Theft-proof self-connecting lock coupling device for helicopters and tow submarines

Claim 2

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for use with helicopters, tow submarines and the like, comprising one coupling part adapted to be connected to the helicopter or submarine comprising a coupling body, grip members carried by the coupling body and means operable upon the coupling part body and connected with the grip members to effect a gripping engagement with a hitch pin of another coupling part, another cooperating coupling part comprising a coupling body, a hitch pin adjustable in said body between extended and retracted positions and power means connected to the coupling body to move said hitch pin between the two positions, said hitch pin when the coupling parts are aligned with one another being adapted to be received by the grip members of the one coupling part, said power means for operating the hitch pin including a device operable in response to the uncoupling of the coupling parts to cause the hitch pin to be automatically retracted and to lock the hitch pin in its retracted position and a key-operated device actionable upon the hitch pin to unlock the power operating means to permit extension of the hitch pin only at the will of the one in control of the goods container being lifted by a helicopter or a tanker towed by the submarine.

Claim 3

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for use with helicopters, tow submarines and the like, as defined in claim 1 and said one coupling part having a skirted centering portion and said other coupling part body having a rounded nose portion adapted to be centered by the skirted portion of the one coupling part as the coupling parts are being joined together, said hitch pin of the other coupling part being positioned for engagement by the grip members upon the coupling parts having been centered with one another.

Claim 4

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for helicopters, tow submarines and the like, as defined in claim 2, and said means for operating the grip members of the one coupling part being carried thereby, but being actuated by the hitch pin of the other coupling part upon the same being extended to force the grip members upon the hitch pin and to thereby finally couple the one coupling part with the other coupling part.

Claim 5

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for helicopters, tow submarines and the like, as defined in claim 3 and said means for operating the grip members including a compression spring-actuated device carried upon the one part, having a plunger shank depending into and between the grip members thereof and engageable by the hitch pin when being extended from the other part to be actuated by the hitch pin so as to compress the spring and effect automatic engagement of the grip members upon the extension of the hitch pin.

Claim 6

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for helicopters, tow submarines and the like, as defined in claim 4 and toggle link members actionable upon the grip members, linkage means extending between the compression spring actuator and the toggle link members to place the toggle links into over center locking position upon the spring being compressed by the hitch pin to hold the grip members upon the hitch pin, said compression spring upon the coupling device being released from the helicopter serving to uncouple the coupling parts and to release the toggle links and the gripping members.

Claim 7

A theft-proof, self connecting lock coupling device for helicopters, tow submarines and the like, as defined in claim 5, and locking levers pivotal upon the body of the first coupling part and engageable with the spring compression toggle operating linkage means, said locking levers being connected to cables suspended from a helicopter and pivotable into a locking position to hold toggle parts lOcked against the action of the compression spring upon the coupling device and the connected goods container being lifted from the ground and the cables placed under strain.

Claim 8

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for helicopters, tow submarines, and the like as defined in claim 1, and said hitch pin having a central opening, a trigger pin slidable in said opening adapted to be extended therefrom, a spring biasing said trigger pin to its extended position, said power means for operating the hitch pin comprising a jack screw and a reversible motor, normally upon switch means on the hitch pin engageable by the trigger pin upon the trigger pin being depressed by engagement of the one coupling part with the other coupling part and upon release of the coupling parts said trigger pin upon being extended serving to effect the actuation of said reversible motor and the retraction of the hitch pin, limit switch means on the other coupling part and engageable by the hitch pin to arrest the retracting movement of the hitch pin and said key operated means being a lock switch actionable upon insertion of a key to reverse the operation of the reversible motor and of the jack screw to extend the hitch pin.

Claim 9

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for use with helicopters, tow submarines and the like, as defined in claim 7 and solenoid means carried by the hitch pin for retracting the trigger pin after the hitch pin has been retracted and said limit switch means including means for effecting the energization of the solenoid means.

Claim 10

A theft-proof, self-connecting lock coupling device for use with helicopters, tow submarines and the like, as defined in claim 2, and said means for operating the grip members, toggle links extending between the grip members and the coupling to close and open the grip members upon the hitch pin, a two-way cylinder device on the coupling body and linkage means connecting the cylinder device with the toggle links to open and close the grip members.

