Abstract: An aircraft latch mechanism has a latch body having a front end and a rear end and a longitudinal slot extending along a portion of the length of the body. A pair of first cam members flanks the latch body. A handle is pivotally attached to the first cam members. The first cam members are also attached to a pair of over-center links. A mounting bushing extends through the longitudinal slot at the pivot where the first cam members and over-center links attach. Movement of the handle causes a corresponding movement of the first cam members, over-center links, and the connecting structure extending through the slot.

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 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 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 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: 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 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 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 latching system for releasably securing a first member to a second member in a closed position. The latching system includes a command latch assembly comprising a hook latch assembly including a handle selectively movable from a first handle position toward a second handle position and a hook member adapted to selectively engage a first keeper when the handle is in the first handle position and to disengage from the first keeper when the handle is moved to the second handle position. The latching system also includes a remotely located slave latch assembly comprising a pin latch assembly adapted to secure a second keeper to the pin latch assembly when the handle of the hook latch assembly is in the first handle position and to disengage the second keeper when the handle of the hook latch assembly is moved to the second handle position.

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: 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 wedge-type fastener and tool for installing the same for preventing the separation of structural members during drilling or other operations. The fastener includes four spring biased pins which are adapted to be extended into aligned holes in the structural members providing four prongs of engagement increasing the bearing surface of the fastener without deformation of the structural members.