Sprag lock structure

Claim 1

IN A SPRAG BRAKE MECHANISM, A SUPPORT, A ROTATABLE SHAFT JOURNALLED ON SAID SUPPORT HAVING A LOCKING GEAR FIXED THERETO, A TOOTHED LOCKING SPRAG PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT ON AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SHAFT FOR MOVEMENT OF THE SPRAG TOOTHED PORTION INTO AND OUT OF LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOCKING GEAR, A FIRST RESILIENT MEANS CONTINUOUSLY URGING SAID LOCKING SPRAG OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCKING GEAR, AN ACTUATOR FOR EFFECTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCKING SPRAG INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCKING GEAR COMPRISING A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LEVER JOURNALLED ON SAID SUPPORT HAVING A CAM ROLLER FOLLOWER PORTION THEREIN ARRANGED TO BE ENGAGEABLE WITH A CAM PORTION FORMED ON SAID LOCKING SPRAG TO EFFECT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCKING SPRAG INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCKING GEAR WHEN SAID LEVER IS PIVOTED IN ONE DIRECTION, AND CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO AND ARRANGED TO EFFECT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR LEVER, SAID ACTUATOR PIVOT AXIS BEING SO ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE LOCKING GEAR AXIS AND THE LOCKING SPRAG TOOTHED PORTION THAT THE ROLLER FOLLOWER PORTION OF THE ACTUATOR ENGAGED WITH THE CAM PORTION OF THE SPRAG MOVES TO AN OVERCENTER POSITION WITH RESPECT TO A LINE CONNECTING THE SHAFT PIVOT AXIS AND THE LEVER PIVOT AXIS WHEN THE SPRAG LOCKINGLY ENGAGES THE GEAR, AND COOPERATING CAMMING PORTIONS ON SAID GEAR AND SPRAG TEETH ACTING TO PRODUCE A FORCE TO CAM SAID SPRAG OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GEAR WHEN THE GEAR IS ROTATING RELATIVE TO THE SPRAG, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A SECOND RESILIENT MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING THE FORCE FOR ACTUATION OF THE ACTUATOR LEVER TO A POSITION TO INITIATE LOCKING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID GEAR AND SPRAG PRIOR TO ACTUAL LOCKING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID GEAR AND SPRAG WITH SAID SECOND RESILIENT MEANS PRELOADING SAID SPRAG TO EFFECT ACTUAL LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE TOOTH CAMMING FORCE IS OVERCOME.