Self locking coupling mechanism for engaging and moving a load

Coupling mechanism for engaging a load which is to be lifted, the load having a knob secured thereto through a neck of smaller diameter than the knob, comprising:

• a housing having an annular internal surface of spherical segment configuration and having a knob receiving passage which extends through said internal surface,
• a turnable ball member disposed within said housing and having a spherical outer surface adjacent said internal surface of said housing, said ball member having an interior chamber and an opening of sufficient size to admit said knob into said chamber and further having an arcuate slot extending from said opening and which is of less width than said knob but of sufficient width to receive said neck as said ball member is turned with said knob in said chamber, and
• control means for turning said ball member within said housing between a load receiving and releasing position at which said opening of said ball member is aligned with said passage of said housing to receive said knob therethrough and a load holding position at which said opening of said ball member is displaced from said passage of said housing and said slot is adjacent said passage, said control means including an arcuate work gear sector secured to said ball member, a worm journaled with said housing and engaged with said work gear sector, and a reversible motor secured to said housing and being coupled to said worm to drive said worm gear sector and thereby turn said ball member between said positions thereof.

A coupling mechanism for remotely handling loads comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing being provided with lifting means at one end and with a guide passage at the opposite end, said guide passage including an outwardly extending conical surface;
• a turnable member rotatably mounted in said chamber of said housing, said turnable member having an opening therein on a slot extending from said opening, said opening having a cross-section greater than a cross-section of said slot;
• means located in said chamber of said housing operatively connected to said turnable member for at least partially rotating same;
• and
• control means operatively connected to said turnable member rotating means for selectively activating said rotating means causing selective rotation of said turnable member;
• whereby said turnable member may be positioned in a load receiving and releasing orientation such that said opening in said turnable member is in alignment with said guide passage of said housing, or said turnable member may be positioned in a load holding orientation such that a portion of said slot in said turnable member is in alignment with said guide passage of said housing.