Locking Assembly

• US 20080226421A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telezygology, Inc. (TZ Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Telezygology, Inc. (TZ Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rudduck, Dickory, Sizer, Geoffrey David, Blattmann, Lee David
• Application Number:
  US12/063,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20080226421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/356
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/18 with circlips or like resilient retaining devices, i.e. resilient in the plane of the ring or the like; Details spring-washers for locking nuts F16B39/24; adjusting rings F16B43/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

The invention provides a locking assembly (2) suitable for use in locking an aircraft seat in an upright position in an aircraft, for example. The locking assembly (2) includes a locking stud (10) having a locking cavity (12) and an aperture (14) for receiving the locking stud (10). A locking means (18) engages the locking cavity (12) when the locking stud (10) is received in the aperture (14). The locking assembly (2) also includes an unlocking means, which includes material adapted to contract when activated, such as shape memory alloy wire, to allow for disengagement from the locking cavity (12). The locking stud (10) is guided towards the aperture (14) by a locking stud guide (20).

Claims

1. A locking assembly comprising:

a locking stud having a locking cavity;

an aperture for receiving the locking stud;

a locking means adapted to engage the locking cavity of the locking stud when received in the aperture;

an unlocking means comprising material adapted to contract when activated to allow for disengagement from the locking cavity; and

a locking stud guide adapted to guide the locking stud towards the aperture.

2. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking cavity is a groove around the locking stud.

3. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking stud includes a taper adapted to enable the locking stud to be pushed into the aperture and be engaged therein.

4. The locking assembly of claim 3, wherein the locking stud is adapted to slide towards and away from the aperture within a piston by means of a locking strut.

5. The locking assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking stud guide is adapted to provide a sealing relationship with the locking stud.

6. The locking assembly of claim 5, which includes a seal on the locking stud to seal the locking stud with respect to the locking guide.

7. The locking assembly of claim 6, wherein the locking stud is held captive by the locking guide to prevent disengagement of the locking stud from the locking guide.

8. The locking assembly of claim 3, wherein the locking stud guide forms a cone or ramp adapted to guide the locking stud into the aperture.

9. The locking assembly of claim 8, which includes a microprocessor.

10. The locking assembly of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to indicate one or more of the following:

locked or unlocked status of the locking assembly, presence of the locking stud and temperature of the material adapted to contract when activated.

11. The locking assembly of claim 10, which includes a reed switch.

12. The locking assembly of claim 11, wherein the material adapted to contract when activated is shape memory alloy wire.

13. The locking assembly of claim 12, wherein the shape memory alloy wire is activatable by electrical resistance heating.

14. The locking assembly of claim 13, which includes a wire feed to the locking assembly to effect electrical resistance heating.

15. The locking assembly of claim 13, which includes remote means to effect electrical resistance heating.

16. The locking assembly of claim 15, wherein the remote means is a hand tool adapted to operate through energy chosen from the group:

microwave, electromagnetic, magnetic, sonic, infrared and radio frequency energy.

17. The locking assembly of claim 16, which includes more than one shape memory alloy wire.

18. The locking assembly of claim 17, wherein the locking means comprises a variety of teeth surrounded by a rotatable shuttle and the shape memory alloy wire is wound around the shuttle.

19. The locking assembly of claim 18, in which the shape memory alloy wire is attached at one end of the shuttle and at another end to a non-rotatable part of the locking assembly.

20. The locking assembly of claim 19, which includes a second shape memory alloy wire connected at one end of the shuttle and at another end to a non-rotatable part of the locking assembly.

21. The locking assembly of claim 20, when biased towards the locked position.

22. The locking assembly of claim 21, which includes biasing means for ejecting the locking stud after disengagement.

23. The locking assembly of claim 22, which includes means to sense a change in an ambient condition.

24. The locking assembly of claim 23, wherein the ambient condition is temperature.

25. The locking assembly of claim 24, which includes a weight sensor to sense weight on an element to which the locking assembly is attached.

26. The locking assembly of claim 25, which includes a manual override.

27. The locking assembly of claim 26, wherein the manual override is adapted to move the locking means to a position where the locking stud is disengaged.

28. The locking assembly of claim 27, wherein the manual override is biased away from a position where the locking stud is disengaged.

29. The locking assembly of claim 28, wherein the manual override includes a Bowden cable.

30. The locking assembly of claim 29, when attached to an aircraft seat or an aircraft storage bin.

31. (canceled)