut is in the unfolded state.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a folding strut with locking function according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the folding strut is in a folded state.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a sleeve with a locking function for a folding strut according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a side view of a sleeve with a locking function for a folding strut according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from one end.

[0024] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the circled A section of the folding strut.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a rolling bearing with a locking function for a folding strut according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a front view of a sleeve with a locking function for a folding strut according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a partial perspective view of a folding strut with locking function according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the folding strut is in the unfolded state.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a partial perspective view of a folding strut with locking function according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the folding strut is in a folded state.

[0029] Figure Labels

[0030] 1. First link; 11 First pivot hole; 12 Channel; 13 Plug; 2. Second link; 21 Second pivot hole; 22 Pivot hole; 3. Sleeve; 31 Sleeve body; 32 Sleeve ring; 33 Sleeve ball bearings; 34. Groove; 35. Receiving space; 36. Guide rail; 4. Connector; 5. Bearings; 6. Hinge components; 61. Rotating shaft; 62. Connecting plate; 63. Stop shaft; 64. Slider; 65. Compression spring; 7. Spring; 8. Rolling bearings; 81 Bearing body; 82 Bearing balls; 83 Pin; 9. Card rings; 10-ring stop. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, but this should not be construed as limiting the present invention in any way.

[0032] As used herein, the term "embedded" is defined as an arrangement in which the macroscopic movement (translation) of a rolling element, such as a ball, is restricted or substantially restricted within, for example, a groove or pocket, retaining only rotational freedom about its own axis. For example, a ball being embedded in a groove means that the ball can roll in situ within the groove but will not dislodge from the groove or undergo significant translation along the groove's direction.

[0033] The term "axial" as used in this article, unless otherwise specified, refers to the length direction of the strut body (first link or second link).

[0034] As used herein, the term "radial" refers to a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0035] As used in this article, the terms “sliding” and “rotation” refer to sliding along the axis and rotating about the axis, respectively.

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention provide a folding strut with a locking function, which is mainly used for supporting and limiting aircraft doors or hatches. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this folding strut can be applied to different scenarios according to actual needs.

[0037] It should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" in this document can be used interchangeably without affecting the description of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] Overall Structure

[0039] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The folding strut of this invention mainly includes a first connecting rod 1, a second connecting rod 2, a sleeve 3, a connector 4, and a bearing 5. The first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2 are hinged to each other through an internal hinge component 6, allowing the strut to be in the unfolded state ( Figure 1 ) and folded state ( Figure 2Switching between the first link 1 and the second link 2. One side of the hinged ends of the first link 1 and the second link 2 can be rounded, while the other side abuts against each other to limit the range of motion of the link. The sleeve 3 is fitted over the hinge member and can be operated to slide along at least a portion of the folding strut to surround or expose the hinge member 6, thereby preventing or allowing movement of the hinge member 6 and thus the folding strut. The sleeve 3 can also rotate about the folding strut. The connector 4 and the bearing 5 can be detachably mounted on the ends of the first link 1 and the second link 2 by means of, for example, a fixing nut. The connector 4 and the bearing 5 can be replaced according to the actual application scenario (such as the interface form of the cover or the fuselage structure), for example, they can be replaced with double-ended bearings or double-ended connectors to adapt to different installation requirements.

[0040] Sleeve structure

[0041] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the sleeve 3 mainly includes a sleeve body 31, a sleeve ring 32, and sleeve balls 33. The sleeve body 31 and the sleeve ring 32 are connected by fasteners. For example, as shown, the sleeve body 31 and the sleeve ring 32 may have connecting lugs for alignment, on which screws and nuts can be installed to fix the sleeve body 31 and the sleeve ring 32 together. After connection, a groove 34 for receiving the sleeve balls 33 is formed between the sleeve body 31 and the sleeve ring 32. See also Figure 5 The opening size of the groove 34 is smaller than the diameter of the sleeve ball 33, thereby ensuring that the sleeve ball 33 is reliably "embedded" in the groove and will not fall out after assembly. When the operator pushes or pulls the sleeve 3, the sleeve ball 33 contacts the surface of the first connecting rod 1 or the second connecting rod 2, and rolling friction replaces sliding friction, thereby significantly reducing the pushing and pulling resistance of the sleeve 3.

