Locking mechanism with visible status indication

A system for verifiably locking a first cylindrical component to a second cylindrical component, wherein the system provides a visible indication when the first cylindrical component and the second cylindrical component are secured, the system comprising:

• a. the first cylindrical component comprising a lock cylinder fixedly attached to the first cylindrical component, wherein the lock cylinder comprises:
• (i) a lock body;
• (ii) a lock piston disposed within the lock body, wherein the lock piston is moveable and comprises:
• 1. a visible portion;
• 2. a locking portion opposite the visible portion;
• and
• wherein the visible portion, the locking portion, or the visible portion and the locking portion are selectively extended at least partially out of the lock body;
• and
• (iii) a means of positioning the lock piston to selectively extend out of the lock body;
• and
• b. the second cylindrical component comprising a channel, wherein the channel comprises:
• (i) a guide region which slidably receives and engages at least part of the locking portion and mechanically cooperates with at least part of the locking portion to properly align, properly orient, or properly guide the first cylindrical component with respect to the second cylindrical component;
• and
• (ii) a lock region contiguous with the guide region to secure the lock piston, wherein the lock region comprises a first mechanical feature disposed proximate the guide region to prevent the lock piston from travelling into the guide region and holding the locking portion of the lock piston substantially immobile when the first cylindrical component and the second cylindrical component are locked;
• and
• wherein the visible portion of the lock piston provides an indication of whether or not the lock piston is secured in the lock region of the channel;
• c. a position indicator fixedly attached to the first cylindrical component, wherein the position indicator comprises:
• (i) an indicator body with a first end and a second end;
• and
• (ii) a moveable indicator piston extending at least partially out of the indicator body, wherein the indicator piston is biased to extend out of the second end;
• d. a second mechanical feature disposed within the channel, wherein the second mechanical feature overcomes the bias of the indicator piston when aligned with the indicator piston, causing the indicator piston to visibly extend out of the first end;
• and
• wherein the lock piston does not extend visibly from the lock body and, simultaneously, the indicator piston extends visibly out of the indicator body when the locking portion of the lock piston is secured in the locking region.