Locking mechanism
A locking mechanism has a body located on an air vehicle where at least one useful load is located on the body and at least one launcher is located on the body which enables the launch and/or release of the useful loads contained therein. A trigger that contacts the useful load on the launcher allows the useful loads to be launched and/or released from the body. A rod extends longitudinally in the launcher, wherein when the trigger is moved, the rod moves on an axis that the launcher extends an arm that is in contact with the rod. A first spring located on the rod allows the rod to be triggered when the energy stored thereon is released. A tab extending outward from the arm holds the useful load.
1. A locking mechanism ( 1 ) comprising:
a body ( 2 ) located on an air vehicle;
at least one useful load (F) located on the body ( 2 );
at least one launcher ( 3 ) located on the body ( 2 ), which enables the launch and/or release of the useful loads (F) contained therein;
a trigger ( 4 ) which contacts the useful load (F) on the launcher ( 3 ) and allows the useful loads (F) to be launched and/or released from the body ( 2 );
a rod ( 5 ) extending longitudinally in the launcher ( 3 ), wherein when the trigger ( 4 ) is moved, the rod ( 5 ) moves on an axis that the launcher ( 3 ) extends;
an arm ( 6 ) that is in contact with the rod ( 5 );
a first spring ( 7 ) located on the rod ( 5 ), which allows the rod ( 5 ) to be triggered when the energy stored thereon is released;
a tab ( 8 ) extending outward from the arm ( 6 ) to hold the useful load (F); and
wherein the trigger ( 4 ) has an open position (I), wherein when the trigger ( 4 ) is triggered by the user, the trigger ( 4 ) pulls the rod ( 5 ) to allow the arm ( 6 ) to release the useful load (F), thus breaking the contact between the tab ( 8 ) and the useful load (F), and a locked position (II), wherein the trigger ( 4 ) is pushed by the user in contact with the useful load (F) so as to activate the rod ( 5 ), thereby allowing the tab ( 8 ) on the arm ( 6 ) to come into contact with the useful load (F), wherein the trigger ( 4 ) is brought from the open position (I) to the locked position (II) by a rotation thereof.
2. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising:
an eccentric structure ( 9 ) located on the rod ( 5 ) in contact with the arm ( 6 );
a first surface ( 501 ) which provides contact with the arm ( 6 ) on the eccentric structure ( 9 ); and
at least a second surface ( 502 ) extending to be inclined with the direction along which the first surface ( 501 ) extends.
3. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , comprising:
a first part ( 601 ) located on the arm ( 6 ), which is form-compatible with the first surface ( 501 ) and located opposite to the first surface ( 501 ) such that that the first surface ( 501 ) fits thereon; and
a second part ( 602 ) located opposite to the second surface ( 502 ) on the arm ( 6 ).
4. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , comprising:
a moment point ( 10 ) on the launcher ( 3 ), at which the arm ( 6 ) comes into contact with the launcher ( 3 ), wherein the arm ( 6 ) rotates around the moment point ( 10 ) when the first surface ( 501 ) is substantially disconnected from the first part ( 601 ) and pushes the second surface ( 502 ), as the trigger ( 4 ) is moved from the locked position (II) to the open position (I), and wherein the tab ( 8 ) allows the useful load (F) to be released upon rotation of the arm ( 6 ).
5. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a protrusion ( 11 ) located on the useful load (F), opposite to the tab ( 8 ), which allows the useful load (F) to be removably attached to the tab.
6. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a casing ( 12 ) located in the launcher ( 3 ), which contains the rod ( 5 ), the arm ( 6 ) and the first spring ( 7 ).
7. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , comprising:
a first housing ( 1201 ) located in the casing ( 12 ), which allows the movement of the eccentric structure ( 9 ) to be guided; and
a second housing ( 1202 ) limiting the movement of the arm ( 6 ).
8. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a stopper ( 13 ) located on the arm ( 6 ), opposite to the first spring ( 7 ), which limits the movement of the first spring ( 7 ) that is pressed when the trigger ( 4 ) moves from the locked position (II) to the open position (I), and is stretched when the trigger ( 4 ) moves from the open position (I) to the locked position.
9. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the first spring ( 7 ) is located to surround the rod ( 5 ) and is compressed when the trigger ( 4 ) is in the open position (I), wherein the first spring ( 7 ) triggers the rod ( 5 ) while the rod ( 5 ) moves from the open position (I) to the locked position ( 11 ), thereby allowing the eccentric structure ( 9 ) to create a pressure force on the protrusion ( 11 ) located on the arm ( 6 ), and allowing the tab ( 8 ) to be separated from the useful load (F).
10. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the tab ( 8 ) is form-compatible with the protrusion ( 11 ) on the useful load (F), such that the tab ( 8 ) is removably attached to the protrusion ( 11 ).
11. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , comprising:
an extension ( 14 ) which extends in the direction that the arm ( 6 ) extends; and
a second spring ( 15 ) which is connected to the casing ( 12 ) at one end and connected to the extension ( 14 ) at the other end, wherein the second spring ( 15 ) allows the necessary pressure to be created to removably attach the tab ( 8 ) on the protrusion ( 11 ).
12. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one guide ( 16 ) is located on the launcher ( 3 ) and allows the useful load (F) to be removably attached to the launcher ( 3 ) in a position predetermined by the user.
13. The locking mechanism ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the eccentric structure ( 9 ) has a concave form in a region where it is opposite to the first part ( 601 ), and having a convex form in a region where it contacts the second part ( 602 ) in an opposite manner, so that the eccentric structure ( 9 ) is substantially form-compatible with the first part ( 601 ) and the second part ( 602 ).