US 4,597,699 AGranted

Quick-connect mechanism

AssigneeErickson Tool Company

InventorValdas S. Ramunas

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Abstract

A quick-connect and quick-disconnect mechanism includes a male member which may be received in a female socket member. Cam means is journaled in an eccentric cam follower surface in the socket and is capable of rotation about a second axis displaced from the axis of the socket. A locking surface on the cam means faces in a longitudinal direction opposite the entrance of the socket and opposite that of a lockable abutment surface on the male member. An aperture in the cam means is sufficiently large to accommodate the entrance of the lockable abutment surface on the male member. The cam means is rotatable within the cam follower surface to move the cam locking surface with a radially inward component and a component of movement in a longitudinal direction away from the entrance of the socket to engage the lockable abutment surface to lock the male member in the socket. The cam means may also have an expelling surface to aid in expelling the male member from the socket. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A quick-disconnect mechanism including a male member and a socket therefor, said socket having a longitudinal aperture disposed along an axis and adapted to receive said male member coaxial therewith, said male member having a lockable abutment surface facing in a first longitudinal direction toward the entrance of said socket;

cam means journalled in an eccentric cam follower surface on said socket for rotation about a second axis displaced from the axis of said socket;
an aperture in said cam means sufficiently large to accommodate the entrance of the lockable abutment surface on said male member;
a first diametral axis of symmetry through said cam follower surface bisecting high and low points thereof;
a conical locking surface on said cam means facing in a second longitudinal direction opposite that of said lockable abutment surface;
and means to rotate said cam means in first and second opposite rotational directions whereby rotation in said first longitudinal direction rotates said cam locking surface toward said high point of said cam follower surface to move said cam conical locking surface with a radially inward component and with a component of movement in said second longitudinal direction to engage said lockable abutment surface to lock said male member in said socket;
and whereby rotation of said cam in said second rotation direction unlocks said cam locking surface from said lockable abutment surface.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.