Latch mechanism for auger string couplings

A latching device for securing in endwise coupled relation socket means and mating shank means of auger sections, said socket means having a surrounding wall having an exterior, said latching device comprising:

• means defining a passage extending transversely through said surrounding wall of said socket means;
• retainer means at the outer end of said passage adjacent the outer surface of said wall of said socket means;
• a latch pin extending through said passage and having an actuating end portion projecting outwardly through said retainer means, retractor means on said actuating end portion of said latch pin outside of said passage, and an opposite latching end portion, said latch pin being movable between an extended latching position in which its latching end portion is in latching engagement with said shank means and a retracted unlatching portion in which its latching end portion is disengaged from said shank means, said latch pin having a transverse shoulder thereon that approximates in cross section the cross section of said passage and that is located on said latch pin so it is fixed on said latch pin adjacent its latching end portion and also so said shoulder is positioned in said passage a substantial distance away from said retainer means when said latch pin is in its retracted position to provide a clearance portion of said passage;
• means for biasing said latch pin toward its said extended latching position;
• means mounted on said socket means and having pin-engaging means adapted to engage said retractor means and move said latch pin against the force exerted by said biasing means to its said retracted unlatching position;
• and opening means communicating with said exterior of said surrounding wall of said socket means at a location adjacent to said passage and with the interior of said passage at a location in said clearance portion of said passage, to permit debris in said passage to be pushed by said shoulder into said clearance portion of said passage and out of said passage through said opening means to said exterior of said surrounding wall of said socket means by said shoulder means as said latch pin is moved to its said retracted unlatching position.

A latching device for securing in endwise coupled relation socket means and mating shank means of auger sections, comprising:

• means defining a passage extending transversely through a surrounding wall of said socket means and comprising a housing extending generally radially from the exterior surface of said socket means;
• retainer means at the outer end of said passage and the outer end of said housing and adjacent the outer surface of said socket means;
• a latch pin extending through said passage and having an actuating end portion projecting outwardly through said retainer means, retractor means on said actuating end portion of said latch pin outside of said passage, and an opposite latching end portion, said latch pin being movable in said passage between an extended latching position in which said latching end portion is in latching engagement with said shank means and a retracted unlatching position in which said latching end portion is disengaged from said shank means, said latch pin having a shoulder thereon that is adjacent said latching end portion and that is in, and approximates in cross section the cross section of, said passage;
• means in said passage bearing against said latch pin and said retainer means for biasing said latch pin towards its said extended latching position;
• means mounted on said socket means having pin-engaging means adapted to engage said retractor means and move said latch pin against the force exerted by said biasing means to its said retracted unlatching position;
• and opening means communicating with the interior of said passage and the exterior of said housing in the portion of said housing that extends beyond the surface of said socket means, to permit debris in said passage to be pushed out of said passage by said shoulder means as said latch pin is moved to its retracted unlatching position.