This description relates generally to temporary fasteners and more specifically to single side temporary fasteners maintaining a clamping force during clamp up processes.
Mechanical fasteners are often configured to provide quick removal. Ball lock pins typically may be used to allow quick removal by depressing a button to remove the ball lock pin. A ball at the end of the ball lock pin pressing against the walls of a receiving cavity is retracted or has an interfering pin removed typically allowing the ball to be pushed back into the body of the ball lock pin, further allowing a user to withdraw the ball lock pin.
Currently manufactured ball lock pins lock elements or bearings or balls tend to “fall” leaving room for improving the device. Conventional or current ball lock pin technology utilizes a set of balls at the end of the pin to secure the pin in position by preventing it to be removed from wherever this pin has been inserted. This is accomplished by a spring loaded inner member that has special cavities or receptacles that accommodate the balls when this inner member is pressed. Once depressed, this inner member retracts, and the balls are pushed out of their receptacles and rest against a deformed ring in the Pin body. This deformed ring is created by a staking tool acting on a cylindrical surface (pin Body) creating an elliptical type stake (deformed ring) in the outer surface of the Pin. This deformed ring disrupts the surface finish exposing the pin core material attracts corrosion, is inconsistent and inaccurate, and it is the cause of the biggest problem these assemblies have: ball loss after installation.
Accordingly, there is a need for removable pin type fasteners that avoid the problem of falling balls.
The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The present example provides a ball lock pin that avoids the current technology problem of falling balls via machining the retention ring (previously deformed ring) from the inside of the pin body, thus creating a stable and extremely well controlled surface where the balls can rest. Additionally, the pin body does not need to be deformed after finish, elimination any potential corrosion to build up in the area.
In embodiments, a ball lock pin having a properly designed and machined angled surface from the inside that will precisely control the ball position in open and closed position and movement is provided.
In embodiments, the ball lock pin may have an interchangeable human interface, which makes the pin assembly simpler to manufacture, and potentially lighter as alternative materials can be proposed for this human interface such as high performance plastics.
Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawing.
The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of the example and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.
The examples below describe a ball lock pin. Although the present examples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented in an aircraft system, the system described is provided as an example and not a limitation. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of removable fastening systems.
Conventional or current ball lock pin technology utilizes a set of balls at the end of said pin to secure the pin in position by preventing it to be removed from wherever this pin has been inserted. This is accomplished by a spring loaded inner member that has special cavities or receptacles that accommodate the balls when this inner member is pressed. Once depressed, this inner member retracts, and the balls are pushed out of their receptacles and rest against a deformed ring in the Pin body. This deformed ring is created by a staking tool acting on a cylindrical surface (pin Body) creating an elliptical type stake (deformed ring) in the outer surface of the Pin. This deformed ring attracts corrosion, is inconsistent and inaccurate, and it is the cause of the biggest problem these assemblies have: ball loss after installation.
The present example provides a ball lock pin that avoids the current technology problem of falling balls via machining the retention ring (previously deformed ring) from the inside of the pin body, thus creating a stable and extremely well controlled surface where the balls can rest.
The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
At least one aperture 115 (shown in
In embodiments, the aperture 115 has an opening smaller than the ball 140 such that the ball only protrudes partially out of the aperture and is still securely held by the outer shaft 110 even in the projected position.
In embodiments, the inner member 120 is biasedly positioned such that the ball 140 is in the projected position by default. The bias position is implemented through a bias element, such as a spring 150 (shown in
Although the embodiment shown in
In embodiments, the inner member 120 is secured by a retention ring 160, which is attached to the outer shaft 110 to prevent the inner member 120 from sliding out of the shaft bore 113. The retention ring 160 may be attached to the outer shaft 110 via thread coupling.
In some embodiments, the aperture 115 has an angled profile, as shown in the sectional view in
In some embodiments, in order to save weight and fabrication time, an optional large diameter human interface disc 130 may be attached to the outer shaft 110. The human interface disc is a separate component, which can be press or threadly fitted to the outer shaft 110. The human interface disc 130 provides enhanced usability for a user to hold the ball lock pin and press/release the proximal end 124 of the inner member 120. The separate disc can be made out of CRES (Corrosion RESistant steel), if necessary, but it can also be made out of Al alloy, Polyetherimide (such as Ultem 2300), or other plastic for weight savings and to prevent surrounding structure scratches.
In some embodiments, the inner member 120 has a distal end 122 with reduced size, as shown in
Those skilled in the art will realize that the ball lock pin can be constructed with various configurations. For example a ball lock pin may comprise different combination of components other than disclosed in the aforementioned embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also realize that a ball lock pin may further incorporate different components. The foregoing description of the invention has been described for purposes of clarity and understanding. Various modifications may be implemented within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.
The application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional Application entitled “Ball Lock Pin” Ser. No. 62/286,176, filed on Jan. 22, 2016, and Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/286,211, filed on Jan. 22, 2016, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62286176 | Jan 2016 | US | |
62286211 | Jan 2016 | US |