Anti-backlash automatic locking connector coupling mechanism
First Claim
1. A coupling mechanism comprising:
- a receptacle element having an open cavity therein;
a plug element receivable in said cavity and held against rotation in said cavity;
a rotatable coupling member drivingly coupled to said elements, said coupling member coupling the plug element to the receptacle element in response to rotation of the coupling member;
a locking member;
means for mounting the locking member for rotation with the coupling member and for translation relative to the coupling member;
a resilient member acting between the locking member and the coupling member for urging the locking member to translate with the coupling member as the coupling member is rotated to couple the plug element to the receptacle element;
cooperating means on the locking member and one of said elements for limiting the translation of the locking member with the coupling member as the coupling member is rotated to couple the plug element to the receptacle element until a predetermined angular position of the locking member and said one element is reached whereby the resilient member is progressively compressed by the rotation of the coupling member and the locking member to store energy in the resilient member; and
said cooperating means including interlocking means on the locking member and said one element and responsive to the stored energy in the resilient member and to the locking member and said one element being in said predetermined angular position to interlock to retain the locking member against rotation relative to said one element in a direction that would allow decoupling of the receptacle element and the plug element.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling mechanism (11) comprising a receptacle (13) having an open cavity (31) therein, a plug (15) receivable in the cavity (31), and a rotatable coupling member (17) drivingly coupled to the plug (15) and coupling the plug (15) to the receptacle (13). A locking member (19) is mounted on the coupling member (17) for rotation with the coupling member (17) and for translation relative to the coupling member (17). A spring (21) acts between the locking member (19) and the coupling member (17) and urges the locking member (19) to translate with the coupling member (17). Translation of the locking member (19) is limited so that the spring (21) is compressed to store energy. A cam track (33) and a cam follower (105) have interlocking members which are driven into interlocking relationship by the stored energy in the spring (21) when the locking member (19) and the receptacle (13 ) are in a predetermined angular position relative to each other. The interlocking members retain the locking member (19) rotation relative to the receptacle (13).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A coupling mechanism comprising:
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a receptacle element having an open cavity therein; a plug element receivable in said cavity and held against rotation in said cavity; a rotatable coupling member drivingly coupled to said elements, said coupling member coupling the plug element to the receptacle element in response to rotation of the coupling member; a locking member; means for mounting the locking member for rotation with the coupling member and for translation relative to the coupling member; a resilient member acting between the locking member and the coupling member for urging the locking member to translate with the coupling member as the coupling member is rotated to couple the plug element to the receptacle element; cooperating means on the locking member and one of said elements for limiting the translation of the locking member with the coupling member as the coupling member is rotated to couple the plug element to the receptacle element until a predetermined angular position of the locking member and said one element is reached whereby the resilient member is progressively compressed by the rotation of the coupling member and the locking member to store energy in the resilient member; and said cooperating means including interlocking means on the locking member and said one element and responsive to the stored energy in the resilient member and to the locking member and said one element being in said predetermined angular position to interlock to retain the locking member against rotation relative to said one element in a direction that would allow decoupling of the receptacle element and the plug element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A coupling mechanism comprising:
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a receptacle having an open cavity therein; a plug receivable in said cavity and held against rotation in said cavity; a rotatable coupling member rotatably mounted on the plug; means on said coupling member and said receptacle responsive to relative rotation between the coupling member and the receptacle for translating the coupling member on the receptacle and coupling the plug to the receptacle; a locking member; means for mounting the locking member on the coupling member for rotation with the coupling member and for translation relative to the coupling member; a resilient member acting between the locking member and the coupling member for urging the locking member to translate with the coupling member as the coupling member is rotated to couple the plug to the receptacle; cooperating means on the locking member and the receptacle for limiting the translation of the locking member with the coupling member as the coupling member is rotated to couple the plug to the receptacle until a predetermined angular position of the locking member and said receptacle is reached whereby the resilient member is progressively compressed by the rotation of the coupling member and the locking member to store energy in the resilient member; and said cooperating means including interlocking means on the locking member and the receptacle and responsive to the stored energy in the resilient member and to the locking member and the receptacle being in said predetermined relative angular position to interlock to retain the coupling ring against rotation relative to the receptacle in a direction that would allow decoupling of the receptacle and the plug. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification