Patent ID: 8714479

Claim:
A centering, release and reset mechanism, comprising: a) a primary load path element operatively connected to a positioning structure, said primary load path element having at least one primary load path element slot; b) a pin-key positioned within said primary load path element slot arranged and constructed to allow freedom of movement in a rotational direction orthogonal to a positioning direction; c) a secondary load path element including at least one secondary load path element slot, a key or spline being positioned between said secondary load path element and said primary load path element; d) a compression cam positioned within an opening in said secondary load path element, said opening defining a grooved cam seat for permitting said compression cam to have a defined pivot and stop; e) a tension cam positioned within said opening in said secondary load path element, rotation of said tension cam being permitted in the same rotary direction as said compression cam, said tension cam having a defined pivot and stop; f) a cam follower resting on respective lobe surfaces of said compression cam and said tension cam, said cam follower having a preload force against rotation against either cam; g) a push rod seated in a hole in said cam follower and extending through a respective hole in said secondary load path element; h) a leaf spring assembly, comprising: i) a spring carrier piloted on an end of said secondary load path element; and, ii) a plurality of leaf springs carried by said spring carrier and fastened to said secondary load path element, said leaf springs providing said preload force; wherein: in a desired, loaded, centered position a preload force from said cam follower is received by said stops on said compression cam and said tension cam, said pin-key being thereby captured and centered in said secondary load path element relative to said primary load path element's slot; a failure in a primary load path causes a load to be impressed between said pin-key and one of said cams and if said load is sufficiently high enough to overcome said preload force of said cam follower, then said cam will rotate allowing said pin-key to move in either the tension or compression direction; when said primary load path element and said secondary load path element are repositioned back to said centered position, then said cam follower rotates said cam back to its centered reset positions; and, said release and reset actions do not require the use of a shear pin.