Bolt assembly
First Claim
1. A bolt assembly for interengaging two relatively movable elements, the assembly comprising a first component which in use is connected to one element, and a second component which in use is connected to the other element, the first component including a bolt displaceable between engaged and disengaged positions, and the second component comprising means for engaging the bolt to interengage elements to which the components are connected when the first component is in a predetermined position relative to the second component and the bolt is in the engaged position, wherein the first component comprises a magnetically releasable latch mechanism arranged to latch the bolt in a disengaged position, and the second component comprises at least one source of magnetic flux arranged to release the latch when the first component is in the predetermined position relative to the second component, the magnetically releasable latch mechanism having at least one permanent magnet slidably mounted for non-pivotal reciprocating longitudinal movement between a biased latch engaging position and a latch releasing position in a common direction of movement of the bolt, and the at least one source of magnetic flux including at least one permanent magnet arranged to displace the permanent magnet of the latch mechanism to the latch releasing position when the first component is in the predetermined position relative to the second component.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bolt assembly for interengaging two relatively movable elements. The assembly comprises a first component (1) which is connected to one element, and a second component (11) which is connected to the other element. The first component (1) includes a bolt (4) displaceable between engaged and disengaged positions, and the second component (11) comprises means for engaging the bolt to interengage the elements to which the components (1, 11) are connected when the first component is in a predetermined position relative to the second component and the bolt (4) is in the engaged position. The first component (1) comprises a magnetically (3) releasable latch mechanism arranged to latch the bolt (4) in the disengaged position, and the second component (11) comprises at least one source of magnetic flux (12) arranged to release the latch when the first component (1) is in the predetermined position relative to the second component (11).
45 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A bolt assembly for interengaging two relatively movable elements, the assembly comprising a first component which in use is connected to one element, and a second component which in use is connected to the other element, the first component including a bolt displaceable between engaged and disengaged positions, and the second component comprising means for engaging the bolt to interengage elements to which the components are connected when the first component is in a predetermined position relative to the second component and the bolt is in the engaged position, wherein the first component comprises a magnetically releasable latch mechanism arranged to latch the bolt in a disengaged position, and the second component comprises at least one source of magnetic flux arranged to release the latch when the first component is in the predetermined position relative to the second component, the magnetically releasable latch mechanism having at least one permanent magnet slidably mounted for non-pivotal reciprocating longitudinal movement between a biased latch engaging position and a latch releasing position in a common direction of movement of the bolt, and the at least one source of magnetic flux including at least one permanent magnet arranged to displace the permanent magnet of the latch mechanism to the latch releasing position when the first component is in the predetermined position relative to the second component.
- 12. A bolt assembly for interengaging two relatively movable elements, the assembly comprising a first component which in use is connected to one element, and a second component which in use is connected to the other element, the first component including a bolt displaceable between engaged and disengaged positions, and the second component having a socket to engage the bolt to interengage elements to which the components are connected when the first component is in a predetermined position relative to the second component and the bolt is in the engaged position, wherein the first component comprises a magnetically releasable latch mechanism having at least one magnetically movable member slidably mounted for non-pivotal reciprocating longitudinal movement between a biased latch engaging position and a latch releasing position in a common direction of movement of the bolt, the magnetically releasable latch mechanism having a locking member movable between a first position to latch the bolt in a disengaged position and to a second position when the bolt is in an engaged position, and the second component including at least one permanent magnet arranged to displace the permanent magnet of the latch mechanism to the latch releasing position when the first component is in the predetermined position relative to the second component.
- 16. A bolt assembly for interengaging two relatively movable elements, the assembly comprising a first component which in use is connected to one element, and a second component which in use is connected to the other element, the first component including a locking arm pivotally mounted at a pivot, the locking arm having an end portion remote from the pivot forming a bolt, the bolt being displaceable between engaged and disengaged positions, and the second component having a socket to engage the bolt to interengage elements to which the components are connected when the first component is in a predetermined position relative to the second component and the bolt is in the engaged position, wherein the first component includes a magnetically releasable latch mechanism having at least one shuttle slidably mounted for non-pivotal reciprocating longitudinal movement in a direction perpendicular to the second component between a biased latch engaging position and a latch releasing position in a common direction of movement of the bolt, the at least one shuttle being positioned immediately adjacent to the locking arm, the magnetically releasable latch mechanism having a locking member movable between a first position to latch the bolt in a disengaged position and to a second position when the bolt is in an engaged position, and the second component including at least one permanent magnet arranged to displace the permanent magnet of the latch mechanism to the latch releasing position when the first component is in the predetermined position relative to the second component.
Specification