Automatic quick release mechanism

Abstract

Abstract AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC QUICK RELEASE LOCKING MECHANISM IN WHICH A LOCK-OPERATING SPRING NORMALLY URGES A LOCKING BALL CARRIER MOVABLY SUPPORTED ON A BARREL TO SUCH A POSITION RELATIVE TO A BALL ACTUATOR SECURED TO AN OUTER SLEEVE, AS TO MOVE LOCKING BALLS TO POSITIONS AT WHICH THEY MAY OCCUPY A RECESS IN A PLUNGER ROD SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON THE BARREL TO LOCK THE ROD AGAINST MOVEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A DRIVE SPRING. TO RELEASE THE MECHANISM, THE PLUNGER-ACTUATED ELEMENT IS HELD AGAINST A SURFACE AND THE SLEEVE IS MOVED TOWARD THE SURFACE TO MOVE THE ACTUATOR AWAY FROM THE BALLS TO FREE THEM FOR MOVEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE PLUNGER HEAD TO FREE THE PLUNGER ROD. TO COCK THE MECHANISM, THE END OF THE PLUNGER ROD IS HELD AGAINST A RESISTANT SURFACE AND PRESSURE IS EXERTED AGAINST A CAP SUPPORTED BY THE BARREL SO THAT THE PLUNGER HEAD MOVES THE BALLS AND CARRIER AGAINST THE OPERATION OF THE LOCKING SPRING TO A POSITION AT WHICH THE BALLS ARE FREE OF THE ACTUATOR, THUS TO PERMIT THE PLUNGER HEAD TO TRAVEL THEREBY TO PERMIT THE LOCKING SPRING TO MOVE THE BALL CARRIER BACK TO A POSITION AT WHICH THE BALLS ARE MOVED INTO THE PLUNGER LOCKING RECESS UNDER THE ACTION OF THE LOCKING SPRING. UPON RELEASE OF THE CAP, THE BALLS WILL HOLD THE PLUNGER ROD LOCKED.

Inventors

• 👤 Paul R Gley

Bibliographic Details