Device for the remote coupling and uncoupling of two elements of great length disposed coaxially and end to end

A device for the remote coupling and uncoupling of two elements of great length disposed coaxially and end to end, the first of said elements being a drive element axially displaceable between two extreme positions by displacement means, the second of said elements being a driven element exerting a force resisting the drive, said drive element comprising, at one of its ends, at least two resilient junction portions with deformation in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said elements, maintained spaced apart in junction position in which they engage in a seating formed at one end of said driven element, by a spacing member with axial displacement fixed to the end of a central rod disposed along the axis of the elements, said device comprising

• (a) a cylindrical internal actuating sleeve (14) coaxial with said drive element (5), mounted for rotation about its axis on said drive element (5), and rigidly connected, for rotation about its axis, to said central rod (10, 67) carrying said spacing member (12), the dimensions of said spacing member (12) being asymmetrical in relation to its axis of revolution, whereby, upon rotation of said central rod (10, 67) about the axis of said device, said spacing member (12) is selectively located in a position for spacing apart said resilient junction portions (8, 9) and in a position out of service in which it is no longer in contact with said resilient portions (8, 9);
• (b) a pin (17) disposed transversely in relation to the axis of said device, fixed to the end of the assembly consisting of said internal actuating sleeve (14) and said central rod (10, 67) opposite to the end rigidly connected to said spacing member (12);
• and
• (c) an external actuating sleeve (28) coaxial with said drive element (5), having a diameter larger than the diameter of said internal sleeve (14), disposed in a fixed axial position in relation to said drive (5) and driven (1) elements, for rotation about its axis, connected to a means for driving in rotation (30, 33, 35, 41, 43, 44) in one direction and in the other with an amplitude of rotation equal to the angle of rotation necessary to displace said spacing member (12) between its positions in and out of service, and comprising, on its lateral surface, longitudinal slots (45), the axial displacement of said drive and driven elements (1, 5) positioning said pin (17), in the vicinity of one of the extreme positions of these elements, inside the slots (45) in said external actuating sleeve (28) which can then displace in rotation the assembly carrying said spacing member (12) to effect coupling or uncoupling of said drive (5) and driven (1) elements.