[0042] The number of sleeve balls 33 can be increased according to actual needs. When the number of sleeve balls 33 is small, a corresponding number of grooves 34 can be provided on the sleeve body 31 and sleeve ring 32. When the number of sleeve balls 33 is large, the multiple spherical grooves 34 on the sleeve body 31 and sleeve ring 32 can be replaced with a complete annular track to accommodate multiple sleeve balls 33 rolling in it.

[0043] Reference Figure 5 The sleeve 3 has a receiving space 35, and the spring 7 is sleeved on a portion of the first connecting rod 1 within the receiving space 35. Both ends of the spring 7 abut against one side of the receiving space 35 and a retaining ring (described below), providing elastic force for the sliding of the sleeve 3. When the support rod needs to be extended, the spring 7 automatically pushes the sleeve 3 to cause it to slide. Figure 5 The middle part slides to the right to surround the hinge member 6, while when the strut needs to be folded up, the sleeve 3 is operated to overcome the elasticity of the spring 7 and slide ( Figure 5(Slide to the left) to expose hinge component 6.

[0044] Internal locking structure

[0045] Reference Figures 5 to 6 The sleeve 3 has an internal locking mechanism, which mainly includes an annular rolling bearing 8, a retaining ring 9, and a retaining ring 10. The rolling bearing 8 is fixed to the first connecting rod 1 and includes a bearing body 81, bearing balls 82, and a pin 83 as a limiting member. The bearing balls 82 are embedded in the bearing body 81 and contact the inner wall of the receiving space 35 of the sleeve 3, so that the sliding of the sleeve 3 relative to the rolling bearing 8 is also achieved through rolling friction, which similarly reduces the movement resistance of the sleeve 3. The retaining ring 9 is disposed on the first connecting rod 1, and the retaining ring 10 is disposed between the retaining ring 9 and the rolling bearing 8 and between the rolling bearing 8 and the spring 7, respectively, to limit the axial movement of the rolling bearing 8.

[0046] In the embodiment shown in this invention, the pin 83 extends radially outward from the bearing body 81 and extends into the guide rail on the inner wall of the sleeve 3. Figure 7 (as shown in the track). Reference Figure 7 The guide rail 36 is designed to have circumferential and axial extension paths. Since the pin 83 extends into the guide rail 36, the sleeve 3 is restricted to moving only along the extension path of the guide rail 36. It should be understood that the guide rail 36 preferably extends through the sleeve 3 to facilitate external observation of the position of the pin 83; however, in other embodiments, the guide rail 36 may be a groove-shaped track designed on the inner wall of the receiving space 35 of the sleeve 3, and a portion of the sleeve 3 may be transparent to facilitate observation of the position of the pin 83.

[0047] It should also be understood that the lengths of the circumferential and axial extension paths of the guide rail 36 are not limited, as long as they can cover and expose the hinge member. In an embodiment of the invention, the circumferential extension path of the guide rail 36 is approximately an arc length of 30°.

[0048] Continue to refer to Figure 7 The outer wall of the sleeve 3 is marked with locking position indicators such as "Lock 1", "Lock 2" and "Slide to Release" to make it easier for the operator to understand whether the sleeve 3 is in the locked or unlocked position and to improve the intuitiveness and convenience of operation.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, at the locked position, the guide rail 36 may have an axial extension (e.g., Figure 7 As shown, (extending axially to the left), this allows the sleeve 3 to be held more stably in the locked position under the action of the spring 7 without unexpected rotation.

