Abstract:
A quick release panel assembly comprising a panel which is releasably fastened to a structure by a release and locking assembly. The release and locking assembly includes a driver element and four actuating arms that are pivotally connected to the driver element, the cover, and to four respective locking mechanisms located at each edge of the panel. The driver element moves the actuating arms between first and second positions to move the locking mechanisms between a locking position to fasten the cover to the structure and an unlocking position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains to a panel that is covers an opening, and more particularly to a load bearing panel for an aircraft that quickly attaches to and is released from aircraft structure surrounding the opening. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is often a need to have a panel for covering an opening such that the panel can be quickly fastened to and removed from structure surrounding the opening. In addition, there is sometimes a need for the panel to be able to support and transmit loads from the structure. 
     In the past, removable load bearing panels have been attached to the surrounding structure by numerous removable fasteners that have had several drawbacks. First, it was time consuming to individually attach and remove each fastener when it was necessary to remove or install the panel. In addition, the fasteners typically had a limited life based upon the number of times the panels were removed or installed. Once the fasteners exceeded their useful life, they had to be replaced. Also, during the installation and removal process, the fasteners tended to become lost or misplaced, resulting in additional expense. 
     In addition, previous removable load bearing panels had to be precisely interlocked to the surrounding structure to ensure the structural loads were properly transferred through the panels. Because of this precision requirement, it was very difficult for these panels to be interchanged with like panels on the same aircraft or with like panels on other aircraft of the same model. 
     Another approach to this problem has been to eliminate the requirement for the panels to be load bearing. However, this has required that the structure around the opening be strengthened considerably so that the structural loads were routed around the opening rather than through the panel. This strengthening of the structure around the opening resulted in a significant increase in weight to the structure and resulted in additional expense. 
     A number of locking and fastening mechanisms have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,153 by LaConte, the inventor of the present invention, pertains to a quick fastening and release system for securing commercial aircraft fixtures such as seats, lavatories and bulkheads, to the cabin floor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,088,548 by Behrens et al pertains to a door that is sealed closed by four locking elements that are actuated by rotation of a control plate. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,192 by Harshbarger et al pertains to a door that is locked in a closed position by a system of bolts that are simultaneously operated by a handle. 
     None of the aforementioned devices, however, provide the unique combination of features of the present invention. Accordingly, there is a need for a panel that can be quickly attached and removed from a structure, and that has the ability to transmit loads from the structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention pertains to apparatus for connecting a cover having a first edge portion and a second edge portion to a structure having an opening. The apparatus includes first and second connectors that are movable between fastened positions where the cover first and second edge portions are fastened to edges of the structural opening, and unfastened positions where the cover first and second edge portions are not fastened to the edges of the structural opening. In addition, there is an actuator that is accessible through an opening in the cover so that the actuator may be moved between a fastened position and an unfastened position. An actuator arm is connected between the actuator and the first connector and the second connector such that movement of the actuator between the fastened position and the unfastened position causes the actuator arm to move the first connector and the second connector together between their respective fastened positions so as to fasten the cover over the opening, and their respective unfastened positions so as to allow the cover to be removed from the opening. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     Other features of the present invention will be discussed in the following Detailed Description of the Invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the panel assembly of the present invention in an uninstalled position, and showing a panel and a structural opening; 
     FIG. 2 is rear isometric view of the panel assembly in the uninstalled position and showing the panel and the structural opening; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the panel assembly showing the panel assembly in the uninstalled position; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the panel assembly in a partially installed position whereby the panel is covering the opening, but is not locked to the structure; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the panel assembly in the installed position whereby the panel is covering the opening and is locked to the structure; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a locking mechanism of the panel assembly in the partially installed position; and, 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the locking mechanism in the fully installed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Before providing a detailed description of the present invention, a brief overview of the invention and its operation will be discussed. Reference is made to FIG. 1 where there is shown the quick release and locking panel assembly of the present invention generally indicated at  10 , and including a panel indicated at  12  and a structure indicated at  14  that surrounds an opening indicated at  16 . As shown in FIG. 2, the panel assembly  10  includes a quick release and fastening assembly indicated at  18  that allows the panel  12  to be quickly attached to and removed from the structure  14  that surrounds the opening  16 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the quick release and fastening assembly  18  has four release and locking mechanisms indicated at  20 . When the panel  12  is placed over the opening  16  as shown in FIG. 4, the release and locking mechanisms  20  engage respective locking channel receptacles  22  that are connected to the structure  14  around the opening  16 . Once the mechanisms  20  have engaged the locking channel receptacles  22 , a drive tool T that is inserted in an end receptacle  25  of an actuation screw  26 , is used to rotate the actuation screw  26  in a manner that causes movement of a driver element  42  in a downward direction (when viewing FIGS.  3  through  5 ). This downward movement of driver  42  causes each right end of the four actuation arms  28  to also move in the downward direction that in turn causes their respective left ends to move in an upward direction. This causes the release and lock mechanisms  20  to move from their unlocked positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, to their locked positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. In this manner the panel  12  is securely fastened to the structure  14  over the opening  16 . Rapid removal of the panel  12  from the structure is accomplished by reversing this procedure. 
