Locking Mechanism for a Collet Assembly

A locking mechanism comprising:

• a biasing ring having a first area having a first radial thickness and a first radially inward facing surface and a second area having a second radial thickness and a second radially inward facing surface,
• an inner ring having an activation tab extending therefrom and the inner ring defining a radially outward facing surface;
• the biasing ring being positioned around the inner ring thereby defining a cavity between the biasing ring and the inner ring;
• and
• a detent member positioned in the cavity and being selectively engageable with at least one of the first radially inward facing surface, the second inwardly facing surface and the radially outward facing surface.

A collet assembly comprising:

• a collet adapter having a first circumferential groove formed in an exterior surface defined by the collet adapter and the first circumferential groove having a hole extending radially therethrough;
• a biasing ring positioned in the first circumferential groove, the biasing ring having a first area having a first radial thickness and a second area having a second radial thickness, a first notch formed on a first radially inward facing surface defined by the first area and a second notch formed on a second radially inward facing surface defined by the second area;
• an inner ring having an activation tab extending therefrom and at least one third notch formed in a radially outward facing surface defined by the inner ring;
• the biasing ring being positioned around the inner ring thereby defining a cavity therebetween, a portion of the collet adapter being positioned in the cavity;
• and
• a detent member positioned in the cavity and partially in the hole, the detent member being selectively engageable with at least one of the first notch, the second notch and the at least one third notch.

A locking mechanism comprising:

• a biasing ring having a first area having a first radial thickness and a second area having a second radial thickness, a first notch formed on a first radially inward facing surface defined by the first area and a second notch formed on a second radially inward facing surface defined by the second area;
• an inner ring having an activation tab extending from therefrom and at least one third notch formed in a radially outward facing surface defined by the inner ring;
• the biasing ring being positioned around the inner ring thereby defining a cavity therebetween;
• and
• a detent member positioned in the cavity and being selectively engageable with at least one of the first notch, the second notch and the at least one third notch.