Patent Publication Number: US-2010117459-A1

Title: Poka Yoke Design For Reminding The User To Disconnect The Shore Power From The APU Before Opening The Cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a catch for an auxiliary power unit cover which requires disengagement of shore power lines engaged to the unit to allow removal of the cover. 
     2. Prior Art 
     To date it is not believed that any such catch for an auxiliary power unit cover exists. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     A catch for an auxiliary power unit cover comprises a bracket which has an opening therein sized and configured to receive shore power receptacles of the unit within the opening, the bracket being engaged to and extending outwardly of the cover, and over the receptacles, such that the cover cannot be removed while shore power lines remain engaged within the receptacles therefor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an auxiliary power unit, wherein a cover thereof is engaged thereon, with the catch of the present invention engaged to the cover, seated over shore power receptacles of the unit, showing power cables extending through an opening in the catch and engaging the receptacles of the unit. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1 , except that the shore cables are now disengaged from the receptacles therefor. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view similar to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , except that the cover is now capable of being removed, after disengagement of the shore power cables. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     Preferring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated therein an auxiliary power unit  10  incorporating a housing  11  to which is removably engaged a cover  12 . 
     When the cover  12  is removed, access is provided to internal components of the unit  10 , some of which are high voltage components. 
     Thus, there has been identified a need to assure that the cover  12  is not capable of being removed until shore power cables  14 , engaged to receptacles  16  of the unit  10 , are disengaged. 
     To meet this need, it is proposed herein to provide a catch  18  for the cover  12 . 
     The catch  18  is in the form of a bracket  18 , having a frame like body  19  including an opening  20  therein, which bracket  18  is mechanically engaged to the cover  12  at a position where the opening  20  of the bracket  18  will overlie the receptacles  16  when the cover  12  is engaged appropriately to the housing  11 . As illustrated, the catch  18 , extends longitudinally outwardly from a side wall  21  of an open edge  23  of the cover  12 , which open edge  23  removably engages within the housing  11  of the unit  10 . The body  19  of the bracket  18  is stepped slightly laterally outwardly of the side wall  21  so as to be positionable in a manner where the opening  20  therein overlies the receptacles  16  located on a side wall  24  of the unit  10 . 
     Once at least one power cord  14  is engaged to one respective receptacle  16 , extending through the opening  20  of the catch  18 , the cover  12  is virtually “locked on,” until the at least one power cord  14  is disengaged. 
     The catch  18  has a substantially planar, rather elongate, rectangular configuration to body  19  and the central opening  20  therein is sufficiently large to allow access to the receptacles  16  therethrough, with the body  19  of the catch  18  effectively framing the receptacles  16 . The catch  18 , has a closed free end  22  which cannot pass across the receptacles  16  so long as power cords  14  are engaged, due to the framing configuration of the body  19  thereof. 
     Once the power cables  14  are removed, the free end  22  of the catch  18  can now pass across the receptacles  16 , allowing the cover  12  to be removed. 
     As described above, the catch  18  of the present invention has a number of advantages, some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention. Also, modifications may be proposed to the catch  18  without departing from the teachings herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.