Externally accessible adjuster for flush latches

Abstract

An externally accessible adjuster, particularly suited for adjusting the tension of a keeper shaft as applied to a hook type latch forming a part of a flush type latch assembly, the keeper shaft being screwthreaded and receiving a screwthreaded wheel having a set of radiating slots exposed in sequence through an access opening formed in the wall of the structure utilizing the flush type latch assembly. Two embodiments are illustrated, either one of which may use an opening which may be arranged to receive the latch handle, or a separate opening; also, either adjuster may be arranged to utilize a helically coiled frictional element or a yieldable detent.

I claim: .[. 
     
       1.  The combination with a flush type latch structure mounted in a panel set flush in a surrounding surface structure, an underlying mounting means, and an access opening adjacent the mounting means, the latch structure including a handle member movable in a clearance opening between a flush position and an angular position with respect to the panel, and a latch arm, of an adjustable keeper assembly, comprising: a. a keeper element removably attached to the latch arm;   b. a screwthreaded shaft extending from the keeper element;   c. a guide means receiving the shaft and secured to the mounting means;   d. a wheel screwthreaded on the shaft and axially restrained by the guide means, the wheel having a ring of radially extending slots accessible in sequence through the access opening by a turning tool, whereby the wheel may be turned to advance or retract the keeper and latch arm while interengaged, said wheel having internal screwthreads spaced from the screwthreads of said shaft; and   e. frictional means for advancing or retracting the keeper and latch arm by rotating said wheel, said frictional means being positioned between said wheel and said internal shaft screwthreads..]. .[.2. A keeper assembly, as defined in claim 1, wherein:   a. the ring of slots are disposed under the extended end of the handle member, and utilize as the access opening the corresponding end of the handle member clearance opening..]. .[.3. A keeper assembly, as defined in claim 1, wherein:   a. means is provided to restrain the shaft and wheel against relative movement when the wheel is disengaged..]. .[.4. The keeper assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said frictional means is further defined as a helical coil..]. .[.5. The combination with a flush type latch structure mounted in a panel set flush in a surrounding surface structure, an underlying mounting means, and an access opening adjacent the mounting means, the latch structure including a handle member movable in a clearance opening between a flush position and an angular position with respect to the panel, and a latch arm, of an adjustable keeper assembly, comprising:   a. a keeper element removably attached to the latch arm;   b. a screwthreaded shaft extending from the keeper element;   c. a guide means receiving the shaft and secured to the mounting means;   d. a wheel screwthreaded on the shaft and axially restrained by the guide means, the wheel having a ring of radially extending slots accessible in sequence through the access opening by a turning tool, whereby the wheel may be turned to advance or retract the keeper and latch arm while interengaged, said wheel having internal screwthreads spaced from the screwthreads of said shaft; and   e. helical coil frictional means for advancing or retracting the keeper and latch arm by rotating said wheel, said frictional means being positioned   
     
     
        between said wheel and said internal shaft screwthreads..]. .Iadd.6.  An adjustable latching apparatus adapted for mounting on an aircraft or the like to secure a first aircraft member relative to a second aircraft member, comprising: a latch assembly connected to said first aircraft member and an adjuster assembly connected to said second aircraft member;   said adjuster assembly including a tension adjustment wheel and a keeper;   said latch assembly including a latch arm engageable with said keeper and during engagement therewith operably connecting said keeper with said first aircraft member;   said tension adjustment wheel being adapted to receive said keeper and cause relative axial movement of said keeper with respect to said adjustment wheel and said aircraft members when said aircraft members are fixably positioned relative to one another and without axial movement of said tension adjustment wheel with respect to said aircraft members and thereby adjust the load substantially equally between said keeper and said latch arm and said aircraft members during axial movement of said keeper when said latch arm and said keeper are in engagement; and   frictional means restraining means being adapted to engage said tension adjustment wheel and thereby retard rotational movement thereof after   
     
     
        adjustment of the load..Iaddend. .Iadd.7.  The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a screwthreaded bore on said tension adjustment wheel engages a screwthreaded shaft on said keeper..Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said screwthreaded shaft is threaded in a single direction..Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said restraining means comprises a ball detent biased against said tension adjustment wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said restraining means is positioned between said screwthreaded bore and said screwthreaded shaft..Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said restraining means is further defined as a helical coil..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein means are provided to prevent rotation of said keeper during axial movement thereof..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means to prevent rotation of said keeper comprises a pin member which is secured to said guide means and 
     
