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US-12624581-B2 - Hook latch for aircraft nacelle cowls

US12624581B2US 12624581 B2US12624581 B2US 12624581B2US-12624581-B2

Abstract

A latch ( 22 ) includes a bracket ( 54 ) able to be attached to a first cowl; a hooking arm ( 58 ) comprising a hook ( 94 ) able to cooperate with a keeper ( 36 ) attached to a second cowl; a first handle ( 60 ) and a second handle ( 64 ) rotatable relative to the bracket, the first and second handles being configured so that the second handle ( 64 ) in a closed configuration blocks the first handle ( 60 ) in a closed configuration. In the closed configuration of the second handle ( 64 ), a shape of the second handle is fitted in a counter-shape ( 106 ) of the first handle ( 60 ) so as to block the first handle ( 60 ) in the closed configuration.

Inventors

  • Laurent Renard

Assignees

  • LISI AEROSPACE

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240604
Priority Date
20230605

Claims (11)

  1. 1 . A latch for assembling a first nacelle cowl with a first cowl outer face and a second nacelle cowl with a second cowl outer face, said latch comprising: a bracket configured to be attached to the first cowl; a hooking arm including a hook configured to cooperate with a keeper attached to the second cowl; a first handle, rotatable relative to the bracket between a first open configuration and a first closed configuration, that includes a first handle plate with an outer face that forms a continuous outer face with first cowl outer face when the first handle is in the first closed configuration and a first trigger that pivots relative to the first handle plate; and a second handle, rotatable relative to the bracket between a second open configuration and a second closed configuration, that includes a second handle plate with an outer face that forms a continuous outer face with first cowl outer face when the second handle is in the second closed configuration and a second trigger that pivots relative to the second handle plate, wherein the first handle has first and second longitudinal end portions and the first longitudinal end portion defines a first shape, the second handle has first and second longitudinal end portions and the second longitudinal end portion defines a second shape that is complimentary to the first shape of the first handle first longitudinal end portion, and the first longitudinal end portion of the first handle and the second longitudinal end portion of the second handle are complimentarily engaged with one another, thereby blocking the first handle from moving from the first closed configuration to the first open configuration when the first handle is in the first closed configuration and the second handle is in the second closed configuration.
  2. 2 . The latch according to claim 1 , in which the outer faces of the first and second handles together form a continuous surface when the first and second handles are in the first and second closed configurations.
  3. 3 . The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket forms a housing, the latch further comprises a sliding body housed in the housing and movable in translation relative to the bracket between a first axial position and a second axial position, and the hooking arm is hinged to a first end of the sliding body.
  4. 4 . A latch assembly for assembling a first cowl and a second cowl, said assembly comprising: the latch according to claim 1 ; the keeper according to claim 1 ; and a support rod configured to be attached to the first cowl.
  5. 5 . The latch assembly according to claim 4 , further comprising a support element, configured to be attached to the first cowl, said support element comprising a first rod configured to cooperate with a first trigger of the first handle to maintain the first handle in the first closed configuration.
  6. 6 . A latch assembly for assembling a first and a second cowl, said assembly comprising: a latch according to claim 1 ; a keeper according to claim 1 ; a support rod able to be attached to the first cowl; a support element, able to be attached to the first cowl, said support element comprising a first rod able to cooperate with a first trigger of the first handle to maintain the first handle in the first closed configuration; wherein the support element comprises a rotatable spreader beam and a shaft, said shaft being connected on the one hand to the spreader beam, and able to be connected, on the other hand, to the second handle of the latch, so that rotation of the second handle causes rotation of the spreader beam.
  7. 7 . A nacelle, comprising: a first cowl; a second cowl; and a latch assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the latch and the support element are attached close to a lower edge of the first cowl; the nacelle further comprising a telescopic device attached close to the upper edges of said cowls; and a linking device connecting the support element to the telescopic device, such that a rotation of the second handle activates a locked or unlocked configuration of the telescopic device.
  8. 8 . A latch for assembling a first and a second nacelle cowl, said latch comprising: a bracket able to be attached to the first cowl; a hooking arm comprising a hook able to cooperate with a keeper attached to the second cowl; a first handle rotatable relative to the bracket, between a first open configuration and a first closed configuration; a second handle rotatable relative to the bracket, between a second open configuration and a second closed configuration; the first and second handles being configured so that, in the second closed configuration, the second handle blocks the first handle in the first closed configuration, the latch being characterized in that, in the second closed configuration of the second handle, a shape of the second handle is fitted in a complementary shape of the first handle so as to block the first handle in the first closed configuration; wherein the bracket forms a housing, and the latch further comprises a sliding body housed in the housing, the sliding body being movable in translation relative to the bracket, between a first and a second axial position, the hooking arm being hinged to a first end of the sliding body; wherein the sliding body comprises an oblong through-hole extending between a first end and a second end; wherein the first handle rotates around a support rod attached to the first cowl, said rod being positioned in the oblong through-hole; wherein in the first closed configuration of the first handle, the first end of the through-hole is adjacent to the support rod; and in the first open configuration of the first handle, the second end of the through-hole is close to the support rod.
  9. 9 . The latch according to claim 8 , further comprising a connecting rod mechanism comprising at least a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod, the first connecting rod being hinged to the support rod and to the first handle, and the second connecting rod being hinged to the first connecting rod and to a second end of the sliding body.
  10. 10 . A latch for assembling a first nacelle cowl with a first cowl outer face and a second nacelle cowl with a second cowl outer face, said latch comprising: a bracket configured to be attached to the first cowl; a hooking arm including a hook configured to cooperate with a keeper attached to the second cowl; a first handle, rotatable relative to the bracket between a first open configuration and a first closed configuration, that includes a first trigger and a first handle plate with an outer face that forms a continuous outer face with first cowl outer face when the first handle is in the first closed configuration, the first trigger being configured to hook a first rod connected to the first cowl; and a second handle, rotatable relative to the bracket between a second open configuration and a second closed configuration, that includes a second trigger and a second handle plate with an outer face that forms a continuous outer face with first cowl outer face when the second handle is in the second closed configuration, wherein the first handle has first and second longitudinal end portions and the first longitudinal end portion defines a first shape, the second handle has first and second longitudinal end portions and the second longitudinal end portion defines a second shape that is complimentary to the first shape of the first handle first longitudinal end portion, and the first longitudinal end portion of the first handle and the second longitudinal end portion of the second handle are complimentarily engaged with one another, thereby blocking the first handle from moving from the first closed configuration to the first open configuration when the first handle is in the first closed configuration and the second handle is in the second closed configuration.
  11. 11 . The latch according to claim 10 , wherein the second trigger is configured to hook a second rod provided on the bracket.

