Rudder twist lock method and apparatus
An example of an aerial vehicle includes a rudder removably connected to the aerial vehicle by a twist lock mechanism. The twist lock mechanism is biased in a locked position by an elastic member.
1. A twist lock for connecting a tail surface in an aerial vehicle, comprising:
a cylindrical base supporting an elastic member;
a cylindrical shaft including a channel; and
a tang extending from the cylindrical base and biased by the elastic member to a locked position at an end of the channel.
2. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises:
a first leg extending in a first direction from a mouth to a first corner;
a second leg extending in a second direction from the first corner to a second corner; and
a lock channel extending in a third direction from the second corner to the end.
3. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical shaft further comprises an open end engaged with the cylindrical base and a closed end engaged with the elastic member.
4. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical base further comprises:
a stanchion, extending from the cylindrical base, concentrically aligned and engaged with the cylindrical shaft;
a post extending from the stanchion;
the post engages the elastic member; and
the tang engages the channel.
5. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical base further comprises:
a stanchion concentrically aligned and engaged with the cylindrical shaft;
the tang extends from the stanchion to engage the channel; and
the elastic member abuts the stanchion and the cylindrical shaft.
6. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical base further comprises:
a stanchion concentrically aligned and engaged with the cylindrical shaft;
a post extending from the stanchion and concentrically aligned with the stanchion; and
the post engages the elastic member.
7. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.
8. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member abuts the cylindrical base and the cylindrical shaft.
9. The twist lock of claim 1 , wherein:
the cylindrical shaft further comprises an open end engaged with the cylindrical base and a closed end in contact with the elastic member;
the channel further comprises a mouth at the open end leading to a vertical channel;
the vertical channel terminating in a first corner;
a horizontal channel extending from the first corner to a second corner; and
a lock channel extending from the second corner to the end.
10. A method of removably attaching a rudder to an aerial vehicle, comprising:
inserting a base attached to one of the aerial vehicle and the rudder into a hollow shaft attached to the other of the aerial vehicle and the rudder and a tang extending from one of the base and the hollow shaft into a channel formed in the other of base and the hollow shaft; and
biasing the tang with an elastic member into a locked position in the channel thereby securing the hollow shaft and the base together.
11. The method of claim 10 , comprising rotating one of the hollow shaft and the base relative to the other of the hollow shaft and the base around a central longitudinal axis shared by the hollow shaft and the base.
12. The method of claim 10 , comprising moving the tang through a first leg of the channel in a first direction, moving the tang through a second leg of the channel in a second direction, and moving the tang through a lock leg of the channel in a third direction to an end of the channel.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the elastic member abuts a closed end of the hollow shaft and a stanchion extending from the base.