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A latch system 34 for the nacelle cowling 24 of a gas turbine engine 10 is disclosed. The latch system includes a coupling 36 which may be remotely operated by means of a cable 44. In one embodiment, a support structure 14, the coupling, the cable and a linkage system 48 for applying tension to the

A latch system 34 for the nacelle cowling 24 of a gas turbine engine 10 is disclosed. The latch system includes a coupling 36 which may be remotely operated by means of a cable 44. In one embodiment, a support structure 14, the coupling, the cable and a linkage system 48 for applying tension to the cable extends circumferentially about the interior of the cowling to provide constricting force on the cowling to increase the structural rigidity of the cowling. In another embodiment, the coupling has jaws 58 and 60 which are movable from a locked to an unlocked position as a result of the relative movement between the jaws and a housing 50. A linkage system is provided for tensioning the cable which in the locked position uses the tension in the cable to resist operative forces which might seek to open the latching system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A latch system for the nacelle of a gas turbine engine having a cowling which includes at least one door attached by a hinge joint along a portion of the door to a support structure for the engine, which comprises: a cable for exerting a force in a first direction as a result of tension in the

1. A latch system for the nacelle of a gas turbine engine having a cowling which includes at least one door attached by a hinge joint along a portion of the door to a support structure for the engine, which comprises: a cable for exerting a force in a first direction as a result of tension in the cable; a coupling which is attached to the cable and which extends between the cowling and the support structure for attaching the cowling to the support structure, the coupling having a first member and having a second member which is attached to the cable and which is translatable in the first direction in response to a force exerted by said cable, the coupling being movable in response to a first level of tension in said cable to a locked position which attaches the cowling to the support structure and being movable in response to a second level of tension in said cable to an unlocked position which does not attach the coupling to the support structure; and a means spaced from the coupling for applying tension to the cable. 2. A latch system for the nacelle of a gas turbine engine having a cowling which extends circumferentially about the nacelle from a first side of a support structure for the engine to a second side of the support structure, the cowling further including at least one door attached by a hinge joint along a portion of the door to the support structure for the engine, which comprises: a first cable; a coupling which is attached to the first cable and which extends between the cowling and the first side of the support structure for attaching the cowling to the support structure, the coupling being movable in response to a first level of tension in the cable to a locked position which attaches the cowling to the support structure and being movable in response to a second level of tension in the cable to an unlocked position which does not attach the coupling to the support structure; and a means spaced from the coupling for applying tension to the cable; wherein the latch system further includes a second cable which is attached to the second side of the support structure and attached to the means the applying tension to the cable, and wherein the first and second cables each extend about the interior of the cowling and slidably engage the cowling at circumferentially spaced intervals such that applying a tension to the cables causes the coupling to join the cowling to the support structure enabling the cables to exert a constricting force on the interior of the cowling. 3. The latch system as claimed in claim 2 for a cowling; wherein the cowling has a first clamshell door and a second clamshell door, each attached by a hinge joint along a portion of the door to the support structure; wherein said coupling is a first coupling, the first coupling in the locked position attaching the first cable to the support structure and attaching the first door to the support structure; wherein the latch system further includes a second coupling of the same construction as the first coupling, the second coupling in the locked position attaching the second cable to the second side of the support structure and attaching the second door to the support structure; and wherein the means for applying tension extends between the first door and the second door. 4. The invention as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the coupling extending between the cowling and the support structure includes a shaft; an elongated member which has two ends and which is pivotably attached to the shaft about an axis A; and, a housing extending about the elongated member; wherein the elongated member is movable with respect to the housing to a first position such that the housing engages the elongated member between one end of the member and the axis A to exert a rotational force on the member which urges the member toward the locked position and wherein the housing is movable with respect to the elongated member to a second position such that the housing engages the elongated member between the other end of the member and the axis A to exert a rotational force on the member which urges the member toward the unlocked position. 5. The latch system of claim 4 wherein the elongated member is a first jaw and wherein the coupling further has a second jaw which is pivotably attached to the first jaw. 6. The latch system of claim 5 wherein the coupling includes a pin extending between said jaws to pivotably attach the first jaw to the second jaw and the jaws to the shaft. 