FIELD

This disclosure relates to release systems, methods, and apparatuses. More specifically, disclosed embodiments relate to release systems, apparatuses, and methods for opening doors that are locked in a closed position.

INTRODUCTION

A locking mechanism may be used to secure a movable component in a particular position, such as a door in a closed position. For example, a locking mechanism may be used on an aircraft to secure doors (e.g., landing gear doors, ordinance compartment doors, etc.) in a closed position. Those locking mechanisms may sometimes be referred to as “door capture lock mechanisms.”

Situations may occur in which the door must be moved to an open position while the locking mechanism still has the door secured in the closed position. Thus, a locking mechanism may include a redundant actuator and/or redundant port to allow the door to be moved to an open position in those situations. However, the redundant actuator and/or port must rely on the integrity of the other components of the locking mechanism to open the door. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may include sacrificial and/or shearable connections to allow a user to break or destroy the locking mechanism to move the door to an open position. However, those locking mechanisms must be replaced and/or repaired after each use.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a release mechanism. In some embodiments, the release mechanism may include a follower assembly movably attached to a locking member that moves between a secured position in which the locking member secures a component in a first position, and an unsecured position in which the locking member allows the component to be moved between the first position and a second position different from the first position. The follower assembly may include a first locking element. The release mechanism may additionally include a second locking element configured to move between a locking position in which the second locking element engages the first locking element, and an unlocking position in which the second locking element is spaced from the first locking element. The release mechanism may further include a support assembly configured to move between a proximal position in which the support assembly supports the second locking element in the locking position, and a distal position in which the support assembly allows the second locking element to move from the locking position to the unlocking position. The follower assembly may be movably attached to the locking member such that the locking member is allowed to move between the secured and unsecured positions when the first locking element is engaged by the second locking element in the locking position. The follower assembly may be configured to move the locking member between the secured and unsecured positions when the second locking element is spaced from the first locking element in the unlocking position.

The present disclosure provides a door lock system. In some embodiments, the door lock system may include a housing, a lock assembly, and a release mechanism. The lock assembly may include a locking member configured to pivot about a second pivot between a secured position in which the locking member secures a door in a closed position, and an unsecured position in which the locking member allows the door to be moved between the closed position and an open position. The lock assembly may additionally include a first actuator assembly having a piston configured to move between a first position in which the locking member is in the secured position, and a second positon in which the locking member is in the unsecured position. The release mechanism may include a follower assembly pivotably attached to the locking member at a first pivot. The follower assembly may include a first locking element. The release mechanism may additionally include a second locking element configured to move between a locking position in which the second locking element engages the first locking element, and an unlocking position in which the second locking element is spaced from the first locking element. The release mechanism may further include a support assembly configured to move between a proximal position in which the support assembly supports the second locking element in the locking position, and a distal position in which the support assembly allows the second locking element to move from the locking position to the unlocking position. The release mechanism may additionally include a second actuator assembly configured to move the support assembly to the distal position. The follower assembly may be configured to allow a user to move the follower assembly from an engaged position in which the locking member is in the secured position, to a release position in which the locking member is in the unsecured position when (1) the support assembly is in the distal position and (2) the piston of the first actuator assembly is in the first position.

The present disclosure provides a method of managing access through a door. In some embodiments, the method may include activating an actuator of a first actuator assembly to move a piston from a second position in which a locking member is in an unsecured position that allows the door to be moved between closed and open positions, to a first position in which the locking member is in a secured position that secures the door in the closed position. The method may additionally include activating an actuator of a second actuator assembly to unlock a follower assembly that is pivotably attached to the locking member. The second actuator assembly may be different from the first actuator assembly. The method may further include moving the follower assembly from an engaged position in which the locking member is in the secured position, to a release position in which the locking member is in the unsecured position with the piston of the first actuator assembly in the second position.

Features, functions, and advantages may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosure, or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

