Separable connector with locking means

Claim 2

A separable connector comprising first and second connector bodies adapted to be secured together in aligned operative relationship, means for securing said bodies together comprising a sleeve mounted on the first body for rotation with respect thereto while being held from axial movement therealong toward the second body, interfitting formations on the sleeve and the second body which pull the connector bodies together and maintain them in that position upon the turning of the sleeve in one direction relative to the second body, and releasable locking means for positively preventing the turning of the sleeve from the position thereof relative to the second body in which it secures the connector bodies together in operative relationship, said locking means comprising a detent mounted for radial movement on said sleeve, said detent being operatively engageable with a recess in the outer wall of said first body in position to lock the latter and said sleeve against relative rotation, and a locking ring mounted on said sleeve for a limited range of angular movement relative thereto, said ring being adapted in one angular position to hold said detent in its locking position and being adapted in another angular position to release said detent from its locking position.

Claim 3

A separable connector as defined in claim 1 comprising resilient means for urging said locking ring to said one angular position on said sleeve for holding said detent in its locking position and for resisting angular movement of said locking ring from said one angular position for releasing said detent from its locking position.

Claim 4

A separable connectOr as defined in claim 1 comprising cooperable means on said sleeve and ring for limiting angular movement of the ring relative to the sleeve, and means on said ring operable when the ring is in said one angular position to hold said detent immovable in its locking position and operable to release said detent from its locking when the ring is in another angular position on the sleeve.

Claim 5

A separable connector comprising first and second connector bodies adapted to be secured together in aligned operative relationship, means for securing said bodies together comprising a first sleeve mounted on the first body for rotation with respect thereto while being held from axial movement therealong toward the second body, interfitting formations on the first sleeve and the second body which pull the connector bodies together and maintain them in that position upon the turning of said first sleeve in one direction relative to the second body, and releasable locking means for positively preventing the turning of said first sleeve from the position thereof relative to the second body in which it secures the connector bodies together in operative relation, said locking means comprising a second sleeve rotatably mounted upon the first body, rotary lost motion means connecting the two sleeves whereby the first sleeve may be turned by the second sleeve, normally operative detent means coacting with the first body and said sleeves for locking the first sleeve against rotation with respect to the first body, and means for rendering said detent means inoperative upon the turning of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve as permitted by said lost motion connecting means.

Claim 6

A separable connector comprising first and second connector bodies adapted to be secured together in aligned operative relationship, means for securing said bodies together comprising a first sleeve mounted on the first body for rotation with respect thereto while being held from axial movement therealong toward the second body, interfitting formations on the first sleeve and the second body which pull the connector bodies together and maintain them in that position upon the turning of said first sleeve in one direction relative to the second body, and releasable locking means for positively preventing the turning of said first sleeve from the position thereof relative to the second body in which it secures the connector bodies together in operative relation, said locking means comprising a second sleeve rotatably mounted upon the first body, rotary lost motion means connecting the two sleeves whereby the first sleeve may be turned by the second sleeve, normally operative detent means coacting with the first body and said sleeves for locking the first sleeve against rotation with respect to the first body, and means for rendering said detent means inoperative upon the turning of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve as permitted by said lost motion connecting means.

Claim 7

A separable connector according to claim 4 wherein the lost motion connecting means comprises resilient means yieldable throughout a predetermined range which constantly urges the second sleeve angularly toward its locking position.

Claim 8

A separable connector according to claim 5, wherein the lost motion connecting means comprises stop shoulder means on the first and second sleeves, said stop shoulder means engaging each other to provide a positive drive between the second and first sleeves before the end of the range of yielding of the resilient means is reached.

Claim 9

A separable connector comprising first and second connector bodies adapted to be secured together in aligned operative relationship, means for securing the two bodies together comprising a first sleeve mounted on the first body for rotation with respect thereto while being held from axial movement therealong toward the second body, interfitting formations on said sleeve and the second body which pull the bodies together and maintain them in that position upon the turning of the sleeve in one direction relative to the second body, and releasable locking means for preventing the turning of said sleeve from the position thereof relative to the second body in which it secures the connector bodies together in operative relationship, said locking means comprising a second sleeve having at least a part thereof telescoped over the first sleeve, a rotary lost motion connection between the two sleeves whereby the first sleeve may be turned by the second sleeve, a shiftable detent carried by the first sleeve and simultaneously at least substantially engaging a radially outer wall portion of the first body and a radially inner wall portion of the second sleeve, and cooperating detent receiving formations on said outer and inner wall portions which lock the first sleeve against rotation with respect to the first body when the second sleeve lies in a first angular position about its axis with respect to the first sleeve and the first body and which free the first sleeve for rotation with respect to the first body upon the turning of the second sleeve to a second angular position with respect to the first sleeve and the first body.

