Multi-position ball lock/quick release pin bushing/retainer

• US 20080152457A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schmier, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/348
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/02 Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/109 Temporary rivets, e.g. with a spring-loaded pin special clamping devices for workpieces to be riveted together, e.g. operating through the rivet holes B21J15/42; hand tools for temporarily connecting sheets before or during assembly operations B25B31/005
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/125 radially resilient or with a snap-action member, e.g. elastic tooth, pawl with spring, resilient coil or wire
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/122 Threaded inserts, e.g. "rampa bolts"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49853 of sphere, i.e., ball, in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49934 by axially applying force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4995 Nonthreaded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/14 Ball

Abstract

An exemplary retaining assembly for a ball lock pin includes a bushing assembly configured to attachably engage an object. The bushing assembly has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines an engagement portion configured to receive locking balls urged therein in engagement. The outer surface is configured to be received within the object. The bushing assembly can include any suitable bushing member as desired, such as a press fit bushing, a serrated press fit bushing, a diamond knurl bushing, a key insert bushing, a template bushing, and the like. The bushing assembly can be a lock bushing configured to receive therein a lock ring. The lock ring can be inserted into the lock bushing and around a tapered portion of a shaft of a ball lock pin to help prevent the ball lock pin from being removed from the bushing assembly.

Claims

1. A retaining assembly for a ball lock pin, the retaining assembly comprising:

a bushing assembly configured to attachably engage an object, the bushing assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an engagement portion configured to receive locking balls urged therein in engagement, the outer surface being configured to be received within an object.

2. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement portion defines a first radial groove.

3. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the bushing assembly includes a press fit bushing, the outer surface being further configured to be press fit into an object.

4. The retaining assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer surface is serrated.

5. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein bushing assembly includes a diamond knurl bushing and the outer surface is a diamond knurl surface.

6. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer surface is threaded.

7. The retaining assembly of claim 6, wherein the bushing assembly further includes a key insert.

8. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the bushing assembly includes a template bushing assembly.

9. The retaining assembly of claim 8, wherein the template bushing assembly includes:

an outer bushing member that defines an engagement surface that is configured to engage a first portion of a workpiece, the outer bushing member further defining an inner engagement surface; and

an inner bushing member that defines the inner surface, the inner bushing member further defining an outer engagement surface configured to engage the inner engagement surface, the inner bushing member further defining an engagement land that is configured to engage a second portion of the workpiece.

10. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the bushing assembly further defines a second radial groove therein.

11. The retaining assembly of claim 10, further comprising a lock ring that is receivable in the second radial groove.

12. A retaining assembly for a ball lock pin, the retaining assembly comprising:

a bushing assembly configured to attachably engage an object, the bushing assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an engagement portion that is a first radial groove configured to receive locking balls urged therein in engagement, the outer surface being configured to be received within an object, the bushing assembly further defining a second radial groove therein; and

a lock ring that is receivable in the second radial groove.

13. The retaining assembly of claim 12, wherein the bushing assembly includes a press fit bushing, the outer surface being further configured to be press fit into an object.

14. The retaining assembly of claim 13, wherein the outer surface is serrated.

15. The retaining assembly of claim 12, wherein bushing assembly includes a diamond knurl bushing and the outer surface is a diamond knurl surface.

16. The retaining assembly of claim 12, wherein the outer surface is threaded.

17. The retaining assembly of claim 16, wherein the bushing assembly further includes a key insert.

18. The retaining assembly of claim 12, wherein the bushing assembly includes a template bushing assembly.

19. The retaining assembly of claim 18, wherein the template bushing assembly includes:

an outer bushing member that defines an engagement surface that is configured to engage a first portion of a workpiece, the outer bushing member further defining an inner engagement surface; and

an inner bushing member that defines the inner surface, the inner bushing member further defining an outer engagement surface configured to engage the inner engagement surface, the inner bushing member further defining an engagement land that is configured to engage a second portion of the workpiece, the inner bushing member defining the second radial groove.

20. An assembly for attaching objects, the assembly comprising:

a ball lock pin having a plurality of locking balls; and

a bushing assembly configured to attachably engage an object, the bushing assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an engagement portion configured to receive the plurality of locking balls urged therein in engagement, the outer surface being configured to be received within an object.

21. The retaining assembly of claim 20, wherein the engagement portion defines a first radial groove.

22. The retaining assembly of claim 20, wherein the bushing assembly includes a press fit bushing, the outer surface being further configured to be press fit into an object.

23. The retaining assembly of claim 22, wherein the outer surface is serrated.

24. The retaining assembly of claim 20, wherein bushing assembly includes a diamond knurl bushing and the outer surface is a diamond knurl surface.

25. The retaining assembly of claim 20, wherein the outer surface is threaded.

26. The retaining assembly of claim 25, wherein the bushing assembly further includes a key insert.

27. The retaining assembly of claim 20, wherein the bushing assembly includes a template bushing assembly.

28. The retaining assembly of claim 27, wherein the template bushing assembly includes:

an outer bushing member that defines the outer surface, the outer bushing member further defining an inner engagement surface; and

an inner bushing member that defines the inner surface, the inner bushing member further defining an outer engagement surface configured to engage the inner engagement surface, the outer engagement surface further defining an engagement land that is configured to engage a workpiece.

29. The retaining assembly of claim 20, wherein:

a shaft of the ball lock pin defines a tapered portion; and

the bushing assembly further defines a second radial groove therein.

30. The retaining assembly of claim 29, further comprising a lock ring that is receivable in the second radial groove when the tapered portion of the shaft is disposed toward the second radial groove.

31. A method of attaching a ball lock pin, the method comprising:

inserting a bushing assembly in a first object such an outer surface of the bushing assembly is received within the first object;

inserting into the bushing assembly a plurality of locking balls disposed on a shaft of a ball lock pin; and

outwardly urging the plurality of locking balls in engagement with an engagement portion of an inner surface of the bushing assembly.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

aligning the first object with a second object such that the shaft of the ball lock pin is receivable in the second object;

inserting into the second object the plurality of locking balls; and

outwardly urging the plurality of locking balls in engagement with an engagement portion of an inner surface of the second object.