Patent ID: 8915023

Claim:
An electronically controlled hatch system for use with a hatch to limit entry and exit through an access port for ingress or egress, said hatch system comprising: an actuator cooperable with said hatch and having an actuator arm, the actuator operable to effectuate locking or unlocking the hatch and moving said hatch to at least an open position or a closed position; a central control unit operable to communicate with the actuator to position the hatch; and a mechanical latching system, wherein the mechanical latching system is cooperable with said actuator arm to lock or unlock the hatch, the mechanical latching system comprising: a lock mechanism including a locking bolt, wherein the locking bolt is operable to be actuated to perform one of locking the lock mechanism to secure the hatch in the closed position or unlocking the lock mechanism to permit moving the hatch from the closed position to the open position; a clevis bracket operable to be coupled to the hatch and having a bracket opening therethrough; a pivot plate positioned adjacent the clevis bracket and having a pivot opening therethrough, the pivot plate operable to interface with the actuator arm to effectuate locking or unlocking the lock mechanism; a pivot pin passing through the bracket opening and the pivot opening and operable to allow the pivot plate to movably pivot thereupon; and a pivot rod having a first end coupled to the pivot plate and a second end coupled to the lock mechanism, the pivot rod operable to actuate the locking bolt to lock or unlock the lock mechanism; wherein movement of the actuator arm in a first direction causes limited, responsive movement of the pivot plate to effectuate movement of the pivot rod in a second direction such that the pivot rod actuates the locking bolt to unlock the lock mechanism without moving the hatch to the open position, and continued movement of the actuator arm in the first direction moves the hatch from the closed position to the open position after the lock mechanism is unlocked, and wherein movement of the actuator arm in the second direction moves the hatch from the open position to the closed position.