TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] This description relates generally to temporary fasteners and more specifically to single side temporary fasteners mai ntain ing a clamping force during clamp up processes.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] 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.

[0003] 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 ell iptical 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.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for removable pin type fasteners that avoid the problem of falling balls. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[001 0] The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein : [001 1 ] FIG. I is an incline view of an exemplary ball lock pin.

[001 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the exemplary ball lock pin.

[001 3] FIG. 3 is a sectional view A-A of FIG. 2.

[001 4] FIG. 4 is a detail view "Detail B" of FIG. 3

[001 5] FIG. 5 is an alternative detail view "Detail B" of FIG. 3.

[001 6] Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawing.

BEST MODE FOR CARYING OUT THE INVENTION

[001 7] 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.

[001 8] 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.

[001 9] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021 ] The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein :

[0022] FIGs. 1 -5 show various view angles of an exemplary ball lock pin. The ball lock pin 1 00 comprises a pin body (or an outer shaft) 1 1 0 and an inner member (or an inner pin) 1 20 partially disposed within the outer shaft 1 1 0. The outer shaft 1 1 0 defines a shaft bore 1 1 3 with longitudinal axis between a shaft distal end 1 1 2 and a shaft proximal end 1 1 4. The shaft bore 1 1 3 is sized to accept at least a portion of the inner member 1 20.

[0023] At least one aperture 1 1 5 (shown in Fig. 2) is disposed at the shaft distal end 1 1 2. The least one aperture 1 1 5 is radially outwardly open. The inner member 1 20 is axially slidable within the outer shaft 1 1 0. The inner member 1 20 has a distal end 1 22 and a proxi mal end 1 24. A groove (or dent) 1 27 is disposed at the proximal end 1 24. A locking element, typically a ball 1 40, is radially displaceable in the aperture 1 1 5 between a projected position and a recessed position. In the recessed position, the inner member 1 20 is positioned to align the groove and the aperture 1 1 5 , such that the ball 1 40 is radially recessed within the outer shaft 1 1 0. In the projected position, the inner member 1 20 is positioned to misalign the g roove and the aperture 1 1 5 such that the ball 1 40 is pushed radially outward to protrude partially out of the aperture.

[0024] In embod iments, the aperture 1 1 5 has an opening smaller than the ball

1 40 such that the ball on ly protrudes partial ly out of the aperture and is still securely held by the outer shaft 1 1 0 even in the projected position. [0025] In embod iments, the inner member 1 20 is biased ly positioned such that the ball 1 40 is in the projected position by default. The bias position is implemented th rough a bias element, such as a spring 1 50 (shown in Fig. 3), placed inside the shaft bore 1 1 3 and between a flange 1 26 disposed at the proximal end 1 24 and a step 1 1 6 within the shaft bore 1 1 3. The spring 1 50 is compressed, when the ball lock pin 1 00 is assembled, such that the groove 1 27 and the aperture 1 1 5 is misaligned and the ball 1 40 is in the projected position. When the proximal end 1 24 is pushed by a user, the spring 1 50 is compressed further to align the groove and the aperture 1 1 5 , such that the ball 1 40 is radially recessed within the outer shaft 1 1 0. Placing the spring within the shaft bore prevent mechanical abrasion for the spring and thus promote the durability of the lock pin. In some embodiments, the groove 1 27 has such a reduced size not only allow the ball 1 40 radially recessed within the outer shaft 1 1 0 when the groove is aligned with the aperture 1 1 5 , but also allow the ball 1 1 5 travel ling together with the inner member 1 20 withi n the outer shaft 1 1 0 to be hidden completely beneath the outer shaft 1 1 0, which further protect the ball from any potential mechanical abrasion when the ball is not in the projected position.

[0026] Although the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 has a configuration with the inner member biased for projected ball position, one of ordinary skill in the art may understand that the bias position may be configured for recessed ball position.

[0027] In embod iments, the inner member 1 20 is secured by a retention ring

1 60, which is attached to the outer shaft 1 1 0 to prevent the inner member 1 20 from sliding out of the shaft bore 1 1 3. The retention ri ng 1 60 may be attached to the outer shaft 1 1 0 via thread coupling.

[0028] In some embodiments, the aperture 1 1 5 has an angled profile, as shown in the sectional view in Fig. 5. The angled profile allows the ball 1 40 to be projected outward further, compared to straight aperture config uration. For example, the aperture may be machined to be a truncated cone shape with smaller opening outward. The inward opening is larger than the ball while the outward opening is smaller than the ball such that the ball is still securely trapped with in the outer shaft 1 1 0. Furthermore, the g roove 1 27 has an angled side wall 1 28 such that when the ball 1 40 may roll out from the groove gradually and smoothly.

[0029] In some embodiments, in order to save weight and fabrication time, an optional large diameter human interface disc 1 30 may be attached to the outer shaft 1 1 0. The human interface disc is a separate component, which can be press or threadly fitted to the outer shaft 1 1 0. The human interface disc 1 30 provides enhanced usabi lity for a user to hold the ball lock pin and press/release the proxi mal end 1 24 of the inner member 1 20. The separate disc can be made out of CRES (Corrosion RESistant steel), if necessary, but it can also be made out of Al al loy, Polyetherimide (such as Ultem 2300), or other plastic for weight savings and to prevent surrounding structure scratches.

[0030] In some embodiments, the inner member 1 20 has a distal end 1 22 with reduced size, as shown in Fig. 4, such that the distal end 1 22 does not touch the interior wall 1 1 7 of the outer shaft 1 1 0 directly when the inner member 1 20 slides within the outer shaft 1 1 0. The gap between the distal end 1 22 and the interior wall 1 1 7 may provide additional benefits to avoid access wear for the interior wall 1 1 7 around the aperture area during the operation of the ball lock pin 1 00.

[0031 ] 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 embodi ments. 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 descri bed for purposes of clarity and understanding. Various modifications may be implemented within the scope and equivalence of the appended clai ms.