Automatic coupling device

A coupling device for connecting a male member having a circumferential groove therein to a female member to prevent axial movement therebetween comprising:

• a female member having a plurality of radial openings in the sides thereof,
• a plurality of locking balls carried by the respective openings in said female member for protrusion into the groove in the male member,
• a collar having a plurality of flexible tabs positioned on the sides of said collar;
• cam means fixed within said collar and having a plurality of openings in the sides thereof into which said flexible tabs are adapted to extend, said cam means and said collar being disposed on the outer surface of said female member for rotation relative thereto;
• a torsional spring positioned within said collar, said spring having one end thereof connected to said collar and the other end connected to said female member for rotation of said collar relative to said female member against the force for said spring;
• and
• means for preventing axial movement of said collar relative to said female member while permitting rotational movement of said collar between an unlocked position and a locked position, whereby when said collar is rotated to the unlocked position said tabs of said collar are moved into engagement with the openings in said female member and the balls therein against the force of said torsional spring to permit outward radial movement of said locking balls relative to the male member thereby permitting axial movement between the male and female members, the radial movement of the balls causing said tabs to move out of the openings in said female member thereby releasing the force of said torsional spring causing said collar automatically to rotate to the locked position covering said openings in said female member to prevent outward movement of said locking balls so that when the male member is inserted into said female member said locking balls move radially into the circumferential groove in the male member to prevent axial movement between the male and female members.

A coupling device for connecting a male member having a locking groove therein to a female member to prevent axial movement therebetween comprising:

• a female member having at least one radial opening in the side thereof,
• at least one locking element carried by the respective opening in said female member for protrusion into the locking groove in the male member,
• a collar having at least one flexible finger positioned on the side of said collar;
• cam means fixed within said collar and having a plurality of openings in the sides thereof into which said flexible tabs are adapted to extend, said cam means and said collar being disposed on the outer surface of said female member for rotation relative thereto;
• a torsional spring positioned within said collar, said spring having one end thereof connected to said collar and the other end connected to said female member for rotation of said collar relative to said female member against the force of said spring;
• and
• means for preventing axial movement of said collar relative to said female member while permitting rotational movement of said collar between an unlocked positioned and a locked position, whereby when said collar is rotated to the unlocked position said finger on said collar is moved into engagement with the radial opening in said female member and the locking element therein against the force of said torsional spring to permit outward radial movement of said locking element relative to the male member thereby permitting axial movement between the male and female members, the radial movement of the locking element causing said finger to move out of the radial opening in said female member thereby releasing the force of said torsional spring causing said collar automatically to rotate to the locked position covering said opening in said female member to prevent outward movement of said locking element so that when the male member is inserted into said female member said locking element moves radially into the locking groove in the male member to prevent axial movement between the male and female members.

A coupling device including a member having an internally splined opening being adapted to receive an externally splined shaft having a recess therein, locking structure selectively locking the shaft into the opening in the member, said locking structure being biased to a locked position and selectively movable to an unlocked position, said locking structure including means for automatically locking the shaft within the member upon insertion of the shaft into the internally splined opening of the member and structure for allowing unlocking of the shaft from the internally splined member, said locking structure including at least one bore radially disposed in said member, a locking element slidably disposed in said bore and being radially movable from an inner locking position, wherein the element is engageable within the recess in the shaft to prevent relative axial movement of the member with respect to the shaft, and an outer unlocked position, whereby the element permits relative axial movement of the member and the shaft, and rotatable means for maintaining the locking element in the unlocked position with respect to the recess in the shaft while the shaft is being withdrawn or inserted into the opening in the member, said means for maintaining said locking element in the unlocked position being automatically actuated and rotated to the locked position, upon insertion or withdrawal of the shaft from said opening in said internally splined member said locking structure further comprises cam means positioned on the outside of said internally splined member and fixed within a collar having a plurality of openings in the sides thereof into which flexible tabs are adapted to extend.

• said cam means and said collar being disposed on the outer surface of said internally splined member for rotation relative thereto.