[0050] Hinge components and assist mechanism

[0051] Reference Figure 8 and Figure 9 The hinge component 6 is located at the hinge joint of the first link 1 and the second link 2, and specifically includes a pivot 61, a connecting plate 62, a stop shaft 63, a slider 64, and a compression spring 65. The pivot 61 is located at the close ends of the first link 1 and the second link 2, and the connecting plate 13 connects the two pivots 12, enabling the rotation of the two links to be linked. Specifically, the first link 1 and the second link 2 may each include a first pivot hole 11 and a second pivot hole 12, and the connecting plate 62 may include a pivot hole. The connecting plate 62 and the first link 1 and the second link 2 may be aligned with the pivot holes, for example, using a single-double-ear structure. Then, the pivot 61 can be inserted through the pivot hole and fixed, allowing the first link 1, the second link 2, and the connecting plate 62 to rotate relative to each other.

[0052] The connecting plate 62 may be provided with a groove, its sidewall serving as a limiting part, and the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2 may also be fixed with a stop shaft 63 located in the groove to cooperate with the limiting part, thereby limiting the movement range of the connecting plate 62. This stop shaft 63 may, for example, pass through a stop shaft hole 22 (e.g., Figure 2 (As shown) Insert and install it into the first link 1 and the second link 2.

[0053] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a channel 12 is provided inside the first connecting rod 1, and at least a portion of the slider 64 and the compression spring 65 are accommodated within this channel. One end of the slider 64 extends out of the channel 12 and contacts the connecting plate 62, while the other end abuts against one end of the compression spring 65 within the channel 12. The other end of the compression spring 65 is limited by a plug 13. The plug 13 can be installed in the channel 12 or integrated with the first connecting rod 1. The structure of the slider 64 and the compression spring 65 allows the connecting plate 62 to move to fold the folding support rod.

[0054] Working principle

[0055] Reference Figure 8 and Figure 9 The working process of the folding strut with the locking function of the present invention is as follows: Deployment and Locking: When the hatch is opened, the struts are in the deployed state (e.g., Figure 1 (As shown). At this time, the sleeve 3 covers the hinge component, and the pin 83 inside the sleeve 3 is in the locking position marked "Lock 1" on the guide rail. Due to the axial stop of the pin 83, the sleeve 3 cannot slide axially, thereby firmly locking the first link 1 and the second link 2 in a straight line and providing stable support.

[0056] Unlocking and Folding: When the hatch needs to be closed, the operator first rotates sleeve 3 approximately 30° from the "Locked 1" position (if the guide rail has an axial extension, slide sleeve 3 first and then rotate), causing pin 83 to disengage from the locked position of the guide rail and enter the rail section that allows axial sliding. Then, pull sleeve 3 axially in the direction marked "Slide to Release". During this process, sleeve 3 compresses spring 7 and slides relative to the connecting rod and rolling bearing 9. Due to the action of sleeve balls 33 and 82, the sliding process is smooth and effortless. When pin 83 moves to the end of the axial path of the guide rail, the operator rotates sleeve 3 again approximately 30°, causing pin 83 to enter the locking position corresponding to "Locked 2" and then releases the operator. At this time, sleeve 3 is axially fixed and cannot move, thus "giving way" the movement position of the hinge components, allowing the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2 to fold freely. As the hatch closes, the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2 fold relative to each other around the pivot 61. During the folding process, the connecting plate 62 moves with the pivot 61 and presses against the slider 64, forcing the slider 64 to move within the channel and compress the compression spring 65, storing energy for the next unfolding. Finally, the strut reaches a fully folded state (as shown in the image). Figure 2 (As shown).

[0057] Re-deployment: When the hatch is reopened, the folding strut, under the restoring force of the compression spring 65, pushes the connecting plate 61 via the slider 64, providing initial assistance for the deployment of the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2, making the deployment operation easier. After the strut is fully deployed, the strut can be locked again by reversing the operation of the sleeve 3 as described above.

