Armored vehicle door hardware providing access, egress, rescue and security

• US 20120167476A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Survivability Systems LLC (BAE Systems Plc), Eastern Company The
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Survivability Systems LLC (BAE Systems Plc), Eastern Company The
• Inventors: Weinerman, Lee S., Arthurs, Scott A., Szpak, Gerald M., Wolf, David J., Jostworth, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/460
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0061 Knobs or handles with protective cover, buffer or shock absorber
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 53/00 Operation or control of locks by mechanical transmissions, e.g. from a distance
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/01 Locks for military or armoured vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/16 the handle or member moving essentially in a plane substantially parallel to the wing or frame
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/226 Doors on armoured vehicles or structures F41H5/263 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0909 Panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/096 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0969 Spring projected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0994 Lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1014 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1022 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A latch, latching system and other components are disclosed that are particularly well suited for use with the heavy doors of armored military vehicles. Some component embodiments are usable in normal and emergency modes to provide access, entry, egress and rescue through vehicle door openings. Included among the disclosed components are latches having separate operating components that can be used to retract spring projected latch bolts and that usable advantageously in pairs and readily reconfigurable for use on left, right, front and rear doors of a vehicle at locations where door thicknesses differ. Also disclosed are operating linkages intended to extend exteriorly of door armor to turn shafts to operate latches situated interiorly of the door armor.

Claims

1. An armored vehicle door with plural latches concurrently operable by a handle movable on the door at one point of connection to which the handle is releasably connected and from which the handle can be disengaged and moved to other points of connection that are provided to permit the handle to individually operate the latches.

2. The armored vehicle door of claim 1 wherein the latches have spring projected latch bolts that retract temporarily when operated by the handle at the one point of connection, and that are retained in retracted positions when operated individually by the handle.

3. A passenger door of an armored vehicle that carries plural latches interiorly of door armor that can be operated concurrently by moving an exterior handle of the door and, alternatively, by moving an interior handle of the door, and wherein the latches also can be operated individually turning emergency connectors each associated with a different one of the latches.

4. The passenger door of claim 3 wherein the interior handle is removable from the door and attachable one at a time to each of the emergency connectors to individually operate the latches.

5. The passenger door of claim 4 wherein two of the emergency connectors are associated with each latch, one located interiorly of the door armor, and one located exteriorly of the door armor.

6. An armored vehicle having a passenger door that carries a pair of latches interiorly of door armor that can be operated concurrently by a linkage which extends primarily exteriorly of the door armor, wherein the linkage can be moved to operate the latches by an exterior handle of the door and, alternatively, by an interior handle of the door, wherein a selected one of the exterior and interior handles is removable from a normal point of connection on the door and attachable directly to points of connection each associated with a separate one of the latches that can be used to operate the associated latches individually.

7. The armored vehicle of claim 6 wherein the selected one of the handles is the interior handle, and the exterior handle is so ruggedly attached to the door as to define a point of attachment to which a towing force can be applied to remove the door from a door opening normally closed by the door when secured by the latches.

8. An armored military vehicle having a latch located interior to armor of the vehicle that can be operated by turning either of two shafts that connect with the latch and extend through the armor, wherein one of the two shafts defines an emergency connection point located exteriorly of the vehicle to which torque can be applied to operate the latch, and wherein the other of the two shafts connects with a link that extends exteriorly with respect to the armor to a location where an exterior operating handle is provided that can be turned to apply torque to the other of the two shafts to operate the latch.

9. The armored military vehicle of claim 8 wherein the other of the two shafts also connects with a link that extends interiorly with respect to the armor to a location where an interior operating handle is provided that can be turned to apply torque to the other of the two shafts to operate the latch.

10. The armored military vehicle of claim 9 additionally including a safety catch engageable with the interior operating handle when the interior operating handle is pivoted to a latched position that does not cause operation of the latch.

11. The armored military vehicle of claim 10 wherein the safety catch also is engageable with the interior operating handle when the interior operating handle is pivoted to a locked position that disables the exterior handle from operating the latch.

12. A latch operating system comprising a linkage that extends exteriorly of armor carried by a passenger door of an armored vehicle wherein the linkage includes links that can be moved by an exterior door handle to concurrently turn a first set of shafts that extend through the armor to normally concurrently operate latches carried by the door interiorly of the armor, and wherein each of the latches also has at least one connector associated therewith that can be turned to operate the latches individually in the event of failure of the exteriorly extending linkage.

13. The latch operating system of claim 12 wherein some of the connectors that can be turned to operate the latches individually are located exteriorly of the armor and are connected to the associated latches by a second set of shafts that extend through the armor.

14. The latch operating system of claim 12 wherein some of the connectors that can be turned to operate the latches individually are movably carried by housing components of the latches.

