Locking hinge

• US 5,479,678 A
• Filed: 02/21/1995
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
• Inventors: Olikara, Philip, Reed, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhargava, Adesh
• Application Number:
  US08/393,585
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 16/325, 16/280, 16/284, 16/283, 16/285, 16/303, 16/348, 16/350, 16/361, 16/362
• US Class Current: 16/325
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/061 with cams or helical tracks
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1223 with a compression or traction spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps

Abstract

A hinge includes a first clevis (30), defining a vee-block support (12) and a first limiter surface (44, 46, 48). A cylindrical hinge shaft is supported by the vee-block (12). A second clevis (140) is affixed to the shaft, whereby the second clevis may rotate in response to torques. The second clevis has a limiter surface (148) which coacts with the first limiter to limit rotation of the shaft and second clevis past the deployed state. The second clevis (140) has a cam follower (158) at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation (2). A cam (100, 104) affixed to the first clevis (30) rotates about a cam axis (3'"'"'). The deployed-state engagement between the cam and the follower snugs one end of the shaft into the vee-block, while the rotation limiters snug the other end. A rotational driver (50, 54, 70, 75, 90, 110) urges the cam (100, 104) to rotate in a direction which tends to move the second clevis (140) from the stowed state toward the deployed state. The use of vee-blocks reduces manufacturing tolerances, and the hinge is loose, and rotates easily, from a first (stowed) state until it reaches the second (deployed) state. In the deployed state, the camming action, in conjunction with the stops, tightens the hinge pin into the vee-blocks, making a rigid structure.

Claims

1. A hinge for hinging between a first, stowed state, and a second, deployed state, said hinge comprising:

a first clevis, said first clevis defining a vee-block support and a first bottoming portion;

a cylindrical shaft supported by said vee-block, and defining a length, an axis, and also defining a diameter which results in two-line support along said shaft, whereby said axis represents an axis of rotation of said cylindrical shaft in said vee-block;

a second clevis nonrotatably affixed to said cylindrical shaft, whereby said second clevis may rotate freely in said vee-block in response to torques about said axis of rotation, but said cylindrical shaft may tend to be displaced from proper seating in said vee-block in response to torques about second and third axes, which second and third axes are mutually orthogonal to each other and to said axis of rotation, said second clevis also including a second bottoming portion at a predetermined distance from said axis of rotation and at a first predetermined plane transverse to said axis of rotation along said length of said cylindrical shaft, selected to coincide with the distance from said axis of rotation and the transverse plane of said first bottoming portion, to limit the rotation of said cylindrical shaft toward said deployed state so long as said cylindrical shaft is supported by said vee block, said second clevis further including cam engagement means at a second predetermined distance from said axis of rotation and at a second predetermined plane transverse to said axis of rotation;

a cam affixed to said first clevis for rotation relative thereto about a cam axis, said cam engaging said cam engaging means of said second clevis at engagement points, which are at distances from said cam axis which are (a) substantially equal to said second predetermined distance when said hinge is in deployed state, and (b) which are greater than said second predetermined distance when said hinge is in the stowed state; and

rotational drive means coupled to said cam and to said first clevis, for urging said cam to rotate relative to said first clevis about said cam axis in a direction which tends to move said second clevis from said stowed state toward said deployed state, whereby, when said cam begins to rotate, said distance between said cam axis and said engagement point is greater than when said cam nears the end of its rotation, and rotates said second clevis at a rate which is greater than the rotation rate when said cam is near said end of its rotation, and in which said distance from said cam axis and said engagement point becomes substantially equal to said second predetermined distance when said cam nears the end of its rotation, and rotates said second clevis at a rate which is less than the rotation rate when said cam begins to rotate, and whereby, when said cam is near said end of its rotation, said bottoming portions of said first and second clevises interact, with a resultant force which tends to maintain said cylindrical shaft in said vee block at said first plane, and said cam tends to generate a force which tends to maintain said cylindrical shaft in said vee block at said second plane.

2. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein said rotational drive means comprises a lever which rotates about a torque axis which is near said cam axis:

connection means coupled to an end of said lever and to said cam at a distance from said cam axis; and

torquing means coupled to said lever and to said first clevis for applying torque to said lever, thereby applying a torque to said cam.

3. A hinge according to claim 2, wherein said torquing means comprises:

a auxiliary shaft including a drive portion and spring engagement means, said auxiliary shaft being mounted in said first clevis for rotation about an auxiliary axis;

spring means coupled to said auxiliary shaft and to said first clevis, for applying a torque to said auxiliary shaft;

shaft engagement means associated with said lever, for coupling said auxiliary shaft to said lever.

4. A hinge according to claim 3, wherein said cam comprises:

a first circular engagement arrangement centered on said cam axis;

a second circular engagement arrangement dimensioned and arranged for engagement with said first circular engagement arrangement; and

eccentric mounting means for mounting said first and second circular engagement arrangements with said cam axis movable relative to said auxiliary axis.