7. The latch system of claim 6 wherein said housing is attached to said cowling, said shaft engages said cable, and said coupling further has a spring which is trapped between the shaft and the housing to exert a force which opposes a force exerted by the cable such that a force above a certain level exerted by the cable on the shaft causes the cable to move the jaws to the first position and a force below a certain level exerted by the cable on shaft causes the spring to overcome the force exerted by the cable and to move the jaws to the second position. 8. The latch system of claim 7 wherein the means for applying tension is a linkage system having a first bar which pivotably engages the first cable to form a first joint; a second bar which pivotably engages the first cable to form a second joint and which pivotably engages the first bar to form a third joint; and, means for limiting rotational movement of one of said bars around the joint between said bar and the cable; wherein the second bar is bent toward a reference line R extending between the first and second joints such that the position of the third joint joining the two bars is translatable about the first two joints from a first position on one side of the reference line to a second position on the other side of the reference line to cause a tensile force in each cable which resists movement of the bars from the second position to the first position. 9. A coupling for engaging a support, the coupling being movable between a locked and unlocked position which comprises: a pair of jaws which are rotatably attached to each other, each jaw being pivotable about an axis A, and a housing extending about the jaws which is movable with respect to the jaws to a first position such that the housing engages each jaw between one end of the jaw and the axis A to exert a rotational force on the jaws which urges the jaws together toward the locked position and movable with respect to the jaws to a second position such that the housing engages each jaw between the other end of the jaw and the axis A to exert a rotational force on the jaws which urges the jaws apart toward the unlocked position. a means for moving the jaws with respect to the housing which includes a pin extending between the jaws to pivotably attach one jaw to the other and a shaft which is attached to the pin and which is adapted to engage a cable having varying levels of tension therein and wherein a spring is trapped between the shaft and the housing to exert a force which opposes a force exerted by the cable such that a force above a certain level exerted by the cable on the shaft causes the cable to move the jaws to the first position and a force below a certain level exerted by the cable on the shaft causes the spring to overcome the force exerted by the cable and to move the jaws to the second position. 10. A coupling for attaching a tensioned cable to a support which is movable between locked and unlocked positions, the coupling comprising: a housing having a wall which extends circumferentially about a passage through the housing and which converges to form an opening which is smaller than the passageway; a first jaw and a second jaw which extend through the opening in the housing and into the passageway, each jaw having a first end having a hook which extends toward the hook of the other jaw and which is adapted to overlap the hook of the other jaw, and a second end having an ear which extends away from the ear of the other jaw; a pin extending between the jaws to pivotably attach the first jaw to the second jaw at a location which is between the ear and the hook of each jaw; a shaft in the passageway which is slidable with respect to the housing, the shaft having a first end which engages the pin, a second end which is adapted to engage the cable; and, a spring trapped between the shaft and the housing for exerting a force on the shaft in a direction which opposes the force exerted by the cable; wherein relative movement between the housing and the jaw causes the jaws to move to a first position with respect to the housing such that the wall of the housing engages each jaw between the pin and the hook to exert a rotational force on each jaw which urges the jaws together toward the locked position and wherein relative movement between the housing and the jaws causes the jaws to move to a second position with respect to the housing such that the wall of the housing engages each the ear of each jaw to exert a rotational force which urges the jaws toward the unlocked position. 11. A linkage system for providing tension to a first cable and a second cable which comprises: a support, a first bar having a first joint which adapts the bar to pivotably engage the first cable, a second bar having a second joint which adapts the bar to pivotably engage the second cable and which is pivotably attached to the first bar at a third joint, and, means for limiting pivotable movement of one of said bars about the third joint between the bar and the cable; wherein the second bar is bent toward a reference line R extending between the first and second joints such that the position of the third joint joining the two bars is translatable about the first two joints from a first position on one side of the reference line to a second position on the other side of the reference line to cause a tensile force in each cable which resists movement of the bars from the second position to the first position; and, wherein each bar is adapted to engage a pin on the associated cable, wherein a pair of brackets at each pin are attached to the support and are spaced apart by a distance less than the length of the pin, and wherein each of the brackets are adapted by a slot to slidably receive the associated pin. 12. The linkage system of claim 11 where the means for limiting rotational movement of the second bar is the pin which engages the first bar.