Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
lZt~7S2~
The invention relates to a quick-release lock for life-saving
systems of the type having a housing and a main trunnion actuable in the latter
via a release member, and with an anchor plate which interacts with several
retaining bolts for belt connection pieces or the like and is stressed into
the locking position and through which the main trunnion is guided centrally
by means of a narrowed part and engages under the said anchor plate, and also
with a device for the automatic separation of the belt connection pieces from
the retaining bolts by means of pressure independently of the actuation of the
release member.
Quick-release locks of this type are used, for example, as central
belt locks for parachutist body or ejector-seat harnesses. They serve for
freeing parachutists quickly from their parachute after landing, so that they
are not dragged over land or through water when the wind drives the parachute
in front of it.
A quick-release lock or central belt lock having the features mentior.-
ed is already known from German ~ffenlegungsschrift 3,040,134. In the known
arrangement, the main trunnion has a longitudinal bore in which a slide is
mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable, secure against rotation
relative to the main trunnion and releasable via a release member. There is
also a force accumulator in the lock housing which is tripped on coming into
contact with water and, as result of the pressure exerted, guides a blocking
member out of the main trunnion and causes subsequent axial displacement of
the slide, with the result that the anchor plate is displaced downwards and
the anchoring of the belt connection pieces is consequently released.
It is to be considered a disadvantage of the known arrangement that
it consists of a plurality of individual components which act with one another
and in one another, and under frequently occurring stress signs of wear and
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then inoperability of the automatic-separation device can arise. Furthermore,
because of the various components arranged under the release member, the
constructional height of locks of this type is increased, and this is a great
disadvantage.
The object on which the invention is based is to provide a quick-
release lock for life-saving systems, which has a simple construction and a
low height and which unlocks automatically in emergency situations, without
being actuated by the user, independently of the actuation of the conventional
components for removing or attaching the belt connection pieces, in order to
automate the entire life-saving operation ~emergency situation) and thus
make it safer.
To achieve this object, the invention envisages a quick-release lock,
in which the pressure exerted by the automatic-separation device is conveyed
directly or indirectly to the anchor plate with a force component running
counter to the stress direction of the anchor plate, and the anchor plate
and/or the part of the main trunnion engaging under the anchor plate have
one or more predetermined breaking points.
According to a possible alternative solution, a channel extends
from the automatic-separation device up to a pressure member acting counter
to the stress direction of the anchor plate, and the channel is interrupted,
in the locking position of the main trunnion, by a guide pin
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126'7SZZ
securing the main trunnion of the lock.
The two alternative embodiments differ in that, in
one alternative form, to achieve the automitic release of
the anchor plate, the main trunnion itself is freed as a
result of the movement of the guide pin out of the locking
position with the main trunnion, or else, in the other
alternat;ve form, the guide pin remains in the locking
position with the main trunnion, and external pressure is
exerted or, the anchor plate which is then pressed into the
unlocking position, with the predetermined breaking points
in the anchor plate and/or in the part of the main trunnion
engaging under the anchor plate being broken open at the
same time. In both alternative solutions, the anchor plate
is preferably subjected directly or indirectly to gas re-
leased under pressure.
The advantage of the invention is that it is pos-
sible to provide a quick-release lock with an automatic-
separation device, in which automatic unlocking is effected
by means of a medium put under pressure, preferably gas,
but also a liquid, thus guaranteeing excellent operability,
because, in contrast to known models, there is no inter-
lock;ng of mechanical elements which results in a ready
susceptibility to faults. i10reover, the lock can be de-
signed with only a small constructional height, so that,
Z5 in normal use, it does not disturb a pilot in an ejector
seat, for example.
The automatic-separation device can be tripPed in
various ways, depending on, among other things, the in-
tended use of the particular quick-release lock.
