Back to results
US 8,308,167 B2Granted
Locking mechanism with quick disassembly means
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorsPete J. Balsells, Farshid Dilmaghanian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking tool or device that permits rapid installation and removal of a removable component from a component that is fixed to a housing or equipment. The interchangeable, and hence removable, components may be held in place by individual holders that provide secure axial locking means and quick radial removal means requiring no axial space for the removal of such components from the main base tool.
Claims26
A locking mechanism for use in quick-release applications, comprising:
- a housing including a longitudinal axis, a first end portion of the housing including first and second furcations defining a slot therebetween, an inner surface of the first furcation including a first groove therein:
- a piston including a body section, a first end of the body section defining first and second shoulders, a tongue extending away from the shoulders along the longitudinal axis, a surface of the tongue including a second groove therein;
- a sleeve slidably engaging an outer surface of the piston body section;
- and
- a canted-coil spring;
- wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first configuration in which the tongue is disposed within the slot such that the furcations abut the shoulders and the first and second grooves are aligned, the canted-coil spring is disposed within the first and second grooves and is compressed by the first and second grooves, and the sleeve is positioned over at least a portion of a junction between the housing and the piston such that the sleeve engages the outer surface of the piston body section and outer surfaces of the furcations, thereby resisting relative motion of the housing and the piston in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
3 more elements
A locking mechanism for use in quick-release applications, comprising:
- a housing including a longitudinal axis, a first end portion of the housing including first and second furcations defining a slot therebetween, an inner surface of the first furcation including a first groove therein, an inner surface of the second furcation including a second groove therein;
- a piston including a body section, a first end of the body section defining first and second shoulders, a tongue extending away from the shoulders along the longitudinal axis, a surface of the tongue including a continuous perimeter groove therein;
- a sleeve slidably engaging an outer surface of the piston body section;
- and
- a canted-coil spring disposed within the continuous perimeter groove;
- wherein the locking mechanism, comprises a first configuration, in which the tongue is disposed within the slot such that the furcations abut the shoulders and the continuous perimeter groove is aligned with the first and second grooves, the canted-coil spring is disposed within the first and second grooves and is compressed by the first and second grooves, and the sleeve is positioned over at least a portion of a junction between the housing and the piston such that the sleeve engages the outer surface of the piston body section and outer surfaces of the furcations, thereby preventing relative motion of the housing and the piston in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.