Control lever locking device

Claim 1

A control device for controlling the position of linkage and the like in which the linkage may be readily actuated by a control lever, but in which a tendency to move the linkage cannot move the control lever, the device including: a fixed housing including a socket having a cylindrical inner surface; a shaft supported concentrically with said cylindrical inner surface within said socket; a clutch member having a hub supported on said shaft and a cylindrical outer surface concentric with, and spaced from, said cylindrical inner surface of said housing; said clutch member having a pair of notches in spaced relation in its peripheral cylindrical surface, said notches being of greatest depth at their adjacent ends and inclining toward the cylindrical outer surface; a sector-shaped area of said clutch member being located between the ends of said notches of greatest depth; a ring-shaped sleeve extending into said socket and sealed relative thereto, and sealed relative to said clutch member hub; a clutch ball in each of said notches between said clutch member and the inner cylindrical surface of said fixed housing, rotation of said clutch member in either direction engaging one of said rollers with said inner cylindrical surface of said fixed housing; a control lever secured to said ring-shaped sleeve for rotation therewith; a pair of opposed arcuate projections on said sleeve and movable between the outer cylindrical surface of said clutch member and the inner cylindrical surface of said fixed housing; said arcuate projections having inclined ends engageable with a corresponding one of said rollers to urge the roller toward the greatest depth end of its notch; and an arm secured to said hub outwardly of said control lever and rotatable with said clutch member, said arm being adaptable for attachment to the linkage.