Linear mechanical lock with one-piece lock housing
AssigneeP. L. Porter Company
InventorsClyde R. Porter, George V. Babiciuc
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Simplified assembly and reduced parts count in a linear mechanical lock assembly of the type where a rod is normally gripped against axial translation through a housing by a coil spring and released by unwinding the spring, is achieved by a one piece housing with integrally formed spring containment and rod bearing elements.
Claims9
A linear mechanical lock comprising:
- a housing formed of a single sheet of metal or the like folded to a generally tubular shape, said sheet having opposite edges, and means for holding said opposite edges in close proximity to each other for retaining said sheet in said tubular shape.
- rod bearing means spaced circumferentially about said tubular shaped housing and spring end bearing means having an overall circumferential extend lesser than said rod bearing means, said rod bearing means and said spring end bearing means being integrally formed by deformation of said single sheet;
- a rod slidably supported on said rod bearing means for axial movement through said housing;
- coil spring means coaxial with said rod and having a normal inside diameter for clutching said rod against said axial movement;
- said spring means being axially fixed between and engagable with said end bearing means such that one or more end coils of said spring means are canted to a rod locking condition under axial loading of the rod relative to said housing;
- one or more end tangs of said spring means being circumferential fixed to openings defined in said housing;
- means for unwinding said spring means for releasing said rod;
- and
- said housing having an inside diameter closely encompassing said spring means between said end bearing means to cause substantially even unwinding of the coils of said spring means along the length of said spring means.
A one piece housing for a linear mechanical lock of the type having a rod axially translatable through the housing, coil spring means wound about the rod and axially fixed to the housing, said spring means having a normal inside diameter for gripping the rod against axial translation, and means for unwinding the coil spring means to release the rod, said housing comprising:
- a single sheet of metal or the like formed to define two concave half shells joined along a hinge line for folding from an open condition for assembly with said rod and said spring to a closed operative condition;
- rod bearing means and end bearing means interior to said half shells;
- said sheet being folded to said closed condition to make a one piece housing wherein said rod is slidably supported on said rod bearing means, said spring means are axially fixed between said end bearing means so that one or more end coils of said spring means are canted to a rod locking condition under axial loading of the rod relative to said housing, and one or more end tangs of said spring means are circumferentially fixed to said housing;
- and
- interlocked edge portions of said sheet for positively securing said sheet against unfolding from said closed operative condition.
A linear mechanical lock comprising:
- a housing formed of a single sheet of metal or the like folded to a generally tubular shape;
- rod bearing means and end bearing means in said housing;
- a rod slidably supported on said rod bearing means for axial movement through said housing;
- coil spring means coaxial with said rod and having a normal inside diameter for clutching said rod against said axial movement;
- said spring means being axially fixed between said end bearing means such that one or more end coils of said spring means are canted to a rod locking condition under axial loading of the rod relative to said housing;
- one or more end tangs of said spring means being circumferentially fixed to said housing in one or more longitudinal slots in said housing defined between opposite edges of said folded sheet;
- and
- means for unwinding said spring means for releasing said rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.