Fixture for components

A fixture for removably securing a plurality of components, the fixture comprising:

• a hollow body defining a central axis, the hollow body comprising:
• a first axial end and a second axial end axially spaced apart from the first axial end with respect to the central axis;
• an inner surface defining an interior volume of the hollow body;
• an outer surface disposed radially outwards from the inner surface with respect to the central axis;
• a plurality of channels axially extending from the first axial end at least partially towards the second axial end along the central axis and angularly spaced apart from each other with respect to the central axis, the plurality of channels disposed on the outer surface and radially extending partially towards the inner surface, wherein each channel from the plurality of channels is configured to at least partially and slidably receive therein from the first axial end at least two of the plurality of components disposed adjacent to each other with respect to the central axis;
• and
• a plurality of sets of holes axially spaced apart from each other with respect to the central axis, each set of holes from the plurality of sets of holes comprising a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of channels and angularly spaced apart from each other with respect to the central axis, wherein each hole of each set of holes extends from the inner surface partially towards the outer surface and communicates with the corresponding channel from the plurality of channels;
• a plurality of hollow wedges corresponding to the plurality of sets of holes and axially spaced apart from each other with respect to the central axis, wherein each hollow wedge from the plurality of hollow wedges is movably disposed within the interior volume of the hollow body, wherein each hollow wedge comprises an outer wedge surface facing the inner surface of the hollow body and an inner wedge surface opposing the outer wedge surface, wherein the outer wedge surface comprises a frustoconical surface portion extending circumferentially around the central axis, the plurality of hollow wedges comprising a first hollow wedge disposed proximal to the first axial end and a second hollow wedge disposed proximal to the second axial end;
• a plurality of sets of balls corresponding to the plurality of sets of holes and axially spaced apart from each other with respect to the central axis, each set of balls from the plurality of sets of balls comprising a plurality of balls corresponding to the plurality of holes of the corresponding set of holes and angularly spaced apart from each other with respect to the central axis, wherein each ball of each set of balls is at least partially and movably received within the corresponding hole of the corresponding set of holes and engages with the outer wedge surface of the corresponding hollow wedge, and wherein each ball of each set of balls is configured to engage with a corresponding component from the plurality of components;
• an elongate member at least partially received within the interior volume of the hollow body and extending along the central axis, wherein the elongate member is axially movable along the central axis, wherein the elongate member is at least partially received within each hollow wedge and is disposed adjacent to the inner wedge surface of each hollow wedge, and wherein the elongate member is axially engaged with the first hollow wedge;
• and
• one or more elastic members disposed within the interior volume of the hollow body and around the elongate member, wherein each elastic member from the one or more elastic members axially extends between and engages with a corresponding pair of axially adjacent hollow wedges from the plurality of hollow wedges;
• wherein, upon an axial movement of the elongate member in a first direction from the first axial end to the second axial end, the elongate member axially moves the first hollow wedge in the first direction, thereby causing the one or more elastic members to be sequentially compressed along the first direction and sequentially move the hollow wedges subsequent to the first hollow wedge in the first direction, and wherein, upon the axial movement of each hollow wedge in the first direction, the frustoconical surface portion of each hollow wedge moves the corresponding set of balls radially outwards with respect to the central axis within the corresponding set of holes, such that each ball of the corresponding set of balls extends at least partially into the corresponding channel, thereby engaging and moving the corresponding component into locking engagement with the corresponding channel.