     
        which engages a slot in said keeper..Iaddend. .Iadd.14.  In an aircraft adjustable latching apparatus for securing a member of an aircraft having a latch assembly and a tension adjuster for adjusting the load to be applied to said latch assembly, the combination comprising: a latch arm operable connected to a first member of the aircraft;   mounting means to connect said tension adjuster to a second member of the aircraft;   said tension adjuster including a rotatable tension adjustment wheel and a keeper element removably engaging said latch arm, said keeper element including a screwthreaded shaft extending therefrom;   guide means secured to said mounting means, said tension adjustment wheel being axially restrained by said guide means during rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel;   said tension adjustment wheel having a screwthreaded bore through which said screwthreaded shaft extends and which is operably connected therewith to cause relative axial movement of said keeper element with respect to said tension adjustment wheel during rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel whereby said tension adjustment wheel may be rotated to axially advance or retract said keeper element while engaging said latch arm and thereby adjust substantially equally the tension in said keeper element and said latch arm and thus said latch assembly when said first aircraft member is fixably positioned with respect to said second aircraft member; and   restraining means operably engaging said tension adjustment wheel to secure the adjustment and prevent inadvertent axial movement of said keeper element by retarding rotational movement of said tension adjustment   
     
     
        wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said latch arm provides the single operable connection between said keeper element and said first aircraft member..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said tension adjustment wheel includes a plurality of radially extending slots adapted to receive a tool for rotating said tension adjustment wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said screwthreaded bore engages said screwthreaded shaft and said restraining means comprises a ball detent biased against said tension adjustment wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said restraining means comprises a helical coil positioned between said 
     
     
        screwthreaded bore and said screwthreaded shaft..Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  In an aircraft adjustable latching apparatus with a latch assembly set flush in the surrounding surface of an aircraft panel and having an underlying mounting means with an external access opening adjacent the mounting means, the combination comprising: a tension adjuster for adjusting the tension in the latch assembly, including a rotatable tension adjustment wheel and a keeper element having a screwthreaded shaft extending therefrom;   a latch arm engageable with said keeper element and a pivotally connected handle member movable when said latch arm engages said keeper element in a clearance opening in said panel between a flush position closing said external access opening and an angular position with respect to the panel;   guide means secured to said mounting means, said tension adjustment wheel being axially restrained by said guide means during rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel;   said tension adjustment wheel positioned adjacent said external access opening for access thereto through said external access opening when said handle member is in the angular position;   said tension adjustment wheel having a screwthreaded bore through which said screwthreaded shaft extends and which is operably connected therewith to cause relative axial movement of said keeper element with respect to said tension adjustment wheel during rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel whereby when said keeper element and said latch arm are engaged said tension adjustment wheel may be rotated to advance or retract said keeper element and thereby adjust substantially equally the tension in said keeper element and said latch assembly; and   restraining means operably engaging said tension adjustment wheel to secure the adjustment and prevent inadvertent axial movement of said keeper element by retarding rotational movement of said tension adjustment   
     
     
        wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said tension adjustment wheel includes means adapted to receive a tool through said external access opening to rotate said tension adjustment wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means comprises a ring of radially extending slots accessible in sequence through said external access opening..Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said keeper element is adapted to be removably engaged to said latch arm below the surrounding surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.23. An adjustable latching apparatus for mounting on an aircraft or the like to secure a first aircraft member relative to a second aircraft member with at least one of said aircraft members having an exterior panel surface which includes an external access opening, comprising: a latch assembly connected to said first aircraft member;   an adjuster assembly for adjusting a load in said latch assembly and having a rotatable adjustment wheel and a keeper element including a screwthreaded shaft extending therefrom;   underlying means to connect said adjuster assembly to said second aircraft member and position said adjustment wheel adjacent said external access opening for access to said adjustment wheel;   said latch assembly including a latch arm engageable with said keeper element and during engagement therewith operably connecting said keeper element with said first aircraft member;   housing means for said adjustment wheel adapted to axially restrain said adjustment wheel during rotational movement thereof;   said adjustment wheel having a screwthreaded bore through which said screwthreaded shaft extends and which is operably connected therewith to cause relative axial movement of said keeper element with respect to said adjustment wheel during rotational movement of said adjustment wheel whereby said adjustment wheel may be rotated to axially advance or retract said keeper element while engaging said latch arm and thereby adjust the load substantially equally between said latch assembly, said keeper and said aircraft members when said aircraft members are fixably positioned relative to one another;   said adjustment wheel having a radially extending portion with a ring of radially extending slots therein accessible in sequence through said external access opening and adapted to receive a tool through said external access opening to rotate said adjustment wheel; and   restraining means operably engaging said adjustment wheel and being adapted to permit rotational movement of said adjustment wheel when acted on by said tool during adjustment of the load and to automatically retard rotational movement of said adjustment wheel after adjustment of the   
     
     
        load..Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said radially extending slots include an open end proximate the circumference of said adjustment wheel adapted to receive said tool and said adjustment wheel is adapted to locate one or more of said open ends immediately opposite said external access opening during any rotational position of said adjustment wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the diameter of said adjustment wheel may exceed the width of said external access opening..Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said adjuster assembly is adapted to be operated by a single tool and to cause adjustment with a single operation of said tool..Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said adjuster assembly is adapted to be operated by an Allen wrench..Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said latch assembly is adapted when closed to be set flush with the surrounding exterior surface of said panel and includes a pivotally connected handle member movable when said latch arm engages said keeper element in a clearance opening in said panel between a flush position closing said external access opening and an angular position with respect 
     
