Patent Publication Number: US-2020277814-A1

Title: Releasable ball lock hinge

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/610,409, filed May 31, 2017, entitled “Releasable Ball Lock Hinge”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/676,919, filed on Nov. 14, 2012, entitled “Releasable Ball Lock Hinge”, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Intercept vehicles, such as warheads or missiles, utilize highly sensitive optics to discriminate targets. In order to maintain optics sensitivity, the optical sensors are sealed prior to use and uncovered at the beginning of a mission. Typically, optics covers are ejected with a forward or side motion, and the vehicle is re-orientated, prior to release of the cover, to direct the cover away from possible interference with the vehicle. In some cases, optics covers are ejected without any re-orientation of the vehicle with the hope of a clean separation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top perspective view of a releasable ball lock hinge in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom perspective view of the releasable ball lock hinge of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of a first body of the releasable ball lock hinge of  FIG. 1A , 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second body of the releasable ball lock hinge of FIG,  1 A. 
         FIG. 4A-4E  are example illustrations of the releasable ball lock hinge of  FIG. 1A  in use, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, 
       FIG,  5 A- 5 E are cross-sectional views of a releasable ball lock hinge showing inner workings of the hinge in use, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A-6D  are example illustrations of a vehicle incorporating a releasable ball lock hinge to releasably secure an optics cover to a body of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result, For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. 
     As used herein, “adjacent” refers to the proximity of two structures or elements. Particularly, elements that are identified as being “adjacent” may be either abutting or connected. Such elements may also be near or close to each other without necessarily contacting each other. The exact degree of proximity may in some cases depend on the specific context. 
     An initial overview of technology embodiments is provided below and then specific technology embodiments are described in further detail later. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in understanding the technology more quickly but is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the technology nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Current optical cover ejection techniques do not control the cover ejection angle and/or the direction of the cover&#39;s ejection path. The result is that covers are often ejected into the path of the vehicle or into the field of view of the optical sensors. Collision of the vehicle with the cover or an ejection path that puts the cover within the visible field of view can potentially jeopardized the mission. Re-orientation of the vehicle takes critical time away from the mission and expends precious energy from the propulsion system. 
     Accordingly, a releasable ball lock hinge is disclosed that facilitates separation of an optical cover to occur at a predetermined angular position. In one aspect, the separation angle can control the ejection path of the optical cover away from the vehicle. The releasable ball lock hinge can include a first body operable with a hinge ball and a release ball, each movable within respective openings of the first body. The releasable ball lock hinge can also include a second body configured to rotatably interface and removably couple with the first body. The hinge ball can releasably engage the second body. The second body can have a recess operable with the release ball to disengage the hinge ball and alternately couple and release the first body and the second body based on a relative position between the first body and the second body. 
     In one aspect, a releasable ball lock hinge is disclosed that can include a first body having first and second openings, first and second hinge balls configured to move within the first opening, first and second release balls configured to move within the second opening, and a second body configured to rotatably interface and removably couple with the first body. The second body can include hinge recesses to engage the first and second hinge balls when the first body and the second body are in a secured position, thereby providing an axis of rotation for the hinge. The second body can also include release recesses to receive the first and second release balls when the first body and the second body are in a release position. In the secured position, a portion of the second body can be configured to position the release balls such that the hinge balls are maintained in engagement with the hinge recesses. In the release position, the release recesses can facilitate movement of the release balls into the release recesses, and movement of the hinge balls out of engagement with the hinge recesses, thereby facilitating separation of the first body and the second body. 
     One embodiment of a releasable ball lock hinge  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1B . The releasable ball lock hinge  100  can comprise a first body  110  and a second body  120  that can be configured to rotatably interface and removably couple with the first body  110 . The first body  110  and the second body  120  can be of any suitable configuration and the configurations shown illustrate example embodiments of the first and second bodies  110 ,  120 . For example, the first and second bodies  110 ,  120  can form part of, or be coupled to, larger components that are not shown, such as a vehicle body and a cover for sensors supported by the vehicle body. 