15. The latch operating system of claim 12 additionally including an interior door handle releasably connected to a normal point of connection that, when turned by the handle, concurrently operates the latches to permit the door to be opened, and that can be removed from the normal point of connection for attachment to the connectors to turn the connectors to individually operate the latches to permit the door to be opened.

16. The latch operating system of claim 15 wherein the interior door handle is movable between latched and operated positions to retain the door closed and to permit the door to be opened, respectively, and a safety catch is engageable with the interior door handle when in the latched position to assist in retaining the interior door handle in the latched position.

17. The latch operating system of claim 16 wherein the safety catch also is engageable with the interior door handle when moved from the latched position to a locked position that disables the exterior door handle from operating the latches.

18. The latch operating system of claim 17 wherein the safety catch is biased toward engagement with the interior door handle when the interior door handle is in the latched and locked positions, and when the interior door handle is being moved between the latched and locked positions, and the safety catch can be manually moved out of engagement with the interior door handle.

19. A latching system for a passenger door of a motor vehicle comprising a latch that can be operated in normal circumstances by using a handle to move a first operating element of the latch to which a handle is releasably connected, and that can be operated in an emergency by disconnecting the handle from the first operating element and using the handle to move a second operating element of the latch.

20. The latching system of claim 19 wherein the latch includes a spring projected latch bolt that can be moved to a retracted position so long as adequate torque is applied by the handle to the first operating element, and that can be moved to the retracted position where the latch bolt is retained once adequate torque is applied by the handle to the second operating element.

21. The latching system of claim 19 wherein the latch includes a spring projected latch bolt that defines opposed formations one of which is engaged by the first operating element to retract the latch bolt, and the other of which is engaged by the second operating element to retract the latch bolt.

22. A latching system for a passenger door of a motor vehicle comprising a latch that has a spring projected latch bolt which can be retracted in a first way by turning a first operating arm of the latch situated on one side of the latch bolt, and in a second way by turning a second operating arm of the latch situated on an opposite side of the latch bolt, wherein the system includes handles situated exteriorly and interiorly of the door that are connected to the first operating arm by a linkage that permits each handle to turn the first operating arm without causing movement of any other handle, and wherein the latch includes a point of connection to which a handle can be attached in an emergency to turn the second operating arm to retract the latch bolt.

23. The latching system of claim 22 wherein the spring projected latch bolt defines symmetrically configured formations located on opposite sides of the latch bolt, one of which is engaged by the first operating arm when the first operating arm is turned to retract the latch bolt, and the other of which is engaged by the second operating arm when the second operating arm is turned to retract the latch bolt.

24. The latching system of claim 23 wherein the latch includes a retainer that engages the second operating arm to retain the latch bolt in a retracted position once the second operating arm has been turned to cause movement of the latch bolt to the retracted position.

25. A latch for a passenger door of a motor vehicle having a slide bolt that is biased toward an extended position to latchingly engage a strike formation to hold the passenger door closed, having a first operating element that engages a first formation of the slide bolt and can be turned to move the slide bolt to a retracted position, having a second operating element that engages a second formation of the slide bolt and can be turned to retract the slide bolt to the retracted position, and having a retainer that engages the second operating element when the second operating element has moved the slide bolt to the retracted position to thereby retain the slide bolt in the retracted position.

26. The latch of claim 25 wherein the first and second formations of the slide bolt are located on opposite side portions of the slide bolt and are symmetrically configured.

27. The latch of claim 25 wherein the slide bolt is translatably supported for movement along a path of travel that extends through opposed walls of a housing of the latch, and opposite end regions of the slide bolt are movable through openings defined by the opposed walls.

28. The latch of claim 27 wherein the housing includes first and second housing elements between which extend posts located along opposite sides of the path of travel and engageable with opposed surfaces of the latch bolt to guide movement of the latch bolt along the travel path.

29. A latch having a housing that slidably mounts a spring projected latch bolt, and that supports first and second arms each of which can be turned independently of the other to retract the latch bolt, wherein the first arm will retract the latch bolt so long as torque is applied thereto, and the second arm will retract and retain the latch bolt in a retracted position in response to a temporary application of torque thereto.

30. A latching system for a passenger door of an armored military vehicle including a pair of latches connected to shafts that can be turned to operate the latches, wherein the shafts are journalled by bearing blocks that are adjustably mounted on the door, and are coupled by links of adjustable length to interior and exterior operating handles that can move the links to turn the shafts to operate the latches, wherein the adjustably positionable bearing blocks and the adjustable length links permit components of the latching system to be adjusted to accommodate at least some combat damage that might otherwise render the system inoperable, and wherein emergency connectors are provided to which a handle can be connected in an emergency to operate the latches without having to cause movement of the links.

31. A passenger door for an armored vehicle that has door armor and a plurality of latches located interior to the door armor at spaced locations to hold the door closed, that has an interior operating handle and an exterior operating handle movable independently of each other to operate the latches substantially concurrently, wherein the interior operating handle is removable and usable one at a time with the latches to operate the latches sequentially, wherein the latches do not relatch the door closed after they have been operated one at a time by the interior operating handle.

32. A latch handle position retainer assembly installable on the interior of a door of a motor vehicle to engage an end region of an interior operating handle of the door to releasably retain the interior operating handle in positions to which the interior operating handle can be moved to latch and lock the door, including a mounting bracket attachable to the door, a latching arm pivotally connected to the mounting bracket, and at least one spring biasing the latching arm toward the end region of the interior operating handle to engage the end region and thereby prevent unwanted handle movement when the interior operating handle has been moved to at least one position wherein the interior operating handle causes the door to be latched, wherein the latching arm also can be pivoted out of engagement with the interior operating handle when the interior operating handle needs to be moved to an unlatched position.

33. The latch handle position retainer assembly of claim 32 wherein the latching arm defines a slot into which portions of the end region of the interior operating handle can extend when the latching arm engages the end region of the interior operating handle handle.

34. The latch handle position retainer assembly of claim 33 wherein opposite end regions of the slot are enlarged to more fully receive the end region of the interior operating handle when the interior operating handle has been moved to a position wherein the interior operating handle causes the door to be latched, and to a position wherein the interior operating handle causes the door to be locked.

35. The latch handle position retainer assembly of claim 32 wherein the latching arm is configured to snap into engagement with the end region of the interior operating handle when the interior operating handle is moved from an unlatched position that permits the door to be opened, to a latched position wherein the door is retained closed.

36. An exterior operating handle for an armor carrying passenger door of a motor vehicle that can pivot about a shaft of the handle to concurrently operate a pair of latches that, unless operated, normally hold the door securely closed, wherein the shaft extends through an opening formed through armor of the door to a location interior of the armor where the shaft is so securely connected to the door that a ring formation of the exterior operating handle can be used as a connection point for applying force to the door of such magnitude as will cause the door to be pulled from an opening normally closed by the door.

37. The exterior operating handle of claim 36 additionally including linkage connecting the exterior operating handle to an interior operating handle, wherein the linkage permits each of the interior and exterior operating handles to operate the pair of latches without causing movement of the other of the interior and exterior operating handles.

38. An interior operating handle having a connection formation matingly engaged with a complementary mating formation of a pivot assembly installable interiorly of the armor of a door of an armored vehicle and movable about an axis defined by the pivot assembly to operate a door latch, wherein the mating engagement of the connection formation of the interior operating handle with the complementary mating formation of the pivot assembly is maintained by a member removably installed in aligned openings formed through the connection formation and the complementary mating formation.

39. The interior operating handle of claim 38 wherein the removably installed member takes the form of an elongate pin provided with a formation that can be grasped to remove the pin from the aligned holes so the interior operating handle can be disconnected from the pivot assembly.

40. The interior operating handle of claim 39 wherein the handle, when disconnected from the pivot assembly, can be moved quickly into engagement with a mating formation defined by a latch to enable the latch to be operated by the handle.

41. A linkage extending exteriorly of the armor of a door of an armored military vehicle that, when subjected to impact provided by an improvised explosive device will be deflected by the armor of the door from becoming shrapnel that injures occupants of the vehicle, wherein the linkage drivingly connects shafts that extend through the armor of the door to operate a pair of latches carried interiorly of the armor to hold the door closed, wherein at least a selected one of the links includes a turnbuckle that permits the effective length of the selected link to be adjusted to accommodate combat damage that is not so severe as to render the selected link unusable, wherein the turnbuckle has an elongate sleeve that is oppositely interiorly threaded at opposite end regions thereof, wherein at least one of the opposite end regions is provided with a viewing hole that opens into the threaded interior thereof so the extent to which another component of the turnbuckle has been threaded into the threaded end region can be viewed through the viewing hole.

42. A turnbuckle having an elongate central member with opposite end regions thereof oppositely interiorly threaded to receive left and right hand threads provided on a pair of end members of the turnbuckle, and having a viewing hole formed through a side wall of the turnbuckle into one of the threaded end regions to permit viewing of the extend to which one of the end members has been treaded into the one threaded end region.

43. A passenger door of an armored military vehicle that carries a pair of latches at spaced locations to hold the door securely in a closed position, and a door closure alignment device carried on the door at a location between the spaced locations of the latches that provides formations that wedgingly interengage as the door moves to the closed position with complementary formations defined by structure located near the closed position of the door.