US3667566A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Releasable connector, particularly for tilt cab vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-28
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A releasable connector comprises a first part in the form of a collar or cup having an internal annular groove and a second part comprising a cylinder and piston jointly defining a latch arrangement insertable into the collar and including an annular expansible-contractable latch member for selectively nesting in said groove and to secure said parts together. The latch arrangement includes an annular latch part having a conical latch face and fixed to the cylinder, and an annular latch part carried by the piston and having a conical latch face jointly defining an annular channel within which the latch member is seated. The width of the channel is varied selectively by movement of the piston to expand the latch member into the groove to secure the parts together or to permit retraction of the latch member so that the two parts can be separated. The connector is particularly adapted for use with tilt cab vehicles, the first part preferably being secured to the cab and the second part being mounted on the vehicle chassis.
Inventors
- 👤 William C N Hopkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:08
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D33/00; B62D33/06; B62D33/063; B62D33/067; B62D33/07; B62D33/071; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45225; Y10T24/45466; Y10T279/00; Y10T279/17; Y10T279/17128; Y10T279/17136; Y10T279/17145; Y10T279/17666; Y10T279/17692; Y10T279/17743; Y10T279/17752; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/59; Y10T403/591; Y10T403/593; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
In a tilt-cab motor vehicle including; a chassis, a power unit on said chassis, a cab pivotally mounted on said chassis over said power unit and tiltable between an operative position overlying said power unit and an inoperative position giving access to said power unit, means connected between said cab and chassis for lifting and lowering said cab from and to said operative position, and a cab latch including two releasably connected coupling portions respectively secured to said chassis and cab for retaining said cab in operative position; the improvement in said cab latch comprising a latch mechanism moveable between latching position securing said coupling portions together and releasing position permitting separation of said portions; said latch mechanism including said latch mechanism comprising latch means on one of said coupling portions and a pair of relatively moveable latch parts defining a recess therebetween on the other of said coupling portions, at least one latch element disposed in said recess between said latch parts and moveable upon movement of said latch parts toward each other from said recess into latching cooperation with said latch means when said coupling portions are juxtaposed together, and elastic means urging said latch element into said recess upon movement of said latch parts from each other to release said latch means and permit separation of said coupling portion; means for moving said latch mechanism to releasing position to permit separation of said coupling portions; and means constantly urging said latch mechanism toward latching position and operative upon juxtaposition of said coupling portions to secure said coupling portions together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
In a tilt-cab motor vehicle including; a chassis, a power unit on said chassis, a cab pivotally mounted on said chassis over said power unit and tiltable between an operative position overlying said power unit and an inoperative position giving access to said power unit, means connected between said cab and chassis for lifting and lowering said cab from and to said operative position, and a cab latch including two releasably connected coupling portions respectively secured to said chassis and cab for retaining said cab in operative position; the improvement in said cab latch comprising a latch mechanism moveable between latching position securing said coupling portions together and releasing position permitting separation of said portions; said latch mechanism including said latch mechanism comprising latch means on one of said coupling portions and a pair of relatively moveable latch parts defining a recess therebetween on the other of said coupling portions, at least one latch element disposed in said recess between said latch parts and moveable upon movement of said latch parts toward each other from said recess into latching cooperation with said latch means when said coupling portions are juxtaposed together, and elastic means urging said latch element into said recess upon movement of said latch parts from each other to release said latch means and permit separation of said coupling portion; means for moving said latch mechanism to releasing position to permit separation of said coupling portions; and means constantly urging said latch mechanism toward latching position and operative upon juxtaposition of said coupling portions to secure said coupling portions together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a tilt cab vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said other of said coupling portions comprises a housing defining a cylinder, a core fixed to said housing axially of said cylinder and defining an annular space betweEn said core and cylinder, an annular piston reciprocal within said annular space and carrying one of said latch parts, the other of said latch parts being fixed relative to said housing, means in said housing for moving said piston to move said latch parts toward and from each other, means supported by said core for locking said piston in rectracted position when said coupling portions are separated, and trigger means carried by said core for engagement with said one coupling portion to release said piston locking means to permit said piston to actuate said latch mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 1, lock mechanism for securing said latch mechanism in releasing position, and trigger means operable by operative juxtaposition of said coupling portions to release said lock mechanism, whereby said coupling portions automatically are secured together immediately upon operative juxtaposition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
247 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 3, wherein: one of said coupling portions comprises a collar and said latch means comprises an internal circumferential groove within said collar; the other of said coupling portions comprising a cylinder having a fixed annular portion defining one said latch part with a generally conical latch face, a piston mounted in said cylinder and having an annular portion defining the other said latch part with a generally conical latch face opposed to said first mentioned latch face jointly define an annular channel constituting said recess, and an annual latch member mounted in said channel and including a plurality of said latch elements connected by said elastic means in an endless ring, said piston being moveable within said cylinder relative to said fixed latch part to vary the width of said channel and the relative radial displacement of said latch elements by said conical latch faces; the internal diameter of said collar being at least as great as the diameters of said annular latch parts to receive the latter for alignment of said channel with said groove; means constantly urging said piston toward said rigid latch part to narrow said channel and force said latch elements radially outwardly into said groove to secure said two coupling portions together, and means for moving said piston from said rigid latch part to widen said channel and permit radial retraction of said latch elements from said groove and permit separation of said latch portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said piston latch part is disposed between said fixed latch part and said cylinder so that said fixed latch part is in advance of said piston when inserted into said collar, whereby forces tending to separate said latch portions are applied only to said fixed latch part.