Locking self-aligning coupler and locking apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A locking apparatus comprising:
- an annular housing;
an annular body member having one end mounted in said housing and an opposite end extending therefrom, said annular body member further comprising;
two end faces;
a longitudinal bore extending between said two end faces; and
at least one slot substantially concentric with said longitudinal bore between said two end faces of said annular body member, said at least one slot defining a resilient segment portion of uniform circumferential width along its axial length, said resilient segment portion configured to freely deflect radially, said resilient segment portion further communicating with said annular body member proximate the ends of said at least one slot, said resilient segment portion being fixed at each end of said at least one slot and further being symmetrically deformable by said concentricity of said at least one slot;
wedging means engageable with two opposite walls of said at least one slot for communicating with said walls so as to cause a uniform deformation of said longitudinal bore, said wedging means producing a radial deflection of said resilient segment portion fixed at both ends such that the deflection of said resilient segment porton is generalized along the length thereof to increase the holding power of said annular body member; and
a circular groove formed in said longitudinal bore, said circular groove extending radially outwards from said longitudinal bore beyond at least one of said two opposite walls of said at least one slot.
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Abstract
A novel locking apparatus is provided for use on self-aligning rod end couplers, reciprocating machines, hydraulic cylinders, transfer machines, and the like. The apparatus comprises at least one slot in an end face of an outer body and means for uniformly deforming a wall of the slot so as to obtain a uniform deformation of the wall of an annular bore, thereby locking and clamping the outer body upon an annular body engaged within the annular bore.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A locking apparatus comprising:
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an annular housing; an annular body member having one end mounted in said housing and an opposite end extending therefrom, said annular body member further comprising; two end faces; a longitudinal bore extending between said two end faces; and at least one slot substantially concentric with said longitudinal bore between said two end faces of said annular body member, said at least one slot defining a resilient segment portion of uniform circumferential width along its axial length, said resilient segment portion configured to freely deflect radially, said resilient segment portion further communicating with said annular body member proximate the ends of said at least one slot, said resilient segment portion being fixed at each end of said at least one slot and further being symmetrically deformable by said concentricity of said at least one slot; wedging means engageable with two opposite walls of said at least one slot for communicating with said walls so as to cause a uniform deformation of said longitudinal bore, said wedging means producing a radial deflection of said resilient segment portion fixed at both ends such that the deflection of said resilient segment porton is generalized along the length thereof to increase the holding power of said annular body member; and a circular groove formed in said longitudinal bore, said circular groove extending radially outwards from said longitudinal bore beyond at least one of said two opposite walls of said at least one slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A locking self-aligning coupler comprising:
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a housing having a step bore defining first and second inside diameters with a shoulder therebetween; an annular rod member having one end mounted within said housing, said annular rod member comprising; a first portion having a first outside diameter smaller than said first inside diameter of the step bore of said housing; a second portion adjacent said first portion, said second portion having a second outside diameter larger than said first inside diameter of said housing; a shoulder surface between said first and said second portions of said annular rod member; an end face adjacent said second portion of said annular rod member having a spherical surface thereon; a cylindrical body having an end face defining a spherical surface, said cylindrical body being mounted coaxial with and substantially adjacent to said housing, said cylindrical body further being mounted adjacent said annular rod member for cooperation therewith; an annular body member mounted within said housing and adjacent said cylindrical body, said annular body member comprising; two end faces; a longitudinal bore extending between said two end faces; and at least one slot substantially concentric with said longitudinal bore, said at least one slot extending perpendicularly away from one of said two end faces into said annular body member substantially parallel to said longitudinal bore, said at least one slot defining a resilient segment portion of uniform circumferential width along its axial length, said resilient segment portion configured to freely deflect radially, said resilient segment portion further communicating with said annular body member proximate the ends of said at least one slot, said resilient segment portion being fixed at each end of said at least one slot and further being symmetrically deformable by said concentricity of said at least one slot; wedging means engageable with two opposite walls of said at least one slot for communicating with said walls so as to cause a uniform deformation of said longitudinal bore of said annular body member, said wedging means producing a radial deflection of said resilient segment portion fixed at both ends such that the deflection of said resilient segment portion is generalized along the length thereof to increase the holding power of said annular body member; and a circular groove formed in said longitudinal bore of said annular body member, said circular groove extending radially outwards from said longitudinal bore beyond at least one of said walls of said at least one slot. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A locking apparatus comprising:
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an annular body housing; an annular body member having one end mounted in said housing and an opposite end extending therefrom, said annular body member further comprising; two end faces; a longitudinal bore perpendicular to one of said end faces; and at least one slot substantially concentric with said longitudinal bore, said at least one slot radially spaced a predetermined distance from said longitudinal bore and substantially parallel thereto for a predetermined depth, said at least one slot defining a resilient segment portion of uniform circumferential width along its axial length, said resilient segment portion configured to freely deflect radially, said resilient segment portion further communicating with said annular body member proximate the ends of said at least one slot, said resilient segment portion being fixed at each end of said at least one slot and further being symmetrically deformable by said concentricity of said at least one slot; wedging means engageable with two opposite walls of said at least one slot for communicating with said walls so as to cause a uniform deformation of said longitudinal bore, said wedging means producing a radial deflection of said resilient segment portion, fixed at both ends such that the deflection of said resilient segment portion is generalized along the length thereof to increase the holding power of said annular body member; and a circular groove formed in said longitudinal bore, at a predetermined depth substantially equal to the predetermined depth of said at least one slot, said circular groove extending radially outward from said longitudinal bore beyond at least one of said walls of said at least one slot.
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Specification