Expandable retaining pin for telescopic parts

Claim 2

A releasably expandable retaining pin assembly for releasably engaging the walls of a bore, comprising: means defining elongated substantially cylindrical body means to be assembled in said bore; said body means comprising a generally rigid, elongated semicylindrical member having means defining camming surfaces on the non-cylindrical portion thereof, and a pair of generally semi-cylindrical wedge-shaped members having inclined surfaces on the non-cylindrical portions thereof, engaging the camming surfaces of said rigid member so that axial movement of the wedge-shaped members with respect to the rigid member cams the wedge-shaped members radially with respect to the rigid member; said rigid, semi-cylindrical member including portions of reduced diameter which form stop shoulders for engagement with at least one end of one of a pair of coaxially aligned bores; chamber means formed in said body means for receiving a pressurized fluid; means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means; and, pressure responsive means responsive to said pressurized fluid for urging at least a portion of the pin assembly into pressure engagement with at least a part of the wall of said bore.

Claim 3

A releasably expandable retaining pin assembly for releasably engaging the walls of a bore, comprising: means defining elongated substantially cylindrical body means to be assembled in said bore; said body means comprising a generally rigid, elongated semi-cylindrical member having means defining camming surfaces on the non-cylindrical portion thereof, and a pair of generally semi-cylindrical wedge-shaped members having inclined surfaces on the non-cylindrical portions thereof, engaging the camming surfaces of said rigid member so that axial movement of the wedge-shaped members with respect to the rigid member cams the wedge-shaped members radially with respect to the rigid member; chamber means formed in said body means including a bore formed in at least one of said wedge-shaped members for receiving a pressurized fluid; means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means; means for transmitting force from said pressurized fluid to the other wedge-shaped member; and, pressure responsive means responsive to said fluid for urging at least a portion of the pin assembly into pressure engagement with at least a part of the wall of said bore.

Claim 4

A releasably expandable retaining pin assembly for releasably engaging the walls of a bore, comprising: means defining elongated substantially cylindrical body means to be assembled in said bore; said body means comprising a generally rigid, elongated semi-cylindrical member having means defining camming surfaces on the non-cylindrical portion thereof, and a pair of generally semi-cylindrical wedge-shaped members having inclined surfaces on the non-cylindrical portions thereof, engaging the camming surfaces of said rigid member so that axial movement of the wedge-shaped members with respect to the rigid member cams the wedge-shaped members radially with respect to the rigid member; chamber means formed in said body means including a bore formed in at least one of said wedge-shaped members for receiving a pressurized fluid; means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means; means for transmitting force from said pressurized fluid to the other wedge-shaped member; and, pressure responsive means responsive to said fluid for urging at least a portion of the pin assembly into pressure engagement with at least a part of the wall of said bore.

Claim 5

The expandable retaining pin of claim 2 including a resilient filler material positioned between said wedge-shaped members.

Claim 6

A releasably expandable retaining pin assembly for releasably engaging the walls of a bore, comprising: means defining elongated substantially cylindrical body means to be assembled in said bore; said body means comprising a generally rigid, elongated semi-cylindrical member having means defining camming surfaces on the non-cylindrical portion thereof, and a pair of generally semi-cylindrical wedge-shaped members having inclined surfaces on the non-cylindrical portions thereof, engaging the camming surfaces of said rigid member so that axial movement of the wedge-shaped members with respect to the rigid member cams the wedge-shaped members radially with respect to the rigid member; chamber means formed in said body means and including a bore formed in each of said wedge-shaped members for receiving a pressurized fluid; said bores being coaxially disposed; means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means; conduit means reciprocally disposed in said bores to provide communication of said pressurized fluid therebetween; and, pressure responsive means responsive to said fluid for urging at least a portion of the pin assembly into pressure engagement with at least a part of the wall of said bore.

Claim 7

A releasably expandable retaining pin assembly for releasably engaging the walls of a bore, comprising: means defining elongated substantially cylindrical body means to be assembled in said bore; said body means comprising a generally rigid, elongated semi-cylindrical member having means defining camming surfaces on the non-cylindrical portion thereof, and a pair of generally semi-cylindrical wedge-shaped members having inclined surfaces on the non-cylindrical portions thereof, engaging the camming surfaces of said rigid member so that axial movement of the wedge-shaped members with respect to the rigid member cams the wedge-shaped members radially with respect to the rigid member; chamber means formed in said body means and including a bore formed in each of said wedge-shaped members for receiving a pressurized fluid; said bores being coaxially disposed; means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means; conduit means reciprocally disposed in said bores to provide communication of said pressurized fluid therebetween; and, pressure responsive means responsive to said fluid for urging at least a portion of the pin assembly into pressure engagement with at least a part of the wall of said bore.

Claim 8

The retaining pin assembly of claim 4 wherein: said pressurized fluid is a relatively incompressible highly viscous fluid; and, said means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means comprises a conventional grease fitting.

Claim 9

A releasably expandable retaining pin assembly for releasably engaging the walls of a bore, comprising: means defining elongated substantially cylindrical body means to be assembled in said bore; said body means comprising a generally rigid, elongated semi-cylindrical member having means defining camming surfaces on the non-cylindrical portion thereof, and a pair of generally semi-cylindrical wedge-shaped members having inclined surfaces on the non-cylindrical portions thereof, engaging the camming surfaces of said rigid member so that axial movement of the wedge-shaped members with respect to the rigid member cams the wedge-shaped members radially with respect to the rigid member; chamber means formed in said body means for receiving a pressurized fluid; means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means; pressure responsive means responsive to said pressurized fluid for urging at least a portion of the pin assembly into pressurE engagement with at least a part of the wall of said bore; said retaining pin assembly being disposed in substantially coaxial bores formed in a pair of telescoping members having respective inner and outer telescopic portions; said assembly being disposed in said bores so that said elongated member engages a portion of the wall of the bore of one of said telescoping members; and, said wedge-shaped members engage a portion of the wall of the bore of the other of said telescoping members.

Claim 10

A releasably expandable retaining pin assembly for releasably engaging the walls of a bore, comprising: means defining elongated substantially cylindrical body means to be assembled in said bore; said body means comprising a generally rigid, elongated semi-cylindrical member having means defining camming surfaces on the non-cylindrical portion thereof, and a pair of generally semi-cylindrical wedge-shaped members having inclined surfaces on the non-cylindrical portions thereof, engaging the camming surfaces of said rigid member so that axial movement of the wedge-shaped members with respect to the rigid member cams the wedge-shaped members radially with respect to the rigid member; chamber means formed in said body means for receiving a pressurized fluid; means for introducing pressurized fluid into said chamber means; pressure responsive means responsive to said pressurized fluid for urging at least a portion of the pin assembly into pressurE engagement with at least a part of the wall of said bore; said retaining pin assembly being disposed in substantially coaxial bores formed in a pair of telescoping members having respective inner and outer telescopic portions; said assembly being disposed in said bores so that said elongated member engages a portion of the wall of the bore of one of said telescoping members; and, said wedge-shaped members engage a portion of the wall of the bore of the other of said telescoping members.

Claim 11

The retaining pin assembly of claim 2 disposed in substantially coaxial bores formed in a pair of telescoping members having respective inner and outer telescopic portions; said assembly being disposed in said bores so that said elongated members engage a portion of the wall of the bore of one of said telescoping member; and, said wedge shaped members engage a portion of the wall of the bore of the other of said telescoping members.