Claim 10

A separable connector comprising first and second connector bodies adapted to be secured together in aligned operative relationship, means for securing the two bodies together comprising a first sleeve mounted on the first body for rotation with respect thereto while being held from axial movement therealong toward the second body, interfitting formations on said sleeve and the second body which pull the bodies together and maintain them in that position upon the turning of the sleeve in one direction relative to the second body, and releasable locking means for preventing the turning of said sleeve from the position thereof relative to the second body in which it secures the connector bodies together in operative relationship, said locking means comprising a second sleeve having at least a part thereof telescoped over the first sleeve, a rotary lost motion connection between the two sleeves whereby the first sleeve may be turned by the second sleeve, a shiftable detent carried by the first sleeve and simultaneously at least substantially engaging a radially outer wall portion of the first body and a radially inner wall portion of the second sleeve, and cooperating detent receiving formations on said outer and inner wall portions which lock the first sleeve against rotation with respect to the first body when the second sleeve lies in a first angular position about its axis with respect to the first sleeve and the first body and which free the first sleeve for rotation with respect to the first body upon the turning of the second sleeve to a second angular position with respect to the first sleeve and the first body.

Claim 11

A separable connector according to claim 7, wherein the first sleeve has a generally radially extending slot therethrough so that said wall portions of the first body and the second sleeve confront each other through said slot, and said detent is mounted within the slot in the first sleeve.

Claim 12

A separable connector according to claim 7, wherein said lost motion connection comprises resilient means for urging the second sleeve angularly toward said first angular position with respect to the first sleeve, said resilient means yielding to permit the second sleeve to be turned to said second angular position relative to the first sleeve.

Claim 13

A separable connector according to claim 7, wherein said lost motion connection comprises opposed springs acting between the first and second sleeves for urging the second sleeve toward said first angular position with respect to the first sleeve, the respective springs yielding in opposite directions when the second sleeve is turned in opposite directions from said first angular position relative to the first sleeve.

Claim 14

A coupling device comprising a cylindrical shell having at least one first recess in the outer wall thereof, a cylindrical coupling member mounted in a fixed axial position on said shell for rotation relative thereto, and means for releasably locking said member against rotation on the shell, said locking means comprising a detent movably mounted on said member and movable radially between an inner locking position operatively engaged in said first recess to prevent relative rotation of said shell and member and an outer releasing position removed from said first recess to permit relative rotation of said shell and member, and a sleeve mounted in a fixed axial position on said member for only a limited range of angular movement relative thereto, and resilient means for yieldably urging said sleeve angularly to a predetermined angular position relative to said member to hold said detent in locking position, said sleeve being angularly movable in opposition to said resilient means to free said detent for movement to its releasing position to thereby permit simultaneous rotation of said member and sleeve relative to said shell.

Claim 15

A coupling device comprising a cylindrical shell having at least one first recess in the outer wall thereof, a cylindrical coupling member mounted in a fixed axial position on said shell for rotation relative thereto, and means for releasably locking said member against rotation on the shell, said locking means comprising a detent movably mounted on said member and movable radially between an inner locking position operatively engaged in said first recess to prevent relative rotation of said shell and member and an outer releasing position removed from said first recess to permit relative rotation of said shell and member, and a sleeve mounted in a fixed axial position on said member for only a limited range of angular movement relative thereto, and resilient means for yieldably urging said sleeve angularly to a predetermined angular position relative to said member to hold said detent in locking position, said sleeve being angularly movable in opposition to said resilient means to free said detent for movement to its releasing position to thereby permit simultaneous rotation of said member and sleeve relative to said shell.

Claim 16

A separable connector comprising a coupling device as defined in claim 11 and further including a second cylindrical shell and cooperating means on said second shell and the coupling member for connecting the same in response to relative rotation thereof.

Claim 17

A coupling device as defined in claim 11 wherein there are a plurality of said first recesses angularly spaced about the periphery of said shell.

Claim 18

A coupling device as defined in claim 11 wherein said resilient means are housed between the outer and inner walls of said member and sleeve, respectively.

Claim 19

A coupling device as defined in claim 11 wherein said detent is a roller mounted in a radial opening through the wall of said member.

Claim 20

A coupling device as defined in claim 15 wherein said roller is a sphere.

Claim 21

A coupling device as defined in claim 11 wherein said predetermined angular position of the sleeve on the coupling member for holding the detent in locking position is intermediate the terminals of said limited range of angular movement of the sleeve on said member.

Claim 22

A coupling device as defined in claim 17 wherein said resilient means comprises opposed springs for resisting angular movement of said sleeve relative to said member in either direction from said predetermined position.