     For ease of reference,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the first body  110  and  FIG. 3  illustrates the second body  120  isolated from one another. The first body can be operable with a hinge ball  131  and a release ball  132 . Each of the hinge ball  131  and the release ball  132  can be movable within respective openings  111 ,  112  of the first body  110 . The hinge ball  131  can releasably engage the second body  120 , such as a hinge recess  121  of the second body  120 . The second body  120  can have a release recess  122 , such as a detent, operable with the release ball  132  to disengage the hinge ball  131  from the hinge recess  121  and alternately couple and release the first body  110  and the second body  120  based on a relative position between the first body  110  and the second body  120 . The hinge ball  131  can move within the opening  111  to alternately engage and disengage the hinge recess  121 . The hinge recess  121  can engage the hinge ball  131  when the first body  110  and the second body  120  are in a secured position, thereby providing an axis of rotation  101  for the hinge  100 . The release recess  122  can receive the release ball  132  when the first body  110  and the second body  120  are in a release position. A ball disclosed herein, such as a hinge ball or a release ball, can utilize standard ball bearing hardware, which are typically ground to precision tolerances and are inexpensive. 
     In the secured position, a portion  123  of the second body  120  can be configured to position the release ball  132  such that the hinge ball  131  is maintained in engagement with the hinge recess  121 . For example, the portion  123  of the second body  120  can provide a surface for the release ball  132  to roll on and/or slide against as the first body  110  is rotated relative to the second body  120  in order to maintain the hinge ball  131  in engagement with the hinge recess  121  while in the secured position, which can include an angular range defined by a release angle  102 . The first body  110  and the second body  120  can therefore be rotatable to facilitate contact between the release ball  132  and the portion  123  of the second body  120  to maintain engagement of the hinge ball  131  and the hinge recess  121  in the secured position. In the release position, the release recess  122  can facilitate movement of the release ball  132  into the release recess  122  and movement of the hinge ball  131  out of engagement with the hinge recess  121 , thereby facilitating separation of the first body  110  and the second body  120 . The first body  110  and the second body  120  can therefore be rotatable to align the release ball  132  with the release recess  122  which can facilitate separation of the first body  110  and the second body  120 . A spring  129  can be included to apply a force to the first body  110  tending to separate the first body  110  from the second body  120 . The spring  129  is discussed further hereinafter with respect to  FIGS. 4A-4E . 
     In one aspect, the release angle  102  or, in other words, the angle of the release position of the first body  110  and the second body  120 , can be variable and set to any suitable angle. This can be accomplished by moving or relocating the release recess  122 . For example, the release recess  122  can be formed in a disk  140  that is movable to vary the angle  102  of the release position. A clamp  141  and fasteners  142  can be operable with a shoulder  143  of the disk  140  to facilitate variation of the angle  102  by rotating the release recess  122 . Thus, one attribute of the releasable ball lock hinge  100  can include an adjustable release angle  102 , which can facilitate separation of the first and second bodies  110 ,  120  to occur at a precise and predetermined angular opening. The release angle  102  can be set to any arbitrary value as needed for a given application. In one aspect, the release angle  102  can be greater than  180  degrees. This can allow for a significant amount of relative rotation between the first and second bodies  110 ,  120  prior to separation. In a highly dynamic situation with a high rate of relative rotation between the first and second bodies  110 ,  120 , a large release angle  102  (i.e., greater than  180  degrees) can facilitate separation of the first and second bodies  110 ,  120  and direct one body away from the other. 
     As shown, the second body  120  can include supports  124   a ,  124   b  for the first body  110 . Although the hinge ball  131  and the release ball  132  on one side of the first body  110  have been shown and described, it should be recognized that a hinge ball and a release ball can be operable with the first body  110  on an opposite side shown. Thus, in one aspect, one or both of the supports  124   a ,  124   b  can have formed therein a hinge recess and a release recess. The supports  124   a ,  124   b  can include features to facilitate variation of the angle  102  by rotating the release recess, such as a disk and clamp discussed above. 
     In one aspect, the second body can include a base component  125  and a carriage  126  movable relative to the base component  125  to adjust a position of the axis of rotation  101 . The carriage  126  can be configured to translate with respect to the base component  125  in direction  103 . For example, the carriage  126  can include a tongue  127  configured to slide within a groove  128  of the base component  125 . In addition, the relative movement and position of the carriage  126  and the base component  125  can be controlled or achieved by an adjustment mechanism  150 . The spring  129  of  FIG. 1B  has been omitted in  FIG. 3  to further reveal the adjustment mechanism  150 . The adjustment mechanism  150  can include a screw  151  supported by a tab  152  of the base component  125 . The screw  151  can be configured to cause movement of the carriage  126  relative to the base component  125  when rotated, which can adjust the position of the axis of rotation  101 . In other words, the adjustment mechanism can adjust the relative position between the first body  110  and the base component  125  of the second body  120 . Such adjustment can be useful to account or compensate for a tolerance stack-up or a misalignment involving the releasable ball lock hinge  100 . For example, this adjustment can facilitate proper seating of two components coupled to first and second bodies of the hinge  100 , such as an optics cover coupled to the first body and a vehicle body supporting optical sensors coupled to the base component  125  of the second body  120  in order to provide proper sealing between the optics cover and the vehicle body. It should be recognized that the carriage  126  and the base component  125  can be of any suitable configuration to facilitate relative motion between one another. It should be further recognized that the adjustment mechanism  150  can be of any suitable configuration to cause relative motion between the carriage  126  and the base component  125  and/or to fix a position of the carriage  126  and the base component  125  to prevent unwanted relative motion. 
       FIGS. 4A-4E  illustrate the releasable ball lock hinge  100  in use to separate the first body  110  from the second body  120 .  FIG. 4A  shows the first body  110  coupled to the second body  120  in the secured position. The adjustment mechanism  150  can be used as desired to adjust the position of the first body  110  relative to the base component  125  of the second body  120  in direction  103 . The first body  110  can be rotated relative to the second body  120  in direction  104  while in the secured position and without separation of the first and second bodies  110 ,  120 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . Upon reaching the release position, shown in  FIG. 40 , the first body  110  can begin to separate from the second body  120  in direction  105 , as shown in  FIG. 4D . Separation can continue until complete separation has occurred, as shown in  FIG. 4E . It should be recognized that substantially the reverse process shown and described in  FIGS. 4A-4E  can be used to assemble the first and second bodies  110 ,  120 . For example, the first and second bodies  110 ,  120  can be brought to the release position and rotated relative to one another to the secured position to couple the first and second bodies  110 ,  120 . Thus, the releasable ball lock hinge  100  can be simple to assemble and to separate. 
     The spring  129  can apply a force to the first body  110  tending to separate the first body  110  from the second body  120 . In one aspect, the spring can be configured to direct at least some force in a direction parallel to direction  105  to assist in separation the first body  110  from the second body  120 . In another aspect, the spring  129  can be preloaded in contact with the first body  110 , such that the first body  110  is forced away from the second body  120  upon reaching the release position. Although a cantilever spring is shown, the spring  129  can be of any suitable configuration, such as a coil spring or a torsion spring. It should be recognized that separation of the first body  110  and the second body  120  can occur without a spring force, as momentum from the rotating first body  110  can cause separation of the first and second bodies  110 ,  120  upon reaching the release position. The spring  129  can, however, be incorporated to facilitate or assist separation by providing a separation force. 
       FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate cross-sectional views of a releasable ball lock hinge  200  to show inner workings of the hinge  200  in use. The releasable ball lock hinge  200  is similar to the hinge  100  shown and described herein in many respects. For example, the hinge  200  can include a first body  210  having openings  211 ,  212 . Hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  can be configured to move within the opening  211  and release balls  232   a ,  232   b  can be configured to move within the opening  212 . The hinge  200  can also include a second body  220  configured to rotatably interface and removably couple with the first body  210 . The second body  220  can have hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b  to engage the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  when the first body  210  and the second body  220  are in a secured position, thereby providing an axis of rotation  201  for the hinge  200 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . In the secured position, a portion  223  of the second body  220  can be configured to position the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  such that the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  are maintained in engagement with the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b . The hinge recesses can comprise a “through hole” or a “blind hole,” As disclosed herein, several balls can be incorporated in the design of the hinge  200 , with one set  231   a ,  231   b  providing the axis of rotation  201  for the hinge  200  and another set  232   a ,  232   b  acting as a release for the hinge  200 . 
     In one aspect, one or both of the openings  211 ,  212  can extend through the first body  210 . In another aspect, the opening  211  can be configured to capture the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  within the first body  210 , such that a portion of the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  protrude from the first body  210  in the secured position to facilitate engagement with the recesses  221   a ,  221   b  of the second body  220 . Similarly, the opening  212  can be configured to capture the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  within the first body  210 . This can prevent loose hardware when the first body  210  is separated from the second body  220 . As illustrated, at least one of the openings  211 ,  212  of the first body  210  can be swaged to capture the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and/or the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  within the respective openings  211 ,  212 , By capturing the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b , the swaging of the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b  can also prevent the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  from escaping the hinge  200  via hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b  in the second body  220 , which may be configured as a through hole. Thus, all ball hardware can be captured by swaging the openings  211 ,  212  in the first body  210  of the hinge  200 , trapping the balls in place. As a result, the hinge  200  can be configured such that there are no loose components whether the hinge  200  is separated or not. In one aspect, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the hinge recess  221   a  can be configured as a blind hole that prevents the hinge ball  231   a  from escaping the second body  220 , as well as the first body  210  when coupled, and maintains the hinge ball  231   a  in engagement with the hinge recess  221   a  in the secured position. 
     The releasable ball lock hinge  200  can also include an intermediate ball  233  disposed between the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and the release balls  232   a ,  232   b . The intermediate ball  233  can be configured to transfer forces between the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  to maintain the engagement of the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and the second body  220 , such as the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b , in the secured position. In one aspect, in the secured position, the intermediate ball  233  can be in simultaneous contact with the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and the release balls  232   a ,  232   b . Thus, the portion  223  of the second body  220  can position the release balls  232   a ,  232   b , which are in contact with the intermediate ball  233 , such that the intermediate ball  233  contacts the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and maintains the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  in engagement with the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b.    
       FIG. 5B  illustrates the first body  210  and the second body  220  in the release position. The second body  220  can include release recesses  222   a ,  222   b  to receive the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  when the first body  210  and the second body  220  are in the release position. In one aspect, the intermediate ball  233  can be configured to move in a radial direction  206  relative to the axis of rotation  201  and the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  can be configured to move in the first body  210  with respect to the recesses  221   a ,  221   b ,  222   a ,  222   b . In the release position, the release recesses  222   a ,  222   b  can facilitate movement of the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  into the release recesses  222   a ,  222   b . Thus, upon rotation of the first body  210  relative to the second body  220  about the axis  201  to the release position, the intermediate ball  233  can facilitate movement of the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  out of engagement with the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b  of the second body  210 , as shown in  FIG. 5C . In one aspect, movement of the intermediate ball  233  in radial direction  206  can cause or facilitate movement of the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  and the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  in a direction parallel to the axis  201 . In another aspect, such as when the first body  210  is acted on by a force tending to separate the first body  210  from the second body  220 , the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b  can force the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  into the opening  211 , which can force the intermediate ball  233  toward the opening  212  to force the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  into the release recesses  222   a ,  222   b . The intermediate ball  233  can therefore be configured to displace the release balls  232   a ,  232   b , as acted on by the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b . Thus, the release recesses  222   a ,  222   b  can facilitate movement of the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  out of engagement with the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b , thereby facilitating separation of the first body  210  and the second body  220 , as shown in  FIGS. 5D and 5E . In particular, with the release balls  232   a ,  232   b  in the release openings  222   a ,  222   b  and the hinge balls  231   a ,  231   b  disengaged from the hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b , the first body  210  can move in direction  205  to separate the first body  210  from the second body  220 . The hinge recesses  221   a ,  221   b  can extend to an outer surface of the second body  220  such that the release balls  231   a ,  231   b  can travel along the release recesses  222   a ,  222   b  to allow separation of the first and second bodies  210 ,  220 . 
       FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrates a vehicle  360 , such as a warhead or a missile, incorporating a releasable ball lock hinge  300  to releasably secure an optics cover  362  to a body  361  of the vehicle  360 . The vehicle  360  can be any suitable vehicle, such as a kill vehicle or other missile system with disposable shielding for optical sensors. The releasable ball lock hinge  300  can include any feature of a releasable ball lock hinge disclosed herein to provide a simple but effective mechanism to ensure problem free cover ejection for such vehicles. As shown in  FIG. 6A , the releasable ball lock hinge  300  can be used to secure the optics cover  362  to the vehicle body  361 . A release mechanism  363  can be used to secure a free end of the cover  362  to the vehicle body  361  opposite the hinge  300 . The release mechanism  363  can release the free end of the cover  362  to initiate ejection of the cover  362  from the vehicle body  361 . The release mechanism  363  can include a pyrotechnic charge or other suitable means for releasing the cover  362 . 
     An adjustment mechanism of the hinge  300 , as disclosed herein, can be used to effectively seal the optical cover  362  to the vehicle body  361 . Upon release of the cover  362  by the release mechanism  363 , the cover can rotate in direction  304  about the hinge  300  to expose optical sensor  364 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . Rotation of the cover  362  can be caused by the pyrotechnic charge of the release mechanism  363  or by some other force, such as a spring associated with the release mechanism  363  or the hinge  300 , and/or by stored mechanical energy released by a seal compressed between the cover  362  and the vehicle body  361 .  FIG. 60  illustrates the cover  362  rotated to the release position of the hinge  300 . The angle of the release position can be selected to ensure that the cover  362  does not collide or interfere with the vehicle body  361  while also allowing rotation of up to greater than  180  degrees to facilitate separation of the cover  362  from the vehicle body  361  and to control the ejection path of the cover  362  away from the vehicle body  361 , as shown in  FIG. 6D . The releasable ball lock hinge  300  releases when the release balls align with and move into release recesses in the second body  320  of the hinge  300 , thus allowing the hinge balls to move inward on the first body  310  of the hinge  300 , releasing the hinge  300 . At this point, with the centrifugal force of the cover  362  and, optionally, with a spring force, the first and second bodies  310 ,  320  are forced to separate, and the cover is ejected away from the main body  361 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a releasable hinge is disclosed. The method can comprise aligning first and second hinge balls operable within a first opening of a first body with hinge recesses of a second body, wherein the first and second hinge balls are movable and engageable with the hinge recesses to provide an axis of rotation. The method can further comprise aligning first and second release balls operable within a second opening of the first body with release recesses of the second body, wherein the first and second release balls are movable and extend at least partially into the release recesses, thereby providing a release position. Additionally, the method can comprise moving the first body and the second body relative to one another about the axis of rotation to a secured position, wherein a portion of the second body is configured to position the release balls such that the hinge balls are maintained in engagement with the hinge recesses. It is noted that no specific order is required in this method, though generally in one embodiment, these method steps can be carried out sequentially. 
     In one aspect, the method can further comprise moving the first body and the second body relative to one another about the axis of rotation to the release position, wherein the release recesses facilitate movement of the release balls into the release recesses, and movement of the hinge balls out of engagement with the hinge recesses, thereby facilitating separation of the first body and the second body. In another aspect, the method can further comprise displacing an intermediate ball disposed between the hinge balls and the release balls. 
     Reference was made to the examples illustrated in the drawings and specific language was used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the technology is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the features illustrated herein and additional applications of the examples as illustrated herein are to be considered within the scope of the description. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples. In the preceding description, numerous specific details were provided, such as examples of various configurations to provide a thorough understanding of examples of the described technology. It will be recognized, however, that the technology may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, devices, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the technology. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features and operations described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the described technology.