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27560-5
For example, water-activated tripping is preferred for
parachute harness locks used especially in jumps over the sea. In
~his case, ~he aut ~ ti~-separation device is tripped by means of electri-
cal and pyrotechnic devices, utilizing the high conductivity of
sea water, thereby releasing a gas or a liquid under pressure
which, by acting on appropriate members in the lock, cause the
latter to be unlocked. Automatic-separation devices of this
type are known, for example from German Offenlegungsschrift
3,040,134.
However, the automatic-separation device can, of
course, also be activated via any other suitable characteristic,
for example the water pressure.
Quick-release locks of the type according to the
invention are used not only in parachutist body harnesses, but on
the contrary in a plurality of systems for the rescue of persons,
for example in motoring, sailing, acrobatics and mountain-climbing.
Furthermore, these locks are used in sports equipment, such as
kites or the like. All these locks will come under the generic
definition of a quick-release lock for life-saving systems.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is
provided a quick-release locking buckle assembly for safety
harnesses, including a housing, a main trunnion, mounted in said
housing, said trunnion being actuable by a release member, an
anchor plate which interacts with retaining bolts for retaining
belt connection pieces, said anchor plate being biased into a
locking position/ said trunnion having a reduced portion
extending through an orifice in said anchor plate and guided
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centrally with respect to said anchor plate, said trunnion havinq
a retention part engageable under said anchor plate, and also ~ith
a device for the automatic-separation of the belt connection
pieces from the retaining bolts by means of pressure,
independently of the actuation of the release member,
characterised in that a channel extends from the automatic-
separation device up to a pressure member acting on the anchor
plate counter to said bias being applied to said anchor plate, and
the channel is interrupted, in the locking position of the
assembly, by a guide pin securing the main trunnion of the
assembly.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a
quick release locking buckle assembly for safety harnesses,
including a housing, a main trunnion, mounted in said housing,
said trunnion being actuable by a release member, an anchor plate
which interacts with retaining bolts for retaining belt connection
pieces, said anchor plate bein~ biased into a locking position,
said trunnion having a reduced portion extending through an
orifice in said anchor plate and quided axially with respect to
said anchor plate, said trunnion having a retention part
engageable with said anchor plate, and further including a
pressure devlce for the automatic separation of the belt
connection pieceæ from the retaining bolts, independently of the
actuation of the release member, characterised in that on a side
of the anchor plate facing the release member there is at least
one bore in said housing, open towards the anchor plate, said bore
having a piston which, in the lockin~ position of the anchor
plate, extends from said anchor plate and leaves free, in an upper
4a
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region of the bore, a space into ~hich a channel opens, said
channel extending from the device for the automatic-separation of
the belt connection to said bore and said channel being
interrupted, in the locking ~osition of the anchor plate, by a pin
securin~ the main trunnion of the assembly.
The following is a description by way of example of
certain embodiments of the present invention reference being had
to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a quick-release
lock, in the "locked
4b
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27560-5
position",
Figure 2 shows a cross-section throu~h a further
embodiment of a quick-release lock according to the invention, in
the "locked" position,
Flgure 3 shows a cross-section through a third
embodimen~ of a quick-release lock according to the invention, in
the "locked" position.
The quick release lock illustrated in Figure 1 consists
essentially of a lock housing 10, a main trunnion 11 axially
movable and rotatable centrally in the latter, a rotary grip 12
attached to the end of the main trunnion 11 projecting above the
lock housing 10, and retaining bolts 15 ~one of which is shown)
which are connected to one another via an anchor plate 14 and
which, mounted on springs 17 arranged between the lock-housing
base plate 16 and the anchor plate 14, engage through orifices 18
in the bottom part of the lock housing 10 into lateral slo~s 19 of
the lock housing 10.
The rotary grip 12 is connected to the main trunnion 11
via a screw 21. The main trunnion 11 has on its periphery grooves
22 extending tangentially and axially. A guide pin 23 slides by
means of its front end 23a in the grooves 22, the form of the
front free end 23a being selected so that the guide pin 23 can
sllde in the groove 22 without play.