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said lock mechanism includes lock means moveably supported by said other latch portion in fixed relation to said fixed latch part, and said trigger means includes resilient means normally urging said trigger means into the path of said collar for operation thereby to release said lock means from said piston as the two coupling portions are moved into operative position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said cab tilting means is constituted by fluid pressure means, and said piston moving means includes a connection between said cylinder and said fluid pressure means, whereby said latch mechanism is released automatically upon application of fluid pressure to tilt said cab.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said vehicle includes a source of air under pressure, and a connection between said source and said cylinder in opposition to said piston moving means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said latch elements are of a ball-like configuration each having a like maximum diameter disposed radially of the axis of said cylinder, said conical latch faces incLuding outer annular concave surfaces the radial curvature of which corresponds to the curvature of said maximum diameters of said latch elements to firmly grip the latter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a tilt-cab vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said latch elements are ovoid in configuration and each has an axial bore in the longitudinal direction, the elastic connection between said elements comprising an endless elastic ring threaded through said bores.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a releasable connector including two releasably connected coupling portions and latch mechanism releasably connecting said coupling portions together; the improvement comprising a latch mechanism moveable between latching position securing said coupling portions together and releasing position permitting separation of said portions; said latch mechanism comprising latch means on one of said coupling portions and a pair of relatively moveable latch parts defining a recess therebetween on the other of said coupling portions, at least one latch element disposed in said recess between said latch parts and moveable upon movement of said latch parts toward each other from said recess into latching cooperation with said latch means when said coupling portions are juxtaposed together, and elastic means urging said latch element into said recess upon movement of said latch parts from each other to release said latch means and permit separation of said coupling portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a releasable connector including two releasably connected coupling portions and latch mechanism releasably connecting said coupling portions together; the improvement comprising a latch mechanism moveable between latching position securing said coupling portions together and releasing position permitting separation of said portions; said latch mechanism comprising latch means on one of said coupling portions and a pair of relatively moveable latch parts defining a recess therebetween on the other of said coupling portions, at least one latch element disposed in said recess between said latch parts and moveable upon movement of said latch parts toward each other from said recess into latching cooperation with said latch means when said coupling portions are juxtaposed together, and elastic means urging said latch element into said recess upon movement of said latch parts from each other to release said latch means and permit separation of said coupling portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a connector according to claim 11, wherein said other of said coupling portions comprises a housing defining a cylinder, a core fixed to said housing axially of said cylinder and defining an annular space between said core and cylinder, an annular piston reciprocal within said annular space and carrying one of said latch parts, the other of said latch parts being fixed relative to said housing, means in said housing for moving said piston to move said latch parts toward and from each other, means supported by said core for locking said piston in retracted position when said coupling portions are separated, and trigger means carried by said core for engagement with said one coupling portion to release said piston locking means to permit said piston to actuate said latch mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
In a connector according to claim 11, lock mechanism for securing said latch mechanism in releasing position, and trigger means operable by operative juxtaposition of said coupling portions to release said lock mechanism, whereby said coupling portions automatically are secured together immediately upon operative juxtaposition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
247 words
In a connector according to claim 13, wherein: one of said coupling portions comprises a collar and said latch means comprises an internal circumferential groove within said collar; the other of said coupling portions comprising a cylinder having a fixed annular portion defining one said latch part with a generally conical latch face, a piston mounted in said cylinder and having an annular portion defining the other said latch part with a generally conical latch face opposed to said first mentioned latch face to jointly define an annular channel constituting said recess, and an annular latch member mounted in said channel and including a plurality of said latch elements connected by said elastic means in an endless ring, said piston being moveable within said cylinder relative to said fixed latch part to vary the width of said channel and the relative radial displacement of said latch elements by said conical latch faces; the internal diameter of said collar being at least as great as the diameters of said annular latch parts to receive the latter for alignment of said channel with said groove; means constantly urging said piston toward said rigid latch part to narrow said channel and force said latch elements radially outwardly into said groove to secure said two coupling portions together, and means for moving said piston from said rigid latch part to widen said channel and permit radial retraction of saiD latch elements from said groove and permit separation of said latch portions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a connector according to claim 14, wherein said piston latch part is disposed between said fixed latch part and said cylinder so that said fixed latch part is in advance of said piston when inserted into said collar, whereby forces tending to separate said latch portions are applied only to said fixed latch part.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a connector according to claim 15, wherein said lock mechanism includes lock means moveably supported by said other latch portion in fixed relation to said fixed latch part, and said trigger means includes resilient means normally urging said trigger means into the path of said collar for operation thereby to release said lock means from said piston as the two coupling portions are moved into operative position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a connector according to claim 14, wherein said latch elements are of a ball-like configuration each having a like maximum diameter disposed radially of the axis of said cylinder, said conical latch faces including outer annular concave surfaces the radial curvature of which corresponds to the curvature of said maximum diameters of said latch elements to firmly grip the latter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a connector according to claim 17, wherein said latch elements are ovoid in configuration and each has an axial bore in the longitudinal direction, the elastic connection between said elements comprising an endless elastic ring threaded through said bores.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a connector according to claim 14, wherein said piston moving means comprises fluid pressure means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a connector according to claim 19, comprising air pressure means in said cylinder in opposition to said piston moving means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |