Patent Description:
Latch handles are commonly used in the nacelle of an aircraft, for example, in fan cowls. Fan cowls are hinged to the pylon or to a frame structure attached at the top of the nacelle. Fan cowls enclose the engine fan case and are typically latched with a minimum of three latches at the bottom of the nacelle. Latch handles secure the fan cowl during flight. If left unlatched, fan cowls may depart the aircraft during flight.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a latch handle arrangement is provided in accordance with claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the first boss and the second boss are configured to be visible from the external surface in response to the latch handle body moving to an open position.

Optionally, the first boss and the second boss are configured to be hidden in response to the latch handle body moving to a closed position.

Optionally, the first aperture comprises an aspect ratio of up to <NUM>:<NUM>.

Optionally, the latch handle body comprises a first color and the removable insert comprises a second color.

Optionally, the first boss is substantially flush with the latch handle body.

Optionally, the removable insert is configured to be snap-fit into the latch handle body.

Optionally, the first aperture is disposed in the first sidewall, and the first boss is configured to be visible from the external surface in response to the latch handle body moving to an open position.

Optionally, the first aperture is disposed in the first sidewall and the transverse wall.

Optionally, the first boss is disposed on a sidewall of the insert body and a transverse wall of the insert body, wherein the first boss wraps around a corner of the insert body.

Optionally, the latch handle arrangement further comprises a second aperture disposed in the latch handle body.

Optionally, the latch handle arrangement further comprises a second boss protruding from the insert body into the second aperture, wherein the second boss is visible from the external surface of the latch handle body.

Optionally, the first boss is substantially flush with the latch handle body. According to another aspect of the present invention, a nacelle is provided in accordance with claim <NUM>.

Optionally, at least a portion of the removable insert is hidden by the panel in response to the latch handle arrangement moving to a locked position.

The foregoing features or elements may be combined in various combinations, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features or elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the appended claims.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and their best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. Any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component may include a singular embodiment. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to "without contact" (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.

As used herein, "outward" may define an element or portion of an element that is situated radially outer to or away from another, radially inward, element or portion of an element. Thus, an engine core may be situated radially inward of a fan casing, as described herein. As used herein, "inward" may define the element or portion of the element that is situated radially inward in relation to an outward element.

Aircraft fan cowls are often held together with latch assemblies along various axial distances along the fan case. Fan cases may be encased by two fan cowls, which may be joined together with a latch mechanism (e.g., at the bottom of the fan cowls). For example, a fan cowl may include a latch assembly at the bottom of the fan cowl to allow the fan cowl to be hinged open to facilitate access to various fan case components.

It is important that latches be in the closed or locked position prior to take off. If latches are left open, it may result in fan cowl departure during flight. In that regard, it may be advantageous for a latch handle to be highly visible when in the open position.

Accordingly, latch handles may be provided to increase the visibility of the latch handles when the latch handles are in the open position. According to various embodiments, by increasing the visibility of the latch handles, it may be more apparent to ground crews when the latch handles are in the open position, decreasing the chance of a latch handle entering flight in an open position.

Latch handle arrangements of the present disclosure comprise a latch handle body and a removable insert notification feature. Latch handle arrangement of the present disclosure may provide a quick, easy, and convenient way to service a latch handle to replace the notification feature in response to the notification feature becoming worn. For example, a color of the notification feature may begin to fade or the notification feature may be damaged or dirty. The used removable insert may be conveniently removed and replaced, such as via a snap-fit connection, with a new removable insert to quickly replace the used removable insert without having to disassemble the latch assembly.

Referring to <FIG>, a nacelle <NUM> for a gas turbine engine is illustrated according to various embodiments. Nacelle <NUM> may comprise an inlet <NUM>, a fan cowl <NUM>, and a thrust reverser <NUM>. Nacelle <NUM> may be coupled to a pylon <NUM>, which may mount the nacelle <NUM> to an aircraft wing or aircraft body. Nacelle <NUM> may further comprise an exhaust nozzle <NUM>. Nacelle <NUM> surrounds the engine providing smooth aerodynamic surfaces for airflow around and into the engine. Fan cowl <NUM> typically comprises two halves. One half may be referred to as a first fan cowl and the other half may be referred to as a second fan cowl. The first fan cowl and second fan cowl are typically hinged to the pylon or to a frame structure attached at the top of nacelle <NUM>. The nacelle <NUM> may be disposed about a centerline <NUM>, which may also be the axis of rotation of an engine located within the nacelle <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, and with continuing reference to <FIG>, a front view of a portion of an engine nacelle with a fan cowl latch handle rotated towards an open position is provided. According to various embodiments, latch handle <NUM> may be included at the bottom of nacelle <NUM>. A sidewall of latch handle <NUM> may be visible when in the open position. Latch handle <NUM> may include a notification feature <NUM> which may tend to visually draw attention from ground crew to indicate that latch handle <NUM> is not secured in a fully closed position. In various embodiments, any portion of notification feature <NUM> disposed on the sidewall of latch handle <NUM> may be covered or hidden in response to the latch handle moving to a closed position. Conversely, any portion of notification feature <NUM> disposed on the sidewall of latch handle <NUM> may become visible in response to the latch handle moving to an open position.

Latch assemblies typically comprise a latch hook and a latch keeper, wherein the latch hook is actuated by a latch handle located on a flow surface (e.g., an outward portion of the nacelle). Accordingly, in response to the handle being operated, the latch keeper disengages from the latch hook, allowing access to the oil tank, full authority digital engine control (FADEC) box, and other fan case components. With reference to <FIG>, an outward view of a latch handle assembly <NUM> on a nacelle is provided. According to various embodiments, latch handle assembly <NUM> may include latch housing <NUM> and latch handle <NUM>. Latch housing <NUM> may include a first half <NUM> and a second half <NUM>. First half <NUM> of latch housing <NUM> may be referred to as a keeper housing. First half <NUM> of latch housing <NUM> may be attached to a first cowl <NUM> according to various embodiments. Second half <NUM> of latch housing <NUM> may be attached to a second cowl <NUM> according to various embodiments. According to various embodiments, first cowl <NUM> may be a first fan cowl. According to various embodiments, second cowl <NUM> may be a second fan cowl.

According to various embodiments, latch handle <NUM> may include a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. First end <NUM> may be rotatable coupled to first half <NUM> of latch housing <NUM>. In this regard, second end <NUM> may rotate away from second cowl <NUM> in response to latch handle <NUM> rotating to an open position. According to various embodiments, latch housing <NUM> may be configured to enclose at least a portion of latch handle <NUM> such that the outward surface of latch housing <NUM> and the outward surface of latch handle <NUM> are substantially flush relative to each other when in the closed position. In this manner, latch handle assembly <NUM> may be aerodynamically efficient.

According to various embodiments, latch handle <NUM> may include aperture <NUM>. Aperture <NUM> may be disposed on latch handle <NUM> in order to facilitate the opening of latch handle <NUM>. Typically, the opening of latch handle <NUM> from the closed position is facilitated by inserting an obj ect into aperture <NUM> to depress a release member which may partially release latch handle <NUM> from latch housing <NUM>. The latch handle <NUM> may then be further opened by prying latch handle <NUM> open. However, latch handle arrangements of the present disclosure may be configured to be opened via any suitable method.

According to various embodiments, latch handle <NUM> includes notification feature <NUM> disposed at the side surface and/or the outward surface of latch handle <NUM>. Notification feature <NUM> may visually draw attention from ground crew, particularly when latch handle <NUM> is in the open position. According to various embodiments, notification feature <NUM> may comprise a removable insert disposed in latch handle <NUM>, as described in further detail herein.

With combined reference to <FIG>, and <FIG>, a latch handle arrangement <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. Latch handle arrangement <NUM> comprises a latch handle body <NUM> and a removable insert <NUM>. Removable insert <NUM> may be snap-fit to latch handle body <NUM> by pushing the interlocking components of the removable insert <NUM> and latch handle body <NUM> together, as described herein. In this regard, removable insert <NUM> may be sufficiently flexible for snap-fit installation to latch handle body <NUM>. Furthermore, it is contemplated herein that, in addition to or in place of the snap-fit connection, removable insert <NUM> may be fastened to the latch handle body <NUM>. Removable insert <NUM> may be installed onto an internal surface <NUM> of latch handle body <NUM>. In various embodiments, removable insert <NUM> comprises a plastic material. In various embodiments, removable insert <NUM> comprises a metal material.

Latch handle body <NUM> generally comprises a first sidewall <NUM>, a second sidewall <NUM>, and a transverse wall <NUM> extending from the first sidewall <NUM> to the second sidewall <NUM>. One or more apertures are disposed in latch handle body <NUM> for accommodating removable insert <NUM>. Furthermore, the removable insert <NUM> may be visible via the one or more apertures. The illustrated embodiment depicts apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> disposed in the latch handle body <NUM>. However, any number of apertures may be disposed in the latch handle body <NUM> without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, at least one aperture is disposed on each side of the latch handle so that, in response to latch handle body <NUM> being rotated to an open or partially open position, the removable insert <NUM> is visible from either side of latch handle body <NUM>, thereby visually drawing attention from ground crew from both sides of the latch handle body <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, the latch handle body <NUM> is illustrated without a removable insert. In various embodiments, latch handle body <NUM> may comprise one or more ribs extending from one of the sidewalls <NUM>, <NUM> to the transverse wall <NUM>. For example, a rib <NUM> may extend from sidewall <NUM> to transverse wall <NUM>. Rib <NUM> may bend at a ninety degree angle, comprising a first portion extending parallel to sidewall <NUM> and a second portion extending parallel to transverse wall <NUM>. Rib <NUM> may partially define aperture <NUM> and partially define aperture <NUM>. In various embodiments, latch handle body <NUM> comprises rib <NUM> similarly extending from sidewall <NUM> and transverse wall <NUM> and partially defining aperture <NUM> and aperture <NUM>. Latch handle body <NUM> may similarly comprise rib <NUM> and/or rib <NUM> extending from sidewall <NUM> to transverse wall <NUM>. In various embodiments, ribs <NUM>, <NUM> generally mirror ribs <NUM>, <NUM>. Latch handle body <NUM> may be configured to rotate about axis <NUM> with respect to a latch handle housing and/or a panel such as a fan cowl.

With combined reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, the removable insert <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. Removable insert <NUM> generally comprises an insert body <NUM> and at least one boss (e.g., boss <NUM>, boss <NUM>, boss <NUM>, boss <NUM>, boss <NUM>, and/or boss <NUM>) protruding from the insert body <NUM>. Each boss may protrude from the insert body <NUM> into an associated aperture. For example, with momentary additional reference to <FIG>, boss <NUM> may protrude into aperture <NUM>, wherein boss <NUM> is visible from an external surface of the latch handle body <NUM>. In various embodiments, boss <NUM> may be substantially flush with latch handle body <NUM> in the installed position, as illustrated in <FIG>. In various embodiments, boss <NUM> may be substantially flush with an external surface <NUM> of latch handle body <NUM> in the installed position, as illustrated in <FIG>. However, in various embodiments, boss <NUM> may be recessed within latch handle body <NUM>. Still further, in various embodiments, boss <NUM> may be slightly protruding from latch handle body <NUM>. In various embodiments, each boss is separate and distinct from the other boss(es). Stated differently, boss <NUM> may be spaced apart from boss <NUM>, boss <NUM>, etc..

With particular focus on <FIG>, boss <NUM> may comprise a first portion <NUM> disposed on a first sidewall <NUM> of the insert body <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> disposed on a transverse wall <NUM> of the insert body <NUM>, wherein the boss <NUM> wraps around a corner <NUM> of the insert body <NUM>. In this manner, the removable insert <NUM> may be viewed from a top of the latch handle, as well as the sides of the latch handle. Boss <NUM> may be formed similar to boss <NUM>. With momentary reference to <FIG>, apertures disposed in latch handle body <NUM> may be sized to correspond to the geometry of the bosses of removable insert <NUM>. Thus, aperture <NUM> may be partially disposed in sidewall <NUM> and partially disposed in transverse wall <NUM>. In various embodiments, boss <NUM> substantially fills aperture <NUM>. Likewise, the other apertures in latch handle body <NUM> may be sized and positioned to correspond to the size and position of the other boss features of removable insert <NUM>.

Removable insert <NUM> comprises a substantially "U"-shaped geometry as illustrated in <FIG>. As the removable insert <NUM> snap-fits into latch handle body <NUM> (see <FIG>) latch handle body <NUM> similarly comprises a substantially "U"-shaped geometry.

According to various embodiments, removable insert <NUM> may include text or characters which may visually alert ground crew. According to various embodiments, removable insert <NUM> may comprise a bright paint, coating, or any other form of colored surface such that there is substantial contrast between removable insert <NUM> and the rest of the latch handle assembly and/or nacelle assembly. According to various embodiments, removable insert <NUM> is made from a material that comprises a bright colored surface such that there is substantial contrast between removable insert <NUM> and the rest of the latch handle assembly and/or nacelle assembly. Latch handle body <NUM> may comprise a first color, such as grey, black, silver, or any other color. Removable insert <NUM> may comprise a second color, such as orange, red, or any other color. The second color may be more bright than the first color to draw attention from ground grey when removable insert <NUM> is visible. According to various embodiments, removable insert <NUM> may comprise a reflective surface such as a reflective tape, a reflective sticker, or any other form of reflective surface which may increase the visibility of the outward surface of removable insert <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, a latch handle arrangement <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. Latch handle arrangement <NUM> comprises a latch handle body <NUM> and a removable insert <NUM>. Latch handle arrangement <NUM> may be similar to latch handle arrangement <NUM> of <FIG> except that removable insert <NUM> is only visible from the sidewalls <NUM>, <NUM> of latch handle body <NUM>. In this regard, latch handle body <NUM> may comprise an aperture <NUM> disposed in sidewall <NUM>. A second, similar, aperture may also be disposed in sidewall <NUM>. Removable insert <NUM> may snap-fit into aperture <NUM>. Removable insert <NUM> may comprise an insert body <NUM> and a first boss <NUM> protruding from insert body <NUM>. Removable insert <NUM> may further comprise a second boss <NUM> protruding from insert body <NUM>. Insert body <NUM> may comprise a transverse wall <NUM>, a first sidewall <NUM>, and a second sidewall <NUM>. First boss <NUM> may be disposed on first sidewall <NUM>. Second boss <NUM> may be disposed on second sidewall <NUM>.

In accordance with various embodiments, first boss <NUM> may comprise a high aspect ratio. In various embodiments, first boss <NUM> comprises an aspect ratio of between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>, wherein the aspect ratio, as used herein, is a ratio of the maximum length <NUM> to the maximum width <NUM>. In various embodiments, first boss <NUM> comprises an aspect ratio of between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>. In various embodiments, first boss <NUM> comprises an aspect ratio of between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>. In various embodiments, first boss <NUM> comprises an aspect ratio of between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>. In various embodiments, first boss <NUM> comprises an aspect ratio of up to <NUM>:<NUM>.

However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosed embodiments. The scope of the claimed embodiments is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more.

Claim 1:
A latch handle arrangement (<NUM>) comprising:
a latch handle body (<NUM>) comprising a first sidewall (<NUM>), a second sidewall (<NUM>), and a transverse wall (<NUM>) extending from the first sidewall (<NUM>) to the second sidewall (<NUM>);
a first aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed in the latch handle body (<NUM>); and
a removable insert (<NUM>) coupled to the latch handle body (<NUM>), the removable insert (<NUM>) comprising an insert body (<NUM>), a first boss (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) protruding from the insert body (<NUM>) into the first aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the first boss (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is visible from an external surface of the latch handle body (<NUM>),
wherein the latch handle body (<NUM>) comprises a substantially U-shaped geometry, and characterized in that the insert body (<NUM>) comprises the substantially U-shaped geometry.