Quick disconnect constant velocity universal joint

A shaft coupling system for connecting the output shaft of a source of rotary power to the input shaft of a device to be driven comprising:

• a hollow inner member connected to one of said input and output shafts, said hollow inner member having an axis of rotation, an outer spherical surface and a plurality of radial apertures disposed through the walls of said hollow inner member along a plane transverse to said axis of rotation;
• a plurality of roller balls, one disposed in each of said plurality of radial apertures, said plurality of roller balls being free to move in said radial apertures in a radial direction from a first innermost position to a second outermost position;
• an outer member connected to the other of said input and output shafts, said outer member having a cylindrical portion receiving said outer spherical surface of said hollow inner member, the internal surface of said cylindrical portion having a plurality of rectilinear grooves provided therein, one groove for each of said plurality of roller balls;
• and
• displaceable means for operatively connecting said plurality of roller balls to said plurality of rectilinear grooves, said displaceable means disposed in said hollow inner member for operatively engaging said plurality of roller balls, said displaceable means having a conical portion engaging said plurality of roller balls, said displaceable means further having resilient biasing means for biasing said plurality of roller balls to a first position radially displacing said plurality of roller balls outwardly, one into each of said plruality of grooves, to operatively connect said hollow inner member with said outer member, said displaceable means further being displaceable to a second position permitting said roller balls to be displaced inwardly permitting said hollow inner member and said outer member to be separated from each other, said plurality of roller balls being in continuous contact with said conical portion at said second outermost position such that as said hollow inner member articulates with respect to said outer member, said plurality of roller balls move along said conical portion of said displaceable means to maintain intimate contact with said plurality of rectilinear grooves of said outer member.