[0058] The technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: 1. Good space adaptability: By replacing the traditional axial telescopic structure with a hinged folding structure, the axial dimension of the strut in the non-working state is greatly reduced, which can better adapt to the installation environment with limited internal space, such as aircraft cabin doors.

[0059] 2. Convenient operation and reliable locking: The sleeve can be rotated to switch between the locked and unlocked positions, and the limiting component forms an axial stop, effectively preventing accidental operation in the unfolded or folded state. The locked state is stable and reliable. The marking design on the outer wall of the sleeve further enhances the intuitiveness and convenience of operation.

[0060] 3. Reduced friction and wear, easier operation: By setting ball bearings at both ends and inside the sleeve, traditional sliding friction is transformed into rolling friction, which significantly reduces the resistance when the sleeve moves, making the unfolding and folding of the support rod smoother and easier. At the same time, it greatly reduces wear between parts and extends service life.

[0061] 4. Assisted Deployment Function: The hinge component integrates an assist mechanism consisting of a connecting plate, a slider, and a compression spring. During the folding process of the strut, the compression spring is compressed to store energy; when it needs to be deployed again, the spring releases energy, providing assistance for the initial deployment of the strut and improving the user experience.

[0062] While the structure of the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should recognize that the above examples are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the invention. Therefore, modifications and variations can be made to the present invention, all of which will fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A folding strut with a locking function, the folding strut being operable to unfold or fold, the folding strut comprising: A first link and a second link are hinged together via a hinge member; A sleeve configured to be fitted onto the hinge member of the folding strut and operable to slide along at least a portion of the folding strut and rotate about the folding strut between a locked position and an unlocked position; A rolling bearing is disposed between the sleeve and the folding support rod and fixed on the folding support rod; as well as A locking mechanism is disposed within the sleeve. The locking mechanism includes a limiting member that, when the sleeve is rotated to the locked position, stops at least a portion of the sleeve axially to restrict or allow the sleeve to slide.

2. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sleeve includes a sleeve body, sleeve balls, and a sleeve ring. The sleeve ring is fixedly connected to the sleeve body at at least one end of the sleeve and forms a groove. The sleeve balls are embedded in the groove between the two. The opening size of the groove is smaller than the diameter of the sleeve balls to prevent the sleeve balls from falling out.

3. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve balls, and the groove includes a plurality of spherical grooves or annular tracks to embed the plurality of sleeve balls.

4. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sleeve includes a receiving space, wherein the folding strut with locking function includes a spring, which is disposed within the receiving space between the folding strut and the sleeve.

5. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The rolling bearing includes a bearing body, bearing balls, and the limiting member. The bearing balls are embedded in the bearing body and contact the inner wall of the receiving space of the sleeve. The limiting member extends radially outward from the bearing body.

6. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sleeve includes a guide rail, and the limiting member extends into the guide rail.

7. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The locking mechanism further includes a retaining ring and a retaining ring. The retaining ring is disposed on the first connecting rod, and the retaining rings are respectively disposed between the retaining ring and the rolling bearing and between the rolling bearing and the spring, so as to prevent the axial movement and rotation of the rolling bearing.

8. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the sleeve is provided with a locking position mark to indicate the locking position of the sleeve in the unfolded or folded state of the folding strut.

9. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The hinge component includes a pivot, a connecting plate, a stop pin, a slider, and a compression spring. The pivot is disposed in the adjacent ends of the first and second links. The connecting plate connects the pivot in the first and second links and moves with the rotation of the pivot. The stop pin is disposed in at least one of the first and second links to limit the range of motion of the connecting plate. The connecting plate is connected to the compression spring via the slider, such that when the folding support is in the folded state, the connecting plate presses against the slider to compress the compression spring. The first connecting rod has a channel to receive at least a portion of the slider and the compression spring.

10. The folding strut with locking function according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a connector and a bearing, at least one of which is configured to be detachably mounted to at least one end of the folding strut.

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