Claim 11

In combination, a helicopter top drop coupling part comprising a coupling body having a transverse wall portion with a hitch pin opening thereunder and a skirt centering portion depending below hitch pin opening and a restrictive passage communicating therewith, hitch pin grip members pivotally connected to the transverse wall portion and depending into the hitch pin opening in central alignment with the restrictive passage and the skirt centering portion, toggle links extending laterally in the hitch pin opening and connected between the grip members and the side of the body, vertically extending toggle operating links connected to the toggle links to actuate the same and slidable upwardly through the transverse wall portion, a spring actuator device mounted on top of the wall portion and including a compression spring and a plunger actuated by the spring and slidable through the top wall portion for engagement with a hitch pin positioned within the grip members, a spider carried on the plunger, and extending from the spider fulcrumed upon the top wall portion and pivotally connected with the upper ends of the vertically extending toggle operating links, locking levers pivoted upon the top wall portion and engageable with the upper ends of the vertically slidable operating links to hold the toggle links over center and the grip members closed said body having an inturned lip at its upper end and the outer ends of the locking levers engageable with the inturned lip to limit the pivotal movement of the locking levers in their locking position, suspension cables connected to the locking levers so that the levers and lip assume the load of the coupling parts, and a bottom coupling part comprising a coupling body having a central hitch pin opening and a rounded nose position cooperable with the skirt portion of the top coupling part to center the coupling parts with one another, a hitch pin adjustable in the central hitch pin opening when the coupling parts are centered and extendable through the restrictive passage and in the hitch pin opening at the one coupling part and power-operated means on the bottom coupling body to extend and retract the hitch pin, said hitch pin having a ball-shaped head engageable by said grip members of the one coupling part, said ball-shaped head of the hitch pin engageable with plunger of the spring actuator device to compress the spring and effect the closing of the grip members about the hitch pin head.

Claim 12

In combination, a helicopter top drop coupling part comprising a coupling body having a transverse wall portion with a hitch pin opening thereunder and a skirt centering portion depending below hitch pin opening and a restrictive passage communicating therewith, hitch pin grip members pivotally connected to the transverse wall portion and depending into the hitch pin opening in central alignment with the restrictive passage and the skirt centering portion, toggle links extending laterally in the hitch pin opening and connected between the grip members and the side of the body, vertically extending toggle operating links connected to the toggle links to actuate the same and slidable upwardly through the transverse wall portion, a spring actuator device mounted on top of the wall portion and including a compression spring and a plunger actuated by the spring and slidable through the top wall portion for engagement with a hitch pin positioned within the grip members, a spider carried on the plunger, and extending from the spider fulcrumed upon the top wall portion and pivotally connected with the upper ends of the vertically extending toggle operating links, locking levers pivoted upon the top wall portion and engageable with the upper ends of the vertically slidable operating links to hold the toggle links over center and the grip members closed said body having an inturned lip at its upper end and the outer ends of the locking levers engageable with the inturned lip to limit the pivotal movement of the locking levers in their locking position, suspension cables connected to the locking levers so that the levers and lip assume the load of the coupling parts, and a bottom coupling part comprising a coupling body having a central hitch pin opening and a rounded nose position cooperable with the skirt portion of the top coupling part to center the coupling parts with one another, a hitch pin adjustable in the central hitch pin opening when the coupling parts are centered and extendable through the restrictive passage and in the hitch pin opening at the one coupling part and power-operated means on the bottom coupling body to extend and retract the hitch pin, said hitch pin having a ball-shaped head engageable by said grip members of the one coupling part, said ball-shaped head of the hitch pin engageable with plunger of the spring actuator device to compress the spring and effect the closing of the grip members about the hitch pin head.

Claim 13

The combination as defined in claim 10 and said power-operated means for extending and retracting the hitch pin including a jack screw connected to the hitch pin within the central opening and a reversible motor for and gear connected to jack screw to operate the screw and hitch pin and said hitch pin having a central opening through the ball-shaped head and a trigger pin spring biased from said opening, a switch on the hitch pin operable upon release of the hitch pin from the one coupling part to cause the rotation of the reversible motor and the retraction of the hitch pin, limit switch means on the coupling body and engageable with the hitch pin to arrest the retraction movement of the hitch pin, and key-operated switch means operable in opposite rotation to extend the hitch pin for further coupling of the coupling parts.