LATCH MECHANISM Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC E05C5/04 B64G1/64 

FIELD: mechanical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to mechanical engineering, mostly to space equipment, to fixing devices. The invention can be used as part of a peripheral docking mechanism of a spacecraft. A latch mechanism contains triangular-shaped thrust (1), case (4), shackle (5) connected to case (4) by means of first rotary hinge (9), first spring (6), first end (7) of which is fixed on case (4), and second end (8) is fixed on a support, locking link (3) partially protruding outside case (4) and connected to shackle (5) by means of second rotary hinge (10), second spring (11), first end (19) of which is fixed on case (4), and second end (12) is fixed on locking link (3), support roller (2) installed on the end of a part of locking link (3), protruding outside case (4), and engaged with the thrust surface, limiting roller (20) installed on case (4) with a gap relatively to locking link (3) from a side opposite to shackle (5), drive (17) installed on case (4), lever (15) fixed with one end on case (4) by means of third rotary hinge (18), which is an output link of drive (17), reciprocating hinge (16) with one rotary and two progressive freedom degrees. In the latch mechanism, spike (14) located on locking link (3) from a side opposite to second rotary hinge (10) and support roller (2), L-shaped groove (13) made in case (4) from a side from locking link (3), opposite to second rotary hinge (10) and support roller (2) are additionally introduced. A wall of a bigger side of L-shaped groove (13), located closer to the second rotary hinge, is made in the form of an arc bent to a side opposite to second rotary hinge (10). A smaller side of L-shaped groove (13) is adjacent to the bigger side of the L-shaped grove from an edge closest to a point P of intersection of the first axis (a) passing through centers of first (9) and second (10) rotary hinges and the second axis (b) passing through the center of support roller (2) along a normal to the thrust support engaged with support roller (2). The smaller side of L-shaped groove (13) is made in the direction to first rotary hinge (9) from the point of attachment of the bigger side of L-shaped groove (13). Lever (15) covers the smaller side of L-shaped groove (13) from a side closest to the point P. Spike (14) is placed on the smaller side of L-shaped groove (13) at the minimum distance from first rotary hinge (9). Reciprocating hinge (16) is formed by L-shaped groove (13), spike (14) and lever (15).

EFFECT: reduction in latch mechanism dimensions and increase in the zone of permissible location of rod hinges of the peripheral docking mechanism, located at the direct proximity of the latch mechanism.

3 cl, 3 dwg