Patent ID: 8308203

Claim:
A rotary mechanical latch for positive latching and unlatching of a rotary device, the latch comprising: a latchable rotatable assembly having a first axis of rotation including, a latching gear rotatable about the first axis and having a perimeter including a toothed portion and an untoothed portion, a cam arm affixed to the latching gear and rotatable about the first axis, the cam arm having an extension aligned with the untoothed portion of the latching gear, a spring catchment spool affixed to the latching gear and having a perimeter and a spring catchment disposed on the perimeter of the spool, a shaft rotatable about the first axis, the latching gear, the cam arm and the catchment spool fixedly mounted on the shaft; a drive assembly having a second axis of rotation parallel to and spaced from the first axis, the drive assembly comprising, a pinion gear rotatable about the second axis and having a flange, the pinion gear engageable with the toothed portion of the latching gear, a drive means for providing a drive torque to the pinion gear, and, a leading latch cam and a trailing latch cam affixed to a face of the flange, the leading latch cam and the trailing latch cam operatively arranged to cooperatively engage the cam arm in a latched state such that counter-clockwise rotation of the cam arm and subsequent contact by the cam arm to the leading latch cam generates a counter-clockwise torque applied to the flange which increases engagement of the leading latch cam with the cam arm to further enforce the cam arm being in the latched state and such that clockwise rotation of the cam arm and subsequent contact by the cam arm to the trailing latch cam generates a clockwise torque applied to the flange which increases engagement of the trailing latch cam with the cam arm to further enforce the cam arm being in the latched state and, disengage the cam arm in an unlatched state, the latched and unlatched states selectable by operation of said drive means, the latched state preventing rotation of the shaft and the unlatched state allowing a rotation of the shaft, the pinion gear not engaging the toothed portion of the latching gear in the latched state.