Abstract: A pressure relief latch includes a first housing, the first housing having a handle pivotably attached, and a safety release with a hook. A roller support is slidingly engaged with the first housing and linked to the handle. The roller support has a locking pin, and has a roller attached to one end. A second housing includes a spring and a keeper extending away from the spring. When the latch is in use, the keeper of the second housing and the roller of the first housing are engaged when the latch is in the closed position. The hook of the safety release engages the locking pin of the roller support when the latch is in the closed position, preventing upward rotation of the handle. When the safety release is actuated, the hook disengages the locking pin. Upward rotation of the handle causes the roller and the keeper to disengage.

Abstract: A positive locking keeper for use with an aircraft panel latch assembly having a hook for engaging the positive locking keeper includes a keeper housing having a central opening, and a coupling having a head and a shaft extending therefrom. The head engages the latch assembly and the shaft extends through the housing with the head disposed on the first side. A detent pin is disposed within an aperture of the keeper housing. The positive locking keeper also includes a nut positioned on the second side of the keeper housing. The shaft engaged the nut. The nut includes indentations on a peripheral edge to receive a portion of the detent pin. In a first position, the detent pin engages one of the indentations and prevents rotation of the nut. In a second position, the detent pin does not engage the indentations and the nut is able to rotate.

Abstract: A pressure relief latch includes a housing fastenable to a first panel of a structure and a rotatable handle attached to the housing. The housing includes a compression spring that biases a roller toward a second panel. A keeper assembly is attached to the second panel, the keeper assembly having a keeper extending therefrom. When the latch is in the closed position, the roller engages the keeper. When the handle is rotated upward, the roller disengages the keeper. A safety release may be provided to prevent inadvertent rotation of the handle.

Abstract: An aircraft latch utilizes a spindle in combination with an over-center linkage assembly to impart linear motion to a hook member, causing the hook member to either disengage or engage a keeper member on the adjacent structure. The over-center linkage and the spindle are operated by different and independent operations of a handle member. Specifically, the over-center linkage is moved from a stored position, in which the two link members are in end-to-end axial alignment, to a position in which the two link members are no longer in end-to-end axial alignment. This movement is caused by pivoting the handle member from a position in which the longitudinal axis of the handle member is parallel to the axis of the aligned link members, to a second position in which the handle member is pivoted at least ninety degrees. This pivoting motion, which may be accompanied by other actions, such as releasing a trigger, causes the two link members to pivot with respect to each other, or “break”.

Abstract: A fastener has an integral retention mechanism, which is affixed to the fastener without the need for EDM slots along the length of the fastener. The integral retention mechanism reliably secures the fastener to a panel until it is desired to remove the fastener, in which case the fastener may be easily disengaged without any additional tools. The fastener has an axial aperture having an opening in the tip of the fastener, and axially aligned openings along opposing sides of the fastener which penetrate through to the axial aperture. A u-shaped spring mechanism is disposed within the axial aperture, with a portion of each leg outwardly extendable through the axially aligned openings to provide a retention mechanism.

Abstract: A handle apparatus utilized for actuating mechanisms with a pair of parallel cables detects a cable out condition, and prevents further activation of the actuated mechanism. The apparatus has a yoke mechanism which is pivotally attached to an activation rod, which in turn is connected to an activation handle. The yoke mechanism has a first side and a second side, with one of the cables attached to the first side and the other cable attached to the second side. The yoke mechanism has a first stop member attached to the first side of the yoke mechanism and a second stop member attached to the second side of the yoke mechanism. The apparatus has stationary shoulders which are placed such that the stationary shoulders will engage the stop members if either cable fails.

Abstract: A threaded fastener-nut combination for attaching two work pieces together has means for preventing the intrusion of the fastener threads into the bores of each work piece, thus preventing damage to the work piece which may result from such intrusion. The stud member has a pawl member which extends radially outward to engage an aperture in the nut member, which locks the nut member to the stud member. The engagement of the nut member to the threaded portion of the stud member produces both audible and tactile feedback to indicate that the fastener is properly placed and engaged. Tactile feedback is returned through the emergence of the pawl through the aperture in the nut, and by the rotation of the entire fastener assembly upon the provision of further tightening effort. Auditory feedback is provided through a “click” or similar sound produced when the pawls engages the aperture of the nut.

Abstract: A status indicating latch comprises a housing having a flange, and the flange has a plurality of apertures transversing the flange. A plurality of attachment means attach the housing flange to a panel. The panel further comprises an activation tool port that an activation tool is inserted into. The activation tool rotates a rotatable lock mechanism disposed within the housing. The lock mechanism comprises a shaft, an activation tool engagement member, a plunger disposed within the shaft and connected to the activation tool engagement member, a cam operatively connected to said plunger, and a plunger biasing means that biases the plunger upwards when the lock mechanism is locked. A guide operatively connected to the cam operates upon a pivot arm that is pivotally connected to the housing and slidably connected to the guide.

Abstract: An aircraft panel latch comprises an upper latch member comprising a rotatable lock member, a lock member movement means, and a lock position visual indicator. The lower latch member is mounted to a support structure. The lower latch and the upper latch members are pivotally connected. The lower latch member comprises a lock member retention structure. The visual indicator can comprise color coded indicia, where the alignment of a first color set indicates an unlocked position and the alignment of a second color set indicates a locked position. The visual indicator can comprise the physical location of the lock member movement means relative to the lock member. The visual indicator can comprise the physical location of the lock member movement means in combination with the colored indicia. The lock member retention structure can further comprise a ramp, a spring, or both a ramp and spring. The latch can be locked and unlocked using a hex tool.

Abstract: A latch and keeper combination is utilized for securing a radome to an aircraft fuselage. The keeper has a keeper housing and an eyebolt member which extends toward the latch from the keeper housing. The latch has a pivoting handle member pivotally attached to a latch housing. A hook member depends from the handle member. Once the hook member is generally placed about the eye bolt, depressing the handle member further causes the hook to rotate within the latch housing. As the handle member is completely depressed, the hook member fully engages the eye bolt, while at the same time members axially extend from the latch to engage the keeper which provides a resistance to shear between the latch and keeper. The apparatus may also have a safety which prevents the handle from fully closing until the eye bolt is fully engaged by the hook member, thereby providing visual confirmation that the latch has completely engaged the keeper.

Abstract: A threaded fastener-nut combination for attaching two work pieces together has means for preventing the intrusion of the fastener threads into the bores of each work piece, thus preventing damage to the work piece which may result from such intrusion. The stud member has a pawl member which extends radially outward to engage an aperture in the nut member, which locks the nut member to the stud member. The engagement of the nut member to the threaded portion of the stud member produces both audible and tactile feedback to indicate that the fastener is properly placed and engaged. Tactile feedback is returned through the emergence of the pawl through the aperture in the nut, and by the rotation of the entire fastener assembly upon the provision of further tightening effort. Auditory feedback is provided through a “click” or similar sound produced when the pawls engages the aperture of the nut.