Description

SUMMARY The present invention concerns a latch for assembling a first and a second structural element, of the type comprising: a bracket able to be attached to the first cowl; a hooking arm comprising a hook able to cooperate with a keeper attached to the second cowl; a first handle rotatable relative to the bracket, between a first open configuration and a first closed configuration; a second handle rotatable relative to the bracket, between a second open configuration and a second closed configuration; the first and second handles being configured so that in the second closed configuration, the second handle blocks the first handle in the first closed configuration. The invention is particularly applicable to aircraft nacelle cowl latches. Such a latch is known in particular from document U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,382. Latches are generally positioned under the nacelle. Such a position makes it difficult to access said latches. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a latch that is suitable for nacelle cowls and which offers easier access and improved ergonomics compared with known solutions. To this end, the subject of the invention is a latch of the aforementioned type, in which, in the second closed configuration of the second handle, a shape of the second handle is fitted in a complementary shape of the first handle so as to block the first handle in the first closed configuration. Among other advantageous aspects of the invention, the latch comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in accordance with all technically possible combinations: The two handles form a continuous surface in the first and second closed configurations;The bracket forms a housing, the latch further comprising a sliding body housed in the housing, the sliding body being movable in translation relative to the bracket, between a first and a second axial position, the hooking arm being hinged to a first end of the sliding body;The sliding body comprises an oblong through-hole, extending between a first end and a second end; the first handle rotates around a support rod attached to the first cowl, said rod being positioned in the oblong through-hole; in the first closed configuration of the first handle, the first end of the through-hole is close to the support rod; and in the first open configuration of the first handle, the second end of the through-hole is close to the support rod;The latch further comprises a connecting rod mechanism comprising at least a first and a second connecting rod, the first connecting rod being hinged to the support rod and to the first handle, the second connecting rod being hinged to the first connecting rod and to a second end of the sliding body;The first handle comprises a first trigger able to hook a first rod connected to the first cowl;The second handle comprises a second trigger able to hook a second rod provided on the bracket. The invention further relates to a latch assembly for assembling a first and a second cowl, said assembly comprising: a latch as described above; a keeper able to be attached to the second cowl and to cooperate with the hook of the latch's hooking arm; and a support rod able to be attached to the first cowl. Among other beneficial aspects of the invention, the latch assembly comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in accordance with all technically possible combinations: The latch assembly further comprises a support element, able to be attached to the first cowl, said support element comprising a first rod able to cooperate with the first trigger of the first handle to maintain the first handle in the first closed configuration;The support element comprises a rotatable spreader beam and a shaft, said shaft being connected on the one hand to the spreader beam, and able to be connected, on the other hand to the second handle of the latch, so that rotation of the second handle causes rotation of the spreader beam. The invention further relates to an aircraft nacelle comprising a first and a second cowl and a latch assembly as described above, wherein the latch and the support element are attached close to a lower edge of the first cowl; the nacelle further comprising a telescopic device attached close to upper edges of said cowls; and a linking device linking the support element to the telescopic device, such that a rotation of the second handle activates a locked or unlocked configuration of the telescopic device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, which is provided solely as a non-limiting example, and with reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an aircraft nacelle, according to a particular embodiment. FIG. 2 is a detailed view, from below, of the nacelle in FIG. 1, comprising a latch according to one embodiment of the invention in a first position; FIG. 3 is a side view of a latch assembly and