Actuator locking system and method

A system comprising

• a primary link cuff;
• a secondary link cuff comprising a tooth extending away from the primary link cuff along a shaft;
• and
• a drive link cuff comprising a raised shoulder at least partially encircling the shaft, wherein a secondary link cuff-facing surface of the raised shoulder of the drive link cuff comprises:
• a ramp rising towards the primary link cuff along the shaft, and
• a slot, following in a first rotational direction, an end of the ramp closest to the primary link cuff, wherein the slot recesses inwards away from the primary link cuff along the shaft;
• wherein the primary link cuff, the secondary link cuff, and the drive link cuff are arranged along the shaft with the secondary link cuff positioned between the primary link cuff and the drive link cuff such that when the drive link cuff is interlocked with the primary link cuff and non-interlocked with the secondary link cuff:
• rotation of the secondary link cuff about the shaft in the first rotational direction causes a distal end of the tooth of the secondary link cuff to slide up the ramp of the drive link cuff causing the secondary link cuff to push the primary link cuff along the shaft away from the drive link cuff to un-interlock the primary link cuff from the drive link cuff, and
• further rotation of the secondary link cuff about the shaft in the first rotational direction causes the distal end of the tooth to slide into the slot of the drive link cuff, thereby interlocking the secondary link cuff with the drive link cuff.

A system comprising:

• a primary link cuff;
• a secondary link cuff comprising a tooth extending away from the primary link cuff along a shaft;
• a drive link cuff comprising a raised shoulder at least partially encircling the shaft, wherein a secondary link cuff-facing surface of the raised shoulder of the drive link cuff comprises:
• a ramp rising towards the primary link cuff along the shaft, and
• a slot, following in a first rotational direction, an end of the ramp closest to the primary link cuff, wherein the slot recesses inwards away from the primary link cuff along the shaft;
• and
• a mechanical device that applies linear force to the primary link cuff and the secondary link cuff towards the drive link cuff;
• wherein the mechanical device, the primary link cuff, the secondary link cuff, and the drive link cuff are arranged along the shaft with the primary link cuff positioned between the mechanical device and the secondary link cuff, and the secondary link cuff positioned between the primary link cuff and the drive link cuff such that:
• rotational force applied by the primary link cuff to the drive link cuff causes the drive link cuff to rotate about the shaft when the drive link cuff is interlocked with the primary link cuff and non-interlocked with the secondary link cuff,
• rotational force applied by the secondary link cuff to the drive link cuff causes the drive link cuff to rotate about the shaft when the drive link cuff is interlocked with the secondary link cuff and non-interlocked with the primary link cuff, and
• when the drive link cuff is interlocked with the primary link cuff and non-interlocked with the secondary link cuff:
• rotation of the secondary link cuff about the shaft in the first rotational direction causes a distal end of the tooth of the secondary link cuff to slide up the ramp of the drive link cuff causing the secondary link cuff to push the primary link cuff along the shaft away from the drive link cuff to un-interlock the primary link cuff from the drive link cuff, and
• further rotation of the secondary link cuff about the shaft in the first rotational direction, in combination with the linear force applied by the mechanical device, causes the distal end of the tooth to slide into the slot of the drive link cuff, thereby interlocking the secondary link cuff with the drive link cuff.