The guide pin 23 extends outwards from the groove 22
into the lock housing 10, and directly outside the region of
engagement with the main trunnion 11 it has an encircling
shoulder shaped extension 24. The guide pin 23 rests with its
extension 24 flush in a corresponding
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recess of the lock hous;ng 10. In the direct;on going
away from the main trunnion 11, the form of the guide pin
23 then narrows again, and this narrowed portion 25 has
adjoining it a second extension 26 which is made disc-
shaped and which is supported by means of its outer limi-
ting surfaces on a matching recess 27 in the lock housing
10. Starting from the extension 26, the guide pin 23 then
runs via a narrowed portion 28 up to its free end 23b facing
away from the main trunnion 11. The circular outer sur-
faces of the front end 23a of the guide pin 23 and thoseof the extension 24, 26 and those of the narrowed end region
28 are all concentric relative to one another, so that a
single central axis 29 of the guide pin 23 is obtained.
The narrowed end region 28 of the guide pin 23 is
made tubular, that is to say it has a coaxial recess 33
extending approximately into the region of the narrowed
portion 25. By means of the recess 33, the guide pin 23
is attached on a journal 34 so as to be longitudinally
displaceable. By means of ;ts end projecting from the re-
cess 33, the journal 34 is supported on the lock housing10 via a flange 35.
Located between the flange 35 and that side 26a
of the extension of the guide pin 23 which faces away from
the main trunnion 11 is a compression spring 38 which on
its end faces is supported respectively on the flange 35
and on the extension 26 and which at the same time engages
round the narrowed end 28 of the guide pin 23.
In the exemplary embodiment illustratedJ a quick-
release lock according to the invention is shown in the
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"locked" position. In this, the guide pin 23 is inserted
by means of its front end 23a into the groove 22 of the
main trunnion 11 as a resuLt of the spring action of the
spring 38. In conjunct;on with blocking steps (not shown)
in the groove 22, the guide pin 23 ensures that the main
trunnion 11 can execute rotational and longitudinal move-
ments in specific directions only and engages in different
positions intended for the functions of "attachment",
"locked" tshown in the drawing) and "removal", always in
10 relation to the belt connection pieces.
Starting from the rotary grip 12, the main trun-
nion 11 extends in the direction of the lock-housing base-
plate 16 into the region of the anchor plate 14 with a
constant cross-section. Directly above the anchor plate
15 14, the~main trunnion 11 is then provided ~ith a piston-
shaped extension 40 having a diameter larger than that of
the upper part of the main trunnion 11.
The piston extension 40 then has adjoining it, in
the direction of the lock-nousing baseplate 16, a part 41
2û which has a diameter very much smaller than that of the
main trunnion 11 and which engages through an orifice 42
in the anchor Plate 14. The orifice 42 is made essentially
rectangular, the width of the orifice 42 being somewhat
larger than the diameter of the main trunnion 11 in this
25 part 41.
At the end, there adjoins the part 41 of the main
trunnion 11 a retention lug 43 which has an essentially
cuboid form, the width and length being selected so that
the retention lug 43 can be guided through the orifice 42
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in the anchor plate 14 during assembly. In the exemplary
embodiment illustrated, the retention lug 43 is shown in
a position rotated approximately 90 relative to the
longitudinal extension of the orifice 42, engaging by
means of its arms 43a and 43b under the anchor plate 14
which is provided, for this purpose, with a round recess
44 having a diameter somewhat ~arger than the length of
the retention lug 43.
The anchor plate 14 which, in the exemplary embodi-
ment illustrated, has a rectangular form, but can, for
example, also be triangular, polygonal or round, depending
on the number of retaining bolts 15, is located in a space
48 of the lock housing 10 and is mounted in its corner
regions on compression springs 17 and stressed by these.
The compression springs 17 are attached to the lock-hous-
ing baseplate 16 on appropriate extensions 50 of a bearing
plate 52 rest;ng on the lock-housing baseplate 16 and are
inserted by means of their other end into matching reces-
ses 51 of the anchor plate 14. In the prolongation of the
recesses 51, the retaining bolts 15 then extend from the
surface of the anchor plate 14, project through appropriate
orifices in the lock housing 10 and serve for fixing the
belt connection pieces (not shown).
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, showing
a belt lock according to the invention in the "locked"
position, the anchor plate 14 is pushed by the compression
springs 17 into its highest position, where it rests
against a wall 53 of the lock housing 10.
Also located in the lock housing 10 is a gas
S~A.
channel which is composed of a gas inflow channel 55 and
a gas outflow channel 56. The gas inflow channel 55 ex-
tends from a force accumulator ~not shown), for example
a pyrotechnic element, located in the lock housing 10 into
the region of the chamber 30 formed by the narrowed por-
tion 25 of the guide pin 23. The pyrotechnic unit and a
sensor located in front of it and intended for tripping
it can also be accommodated in a separate housing, for
example connected to the lock housing v;a a joint, or as
a compLetely separate unit connected to the channel 55 via
a pressure hose. It is also possible to have an embodi-
ment in which, for example, the sensor is arranged sepa-
rate from the lock, whilst the force accumulator, for
example a pressure-gas generator, is arranged in or on the
lock. The gas outflow channel 56 then extends from the
space located on the outs;de of the extension 26 of the
guide pin 23 up to an annular gap 58 extending above the
part of the piston extension 40 projecting beyond the main
trunnion 11.
The mode of operation of a quick-release lock
according to the invention, constructed to Figure 1, is as
follo~s.
The quick-release lock according to the invention,
illustrated in Figure 1, shows the arrangement of the com-
ponents relative to one another in the "locked" position,
that is to say, for example, during the descent by para-
chute of a parachutist. In this case, the belt connection
pieces (not shown) of the body harness of the parachutist
are introduced into the lateral slots 19 of the lock
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hous;ng 1û, the retaining bolts 15 pass;ng through them
and retaining them securety. To disengage the harness
from the lock, it is then usually necessary to rotate the
rotary grip 12 and subsequently displace it axiaLly down-
wards together with the main trunnion 11, as a result ofwh;ch the anchor plate 14 is pressed downwards and the re-
taining bolts 15 are carried with it at the same time, so
that the belt connection pieces can slip laterally out of
the slots 19.
However, the actuation of the rotary grip 12 and
particularly the axial displacement of the release member
requ;re a cons;derable exert;on of force, of which~ for
example, a parachutist is often no longer capable if he
is ;njured. However, for example when the parachutist de-
scends over water, it is necessary to free him quickly
from the parachute, so that he is not dragged through the
w-ater when the wind drives the parachute in front of it.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, in the
event of contact with water, the force accumulator is
2~ automatically detonated, independently of any action taken
by the parachutist, because the higher conductivity of
sea water is utilized. Consequently, the force accumulator
;s then detonated spontaneously by means of electr;cal and
pyrotechnic devices, thereby releasing gas which is under
high pressure and which flows through the gas inflow chan-
nel 55 into the chamber 30 between the extensions 24 and
26 of the guide pin 23. ~ecause of the high pressure which
builds uP very quickly in the chamber 30, the guide pin 23
is subsequently pressed in the direction of the flange
-- 10 --
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12~i7~;2:~
35 counter to the force of the compression spring 38, the
volume of the chamber 30 increasing at the same time.
- During the movement of the guide pin 23 counter to the
force of the spring 38, the guide p;n 23 is guided by
means of its front end 23a out of the groove 22 of the
main trunnion 11 and slides forwards by means of its ex-
tension 26 in the direction of the f~ange 35, until there
is communication between the chamber 30 and the gas out-
flow channel 56, so that the gas flows via the gas inflow
channel 55 and the chamber 30 into the gas outflow channel
56 and from there into the annular gap 58.
