Side-mounted automatic power release attachment for manual connectors
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJames Wesley Turner, deceased, Ray E. Spinks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An attachment for a manually operable quick-release connector to enable the onnector to be retrofitted so as to be power operated by a remote signal, the attachment being mounted to the side of the connector in a position offering a low profile, a minimum discomfort to the user, and requiring a minimum modification of an existing connector structure during retrofitting.
Claims8
A side-mounted release adapter for a conventional, manually operable, quick-release connector having interconnectible male and female fittings, and a rotatable shaft mounted in said female fitting and extending transverse to a prong on said male fitting for releasably locking said fittings together, said female fittings having a side opening through which an end of said rotatable shaft is accessible;
- said adapter comprising:
- a housing;
- means for detachably mounting said housing to the side of the female fitting adjacent said side opening so that the adapter can be readily removed fom the fitting;
- said housing having a cylinder;
- a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder in a direction normal to said rotatable shaft;
- fluid power source means in said cylinder for driving the piston;
- rotatable driving means mounted in said housing for interconnecting said rotatable shaft with said piston;
- said driving means being readily separable in an axial direction when the housing is detached;
- said adapter having means for securing the rotatable shaft in a released position preventing reuse of the connector;
- whereby activation of the power source will cause the piston through said rotatable means to rotate the shaft and release said fittings.
A quick-release connector comprising:
- a male connector half fitting having at least one longitudinally extending prong having a recess at its free end;
- a female connector half fitting having at least one longitudinal opening to receive said prong;
- a shaft rotatably mounted transversely in said female fitting and engageable with the recess in said prong for releasably locking together said connector fittings;
- said female fitting having a side opening through which an end of said rotatable shaft is accessible;
- manual lever means for actuating the rotatable shaft to disengage said prong to permit the fittings to be separated;
- said connector having a housing on one side of the female fitting provided with a transverse opening adjacent to and aligned with said side opening in the female fitting;
- said housing having a cylinder;
- a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder in a direction normal to said side opening;
- a fluid power source for driving the piston;
- a driving member rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent to said side opening and connected to the end of said rotatable shaft;
- said driving member being aligned with the piston and engageable thereby for rotation;
- whereby activation of the power source will cause the piston through said driving member to rotate the shaft and unlock said fittings;
- said driving member having means for securing the rotatable shaft and the connector in the unlocked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.