     Having provided a brief overview of the present invention, the panel assembly  10  now will be described in more detail. Referring again to FIG. 1, the opening  16  has a generally rectangular configuration such that each edge  30  of the structure  14  around the opening  16  supports one locking channel receptacle  22 . Each channel receptacle  22  extends the length of and is securely attached to a respective edge  30  by a lengthwise extending support  32  having a generally Z-shaped cross sectional configuration. In this manner the channel receptacle  22  is spaced away from the surface of the structure  14  so as to allow it to receive the release and locking mechanism  20  while allowing the panel  12  to align with the plane of structure  14 . 
     When the panel  12  is in the installed position, there is located directly opposite from each locking channel receptacle  22  a panel locking channel receptacle  34  that is securely attached to each edge  36  of the panel  12 . The channel receptacle  34  of the panel  12  has the same configuration as the channel receptacle  22  of the structure  14 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the quick release and fastening assembly  18  includes the threaded actuation screw  26  that is attached through an opening in the panel  12  by an attachment ring  40  in a manner that permits rotation of the screw  26 . Supported on the actuation screw  26  is the driver  42  that has a rectangular, box-like housing  44  with a cylindrical boss  46  that extends upward (when viewing FIG. 3) from the center of the housing  44 . The housing  44  and boss  46  have a common internal female threaded portion  48  so that driver  42  moves in a vertical axial direction along actuation screw  26  when the housing  44  is rotated by tool T. Maximum upward movement of the driver  42 , when viewing FIG. 3, is limited by a nut  50  that is secured to the upper end of screw  26  and that rotates with screw  26 . 
     In order to receive each of the four actuation levers  28 , there is located at each side of the housing  44  a U-shaped recess  54  (FIG. 2) having a pivot pin  56  (FIG. 3) that extends across the recess  54  and through a U-shaped slot  58  in the right end of each actuation arm  28 . In this manner, each of the four actuation arms  28  has its right end pivotally engaged with the pivot pin  56  so as to allow the right end of the actuation arm  28  to both pivot around its respective pivot pin  56  and to move in an axial left or right direction when driven by the vertical movement of the driver  42 . 
     Locking of the panel  12  to the structure  14  is accomplished by the four release and locking mechanisms  20 , each of which is attached to a respective actuation arm  28  at the left end thereof, at the opposite end of the arm  28  where the driver  42  is connected. As shown in FIGS. 3,  6  and  7 , each panel channel receptacle  34  contains therein lower portions of a pair of left, right locking tongs  60   a ,  60   b  that extend along the length of the respective channel receptacle  34 . Furthermore, the left locking tong  60   a  includes a leftward pointing locking foot  62   a  that extends into a lower left C-shaped cavity  63   a  of the panel channel receptacle  34 , and the right locking tong  60   b  includes a rightward pointing locking foot  62   b  that extends into a lower right, reverse C-shaped cavity  63   b  of the panel channel receptacle  34 . The left cavity  63   a  is formed by a flat surface  64   a  of a channel receptacle base  65 , and a surface  66   a  of an upper left ledge  67   a ; and the right  63   b  is formed by a flat surface  64   b  of the channel receptacle base  65  and a surface  66   b  of an upper right ledge  67   b.    
     In addition, the left locking tong  60   a  includes a leftward pointing nose  68   a  that is adapted to fit within an upper left C-shaped cavity  70   a  of the structure channel receptacle  22 ; and the right locking tong  60   b  includes a rightward pointing nose  68   b  that is adapted to fit within an upper right, reverse C-shaped cavity  70   b  of the structure channel receptacle  22 . The left cavity  70   a  is formed by a flat surface  72   a  of a structure channel base  73  and a surface  74   a  of a lower ledge  76   a ; and the right cavity  70   b  is formed by a surface  72   b  of the structure channel base  73  and a surface  74   b  of a lower ledge  76   b . The locking tongs  60   a ,  60   b  each include respective back portions  80   a ,  80   b  that have respective recesses  82   a ,  82   b  that together engage a floating locking pin  84  therebetween. 
     The locking mechanism  20  is caused to move from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 6, to the locked position shown in FIG. 7 by upward movement of the locking pin  84  that causes the left locking tong  60   a  to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and the right locking tong  60   b  to rotate in a clockwise direction. This causes the nose  68   a  of the left locking tong  60   a  to move leftward into the left cavity  70   a  and the nose  68   b  of the right locking tong  60   b  to move rightward into the right cavity  70   b . In this manner, upper surfaces  88   a ,  88   b  of the noses  68   a  ,  68   b , engage the surfaces  72   a ,  72   b  of the channel receptacle  22 ; and lower surfaces  90   a ,  90   b  of the noses  68   a ,  68   b , engage the lower ledge surfaces  74   a  ,  74   b  of the channel receptacle  22 . 
     The previously mentioned movement of locking tongs  60   a ,  60   b  also causes the foot  62   a  of the left locking tong  60   a  to move slightly rightward while still remaining in the left cavity  63   a ; and the foot  62   b  of the right locking tong  60   b  to move slightly leftward while still remaining in the right cavity  63   b . In this manner, bottom surfaces  100   a ,  100   b  of the feet  62   a ,  62   b  engage the surfaces  64   a ,  64   b  of the channel receptacle  34 , and upper surfaces  102   a ,  102   b  of feet  62   a ,  62   b  engage the ledge surfaces  66   a ,  66   b  of the channel receptacle  34 . As a result, any loads in a vertical direction (when viewing FIGS. 3,  6  and  7 ), as indicated by an imaginary line identified by a number 103, are transmitted from the structure  14  through the locking tongs  60   a ,  60   b  and through the panel  12 . 
     Furthermore, when the locking tong  60   a  is in the locked position, a left front surface  106   a  that extends vertically between the locking nose  68   a  and the locking foot  62   a  engages a right vertical end surface  110   a  of the ledge  76   a  and a right vertical end surface  112   a  of the ledge  67   a ; and a right front surface  106   b  that extends vertically between the locking nose  68   b  and the locking foot  62   b  engages a left vertical end surface  110   b  of the upper ledge  76   b  and a right vertical end surface  112   b  of the lower ledge  67   b . As a result, any loads in a horizontal direction (when viewing FIGS.  6  and  7 ), as indicated by an imaginary line identified by a number  113 , are transmitted from the structure  14  through the locking tongs  60   a ,  60   b  and through the panel  12 . As shown in FIG. 7, the locking tongs  60   a ,  60   b  do not fit entirely or precisely within the respective cavities  63   a ,  63   b  and  70   a ,  70   b  of the channel receptacles; however, there is sufficient engagement between the locking tongs and the channel receptacles to transmit the loads from the surrounding structure through the panel  12 . This allows the panel  12  to be interchanged with like panels of the same size and design on other parts of the aircraft or with like panels of the same size and design on other aircraft. 
     To complete this description, movement of the locking pin  84  in the vertical direction (when viewing FIGS. 3 through 5) is accomplished by movement of a left end  120  of the actuator arm  28  in the vertical direction. More specifically, the left end  120  of the actuator arm  28  has a pair of forks  121  that form a slot  122  through which the locking pin  84  extends so that the forks  121  engage the locking pin  84 . Inboard of the left end  120 , there is a pivot pin  123  that extends through an opening in the actuator arm  28  and that is connected to an opposing pair of upstanding flanges  124  (FIG. 1) that are secured to the inboard surface of the panel  12 . Movement of the right end of the actuator arm  28  in the vertical direction causes rotation of the actuator arm  28  about the pin  123  and vertical movement of the left end of the actuator arm  28  in a direction opposite to vertical movement of the right end of actuator arm  28 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, each pair of locking tongs  60   a ,  60   b  extends the full length of the respective panel channel receptacle  34  except at the center edge of each panel side where the channel receptacles  34  are bisected and separated by the flanges  124 . 
     In summary, when the quick release and fastening assembly  18  is in the unlocked position shown in FIG. 4, rotation of actuator  26  screw in a clockwise direction (when viewing FIG. 1) causes the driver  42  to move in a downward direction toward the panel  12 . The corresponding downward movement of the right end of actuator arm  28  causes an upward movement of the left end of actuator arm  28  about pivot pin  123  and away from panel  12 . The corresponding upward movement of locking pin  84  causes the tongs  60   a ,  60   b  to move into the locked position shown in FIG.  7 .