Claims
- 1. An interconnection system for coupling electrical and fluid conductors carried, for example, by an aircraft and a pylon therefor comprising:
- a first mounting plate adapted to be fixedly connected to an aircraft and carrying at least one electrical connector member and fluid coupling element;
- a mounting plate assembly adapted to be carried by a pylon which is releasably mounted on the aircraft over said first mounting plate, said assembly including a front plate and a rear mounting plate, said rear plate being movable from a rear position to a forward position closer to said front plate;
- said front plate carrying at least one electrical connector member and fluid coupling element arranged to mate with the electrical connector member and fluid coupling element on said first mounting plate;
- means biasing said rear plate toward said rear position;
- said rear plate being adapted to be fixed to the pylon whereby, when the pylon is being moved forwardly for attachment to the aircraft, during an initial stage of movement of the pylon, and hence the rear plate, the electrical connector member and fluid coupling element on said front mounting plate will mate with the electrical connector member and fluid coupling element on said first mounting plate and, during a second further stage of movement, said rear plate will reach said forward position;
- rapidly releasable positive retaining means for said first mounting plate and said mounting plate assembly for locking said electrical connector members and fluid coupling elements in mated relationship against the separating force of high differential pressures which may exist between said fluid coupling elements;
- said retaining means comprising a catch carried by said front plate, a lock member on said rear plate and a spring lock element fixed to said first mounting plate, said spring lock element being normally biased to a release position with respect to said catch; and
- during said initial stage of movement of the pylon toward the aircraft, said catch moving to an overlapping, but spaced apart position relative to said lock element, and during said second stage of movement, said lock member moving forwardly relative to said front plate and said lock element to shift said lock element into locking position with said catch.
- 2. An interconnection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
- said catch comprises an internally threaded sleeve;
- said spring lock element comprises a circular series of longitudinally extending tangs externally threaded at their forward ends; and
- said lock member comprises a shaft axially slidable in said sleeve and movable into the interior of said series of tangs camming said ends into engagement with said internally threaded sleeve during said second stage of movement of said rear plate.
- 3. An interconnection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
- said biasing means comprises a spring interposed between said front and rear plates.
- 4. An interconnection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
- a spider plate is located behind said rear plate;
- said spider plate having a central portion and a plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom;
- means providing a lateral floating connection between the ends of said legs and said rear plate; and
- said lock member being connected to said central portion of said spider plate.
Government Interests
The Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. F33657-78-C-0108 awarded by the Department of the Air Force.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3156513 |
Peterson et al. |
Nov 1969 |
|
3159444 |
Stine |
Dec 1969 |
|
3336562 |
McCormick et al. |
Aug 1967 |
|