     
        to the panel..Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said restraining means remains biased against said adjustment wheel during rotational movement thereof..Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said housing means includes at least one plate adjacent said adjustment wheel and adapted to abut one of said aircraft members and thereby provide structural support to said adjuster assembly..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said housing means includes a pair of parallel plates, one on each side of said radially extending portion of said adjustment wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said adjustment wheel includes an axially extending sleeve which defines said screwthreaded bore and which receives and supports said screwthreaded shaft of said keeper element..Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said adjustment wheel is 
     
     
        positioned below said exterior panel surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.34.  In an aircraft adjustable latching apparatus having a latch assembly with a latch arm and adapted to secure a first aircraft member relative to a second aircraft member with at least one of said aircraft members having an exterior panel which includes an external access opening, an adjuster assembly for adjusting a load in the latch assembly, comprising: a rotatable adjustment wheel and a keeper element engageable with the latch arm to secure the first and second aircraft members including a screwthreaded shaft extending therefrom;   means for mounting said adjuster assembly for connecting with said second aircraft member and to position said adjustment wheel beneath the exterior panel surface and adjacent said external access opening for access to said adjustment wheel;   said adjustment wheel having a radially extending portion with a ring of radially extending slots therein accessible in sequence through said external access opening and adapted to receive a tool through said external access opening to rotate said adjustment wheel;   housing means for said adjustment wheel adapted to axially restrain said adjustment wheel during rotational movement thereof, said housing means including at least one plate member adjacent a side of said radially extending portion of said adjustment wheel;   a screwthreaded bore in said adjustment wheel through which said screwthreaded shaft extends and which is operably connected therewith to cause relative axial movement of said keeper element with respect to said adjustment wheel whereby the adjustment wheel may be rotated to axially advance or retract in substantially infinite increments said keeper element while engaging the latch arm and adjust the load substantially equally in said keeper element and the latch assembly; and   restraining means operably engaging said adjustment wheel and thereby retard rotational movement thereof after adjustment of the load..Iaddend. .Iadd.35. In an aircraft adjustable latching apparatus for securing a member of an aircraft having a latch assembly and a tension adjuster for adjusting the load to be applied to said latch assembly, the combination comprising:   a latch arm operably connected to a first member of the aircraft;   mounting means to connect said tension adjuster to a second member of the aircraft;   said tension adjuster including a rotatable tension adjustment wheel and a keeper element removably engaging said latch arm, said keeper element including a screwthreaded shaft extending therefrom;   guide means secured to said mounting means, said tension adjustment wheel being axially restrained by said guide means during rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel;   said tension adjustment wheel having a screwthreaded bore through which said screwthreaded shaft extends and which is operably connected therewith to cause relative axial movement of said keeper element with respect to said tension adjustment wheel during rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel whereby said tension adjustment wheel may be rotated to axially advance or retract said keeper element while engaging said latch arm and thereby adjust substantialy equally the tension in said keeper element and said latch arm and thus said latch assembly when said first aircraft member is fixably positioned with respect to said second aircraft member; and   frictional means positioned between said screwthreaded bore and said screwthreaded shaft and thereby operably connecting said bore and said shaft, said frictional means being adapted to prevent inadvertent axial movement of said keeper element by restraining rotational movement of said   
     
     
        tension adjustment wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  In an aircraft adjustable latching apparatus for securing a member of an aircraft having a latch assembly and a tension adjuster for adjusting the load to be applied to said latch assembly, the combination comprising: a latch arm operably connected to a first member of the aircraft;   mounting means to connect said tension adjuster to a second member of the aircraft;   said tension adjuster including a rotatable tension adjustment wheel and a keeper element removably engaging said latch arm, said keeper element including a screwthreaded shaft extending therefrom;   guide means secured to said mounting means, said tension adjustment wheel being axially restrained by said guide means during rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel;   said tension adjustment wheel having a screwthreaded bore through which said screwthreaded shaft extends and which is operably connected therewith to cause relative axial movement of said keeper element with respect to said tension adjustment wheel during rotational movement of said tension adjustment whereby said tension adjustment wheel may be rotated to axially advance or retract said keeper element while engaging said latch arm and thereby adjust substantially equally the tension in said keeper element and said latch arm and thus said latch assembly when said first aircraft member is fixably positioned with respect to said second aircraft member; and   yieldable detent means biased against said tension adjustment wheel, said yieldable detent means being adapted to prevent inadvertent axial movement of said keeper element by restraining rotational movement of said tension adjustment wheel..Iaddend.