Hartwell Corporation

Vsi Corporation

William Bourne

John D Pratt

Timothy Scott Rozema

Frank Thomas Jackson

Manuel Andres Hernandez

Frank T Jackson

John C Stammreich

Raymond Harmon

Timothy S Rozema

An apparatus, system and method including a latching device for displaceably retaining a panel relative to a frame. The latching device includes at least a bolt which is carried on the latching device and is operatively associated with the panel to prevent disengagement of the panel. The latching device includes at least one pressure responsive device operatively coupled to the bolt to retain the bolt in a desired position and release the bolt when a predetermined pressure differential occurs relative to two, generally opposite, sides of the panel or when a pressure decrease occurs on one side of the panel.

Pressure responsive blowout latch

An externally accessible, clutching adjustable latching mechanism is provided having an adjusting assembly which permits the latching mechanism to be mounted over a greater range of depths than conventional adjusting mechanisms and controls the amount of pre-load which is possible by the adjustment feature, and protects the aircraft skin from being damaged during such adjustment. An internal clutching mechanism insures the accomplishment of proper, minimum preload on the structures connected by the latching mechanism. The adjusting assembly includes a two-part driver (14a, 14b) and a drive unit (15) which translates rotational movement of the driver into linear movement of a connecting element (10), allowing infinitely small, non-incremental adjustment of the position of the connecting element (10) relative to the structures joined by the mechanism. The driver further includes clutching plates (36, 39) and springs (72) which provide a disengaging feature when a pre-selected pre-load has been achieved as a result of adjustment of the connecting element. The disengagement prevents any additional pre-load from being applied to the structures by the rotation of the mechanism.

Externally accessible, clutching adjustable keeper mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

William Bourne