As a result of the high pressure, the main trun-
nion 11 is then moved downwards against the anchor plate,
in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the main
trunn;on 11, v;a the piston extens;on 4û, on which the
pressure acts via the annular gap 58, the anchor plate
also be;ng carried downwards counter to the force of the
springs 17. A movement of the ma;n trunnion 11 is pos
sible, because the guide pin 23 is disengaged from the
ma;n trunn;on 11, as before, counter to the force of the
spr;ng 38 as a result of the pers;sting gas pressure.
When the anchor plate 14 is pressed down via the
piston extension 40, the retaining bolts 15 are then moved
downwards at the same time, so that they free the orifices
19 ;n the lock hous;ng 10, and the belt connection pieces
can readily slip laterally out of the slots 19 of the
lock housing 10.
The parachutist ;s consequently freed from the
body harness without any help from himself and cannot be
.
f'5~
drayged through the water by the parachute and thus pos-
sibly drown.
Thè exemplary embodiment of a quick-release lock
according to the invention, illustrated in Figure 2, is
of very similar design to that according to Figure 1.
Here again, in an emergency, for example when an injured
parachutist fal~s into water, a force accumulator which
releases gas under high pressure is detonated via suitable
electrical or pyrotechnic devices. This gas flows via the
gas inflow channel 55 into the chamber 30 and presses the
gu;de pin 23 counter to the force of the spring 38 in the
direct;on of the flange 35, specifically until the inflow
orifice of the gas outflow channel 56 is accessible from
the chamber 30, so that the gas enters the gas outflow
channel 56 under high pressure and passes from there into
an annular gap 58.
However, in contrast to the embodiment according
to Figure 1, the annular gap 58 is not now arranged above
a piston extension of the main trunnion 11, but is located
above an annular channel 59 which is guided annularly in
the lock housing at a distance round the main trunnion 11
and of which the opposite end pointing in the direction
of the anchor plate 14 is open. Located in the annular
channel 16 is an annular piston 60 which fills the annular
channel 59 with the exception of the annular gap 58.
By means of the gas pressure, the annular piston
60 is then pressed downwards in the annular channel 59 in
the direction of the anchor plate 14 and at the same time
moves the anchor plate 14 downwards counter to the force
- 12 -
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of the springs 17.
The main trunnion 11 is also carried downwards
with it, because the guide pin 23 is guided out of the
groove 22 as a result of the gas pressure and presses the
anchor plate 14 against the arms 43a, 43b of the retention
lug 43 in the region of the recess 44.
In the same way as in the operating description
of the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, during
the downward movement of the anchor plate 14, the retaining
bolts 15 are carried downwards with it, with the result
that the belt connection pieces of the harness of the
parachutist can immediately slip out laterally.
The exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2 illus-
trates an alternative locking measure which will come into
effect in the event that the guide pin 23 is for any rea-
son not guided out of the groove Z2 of the main trunnion
11 completely by means of its front end 23a. This altern-
ative embodiment also comes into effect when the gas in-
flow channel 55 is guided directly into the annular gap
58 of the annular channel 59.
In such a case, although the gas pressure would
still act on the annular piston 60 and endeavour to press
the anchor plate 14 down in this way, nevertheless this
would be opposed by the resistance of the main trunnion
11, still fixed in its position by the guide pin 23, when
the anchor plate 14 presses with i~s underside against the
arms 43a, 43b of the retention lug 43, but cannot carry
this along with it.
For this reason, two notches 45 forming
l2675~f.J
predetermined breaking points are arranged on the under-
side of the retention lug 43 approximately underneath the
edge region of the orifice 42. When the anchor plate 14
presses against the arms 43a, 43b of the retention Lug 43,
because of the force component exerted by the gas pressure,
the strength of the retention lug 43 is no longer suf-
ficient to withstand this force, and the arms 43a, 43b of
the retention lug 43 are sheared off, thus freeing the
path for the downward movement of the anchor pLate 14 in
the direction of the lock-housing baseplate 16.
