Locking device

{
  "publication_number": "US2011278408A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Locking device",
  "abstract": "A locking device adapted to lock a component to a locking surface, the locking device comprising a body and a lever, the lever being movable with respect to the body from an open position, in which the locking device is open to receive the component, to a closed position, in which the component is locked against the locking surface, wherein the lever comprises: a first abutment surface arranged to abut the component and lock the component against the locking surface when in the closed position; and a second abutment surface arranged such that upon insertion of the component into the locking device, the component abuts the second abutment surface to urge the lever from the open position to the closed position. The locking device may further comprise one or more knife edge pivot points arranged between the body and the lever such that the lever may be rotatable from the open position to the closed position.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A locking device adapted to lock a component to a locking surface, the locking device comprising a body and a single lever, the lever being movable with respect to the body from an open position, in which the locking device is open to receive the component, to a closed position, in which the component is locked against the locking surface, wherein the lever comprises: a first abutment surface arranged to abut the component and lock the component against the locking surface when in the closed position; and a second abutment surface arranged such that upon insertion of the component into the locking device, the component abuts the second abutment surface to urge the lever from the open position to the closed position. 2. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device further comprises one or more knife edge pivot points arranged between the body and the lever such that the lever is rotatable from the open position to the closed position. 3. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lever is configured such that when the lever is in the open position, the component may freely contact the second abutment surface. 4. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first abutment surface is configured such that the component abuts the second abutment surface to urge the lever from the closed position to the open position upon removal of the component. 5. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an equilibrium position exists between the open and closed positions. 6. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device further comprises a biasing means, the biasing means being arranged such that the lever is resiliently biased into the open position and/or the closed position. 7. The locking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking device further comprises adjusting means, the adjusting means being arranged to adjust the biasing force applied by the biasing means. 8. The locking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the biasing means comprises a leaf spring, the leaf spring being coupled to the body at first and/or second ends of the leaf spring and coupled to the lever at a point between the first and second ends of the leaf spring. 9. The locking device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the leaf spring is coupled to the adjusting means at the first or second end of the leaf spring. 10. The locking device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the leaf spring is coupled to the body and/or lever by one or more pivot points between the leaf spring and the body and/or lever. 11. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device further comprises a pivot member, the pivot member comprising first and second pivot points, the first pivot point arranged to pivot with respect to the lever and the second pivot point arranged to pivot with respect to the body. 12. The locking device as claimed in claim 10, wherein one or more of the pivot points comprises a knife edge pivot. 13. A method of locking a component to a locking surface, the method comprising: providing a locking device with a body and a single lever, the lever being movable with respect to the body from an open position, in which the locking device is open to receive the component, to a closed position, in which the component is locked against the locking surface; inserting the component into the locking device; urging the lever into the closed position with a second abutment surface provided on the lever by abutting the component against the second abutment surface; and locking the component against the locking surface with a first abutment surface provided on the lever by abutting the first abutment surface against the component. 14. A method of locking a component to a locking surface as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the step of rotating the lever from the open position to the closed position about one or more knife edge pivot points arranged between the body and the lever."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a locking device and method for locking a component to a locking surface and particularly but not exclusively relates to a locking device and method with a low wearing and/or automatic locking lever.\n\nIn many manufacturing applications, there is a common tendency to use manually operated ‘toggle’ type clamps for clamping a component or workpiece to a work surface. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,493, U.S. Pat. No. 2,456,100, U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,941 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,291. Typically, these clamps operate in a binary fashion between open and closed positions and are extremely popular because of their propensity for adaptation. However, it is their ease of adaptation and rapid wear-rate that renders them unsatisfactory for positional clamping. For example, previously-proposed toggle clamps may be adjustable to compensate for wear. As a result, operators often readjust the clamp to give what they feel is the correct clamping condition. However, different operators have a different feel for what is an acceptable clamping force and this may result in a different component response under the action of a disturbing force. This is clearly not a practice commensurate with the installation of process-control for which accurately repeatable clamping is desirable. Furthermore, the previously-proposed toggle clamps are slow to use as they require activation of the clamp once the component to be clamped is in place.\n\nThe present invention seeks to address these issues.",
  "cpc": [
    "B23Q 3/064",
    "B23K 1/0008",
    "B23K 3/087",
    "B23K 37/0408",
    "B23K 37/0443",
    "B23Q 3/06",
    "B25B 5/06",
    "B25B 5/12",
    "B25B 5/145"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 2/06",
    "F16B 2/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BISHOP JEFFREY C",
    "ROLLS ROYCE PLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "BISHOP JEFFREY C"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-05-03",
  "publication_date": "2011-11-17",
  "priority_date": "2010-05-17",
  "application_number": "US-201113099612-A",
  "family_id": "42334848",
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  ]
}