In the third illustrated exemplary embodiment ac-
cording to Figure 3, the gas pressure released as a result
of detonation of the force accumulator (not shown) is not
used to disengage the guide pin 23 from the retaining bolt
11, but, as already described briefly above, the gas pres-
sure is introduced directly into bores 61 via a gas feed
channeL (not shown here). These bores are arranged at a
distance from one another in the lock housing 10 and ex-
tend uP to the anchor plate 14 by means of their lower
ends. Pistons 62 are inserted in the bores 61 so as to
be long;tudinally movable, and these fill the space of the
bore 61 until only a small space in the upper region re-
mains free for the inflow of gas.
Instead of several bores 61, only a single bore
Z5 61 with a piston 62 can also be sufficient. It has been
shown that, in the case of an anchor plate with three re-
taining bolts, only two of which support the main forces,
whilst the third retaining bolt is provided for the nega-
tive g belt, tripPing by means of a piston 62 located
-- - 14 -
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between the two retaining bolts 15 is sufficient.
In this embodiment according to Figure 3, notches
45 are provided in the underside of the retention lug 43,
in a similar way to Figure 2. Of course, the notches 45
can also be provided in the upper side of the retention
lug 43.
When the force accumulator is then detonated and
the gas released, it flows through the gas feed channels
into the upper region 58 of the bores 61, and the pistons
62 are pressed against the anchor plate 14. The piston or
pistons 62 are secured in the particular bore 61 by suit-
able means, for example by a spring ring 63 mounted in
appropriate grooves in the housing and piston. As a re-
sult, the free space in the upper part of the piston or
annular channel is keDt free for the gas flowing in, if
appropriate, irrespective of the particular position of
the lock. As a result, the anchor plate 14 moves down-
uards in the direction of the lock-housing base plate 16.
Since the main trunnion 11 ;s fixed in an unchanged posi-
tion by the guide pin Z3, the arms 43a, 43b of the reten-
tion lug 43 aga;n oppose the downward movement of the an-
chor plate 14. However, even in this exemplary embodiment,
because of the h;gh gas pressure and the force component
consequently exerted on the anchor plate 14, the arms 43a,
43b of the retention lug 43 are sheared off again during
the downward movement of the anchor plate 14, so that the
latter and the retaining bolts 15 can be readily guided
downwards out of the region of engagement with the belt
connection p;eces.
~i7522
In th;s exemplary embodiment, it would also be
possible, instead of the notches 45 in the retention lug
43, to provide notches in the region of the recess 44 of
the anchor plate 14, so that the narrowed region of the
anchor plate 14 round the orifice 42 is sheared off when
the anchor plate 14 is subjected to pressure, because of
the resistance force of the arms 43a, 43b of the retention
lug 43, so that the anchor plate together with the retain-
ing bolts 15 can then also be readily guided in the direc-
tion of the lock-housing base plate 16 counter to the
force of the springs 17. For construction and assembly
reasons, it seems particularly advantageous to adopt an
embodiment of a quick-release lock according to the in-
vention which consists of a control of the guide pin 23
according to Figures 1 and 2, that is to say the guide pin
23 being guided out of the groove 22 in the main trunnion
11, and of an individual piston 62 according to Figure 3,
into the upper annular gap 58 of which opens the gas
outflow channel 56.
The choice of the particular gas pressure or the
size of the gas inflow and gas outflow channels and of the
notches arranged as appropriate must always be coordinated
so that a reliable release of the lock housing in an emer-
gency is guaranteed under all circumstances. An important
part is also played here, for example, by the strengths of
the materials used, for example of the anchor plate 14 and
the retention lug 43.
As in the exemplary embodiments described above,
predetermined breaking points 45 can also be provided
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cumulatively in the retention lug 43 and the anchor plate 14.
Instead of a gas pressure, a liquid pressure can also be built
up, although a release of gas is preferred because this can be accommodated
more easily in appropriate pressure cartidges and can be released more
rapidly and more reliably.
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