Quick releasable coupling

Claim 1

Means for quickly securing and releasing the axial engagement between a pair of coaxial members, one being hollow and having an open end to receive the other, comprising: a plurality of radial passages extending through the hollow member at locations displaced from said open end; a pin slidable radially in each said passage between an inward position and an outward position; resilient means urging said pins towards said outward positions; an annular member rotatable about said hollow member at the location of said pins and including camming surfaces operative on said pins in a first rotated position of said annular member to force said pins into said inward positions, and in a second rotated position of said member to enable said pins to be displaced by said resilient means into said outward position; means carried by said other member for engagement by said pins in the inward positions thereof to oppose axial movement between said members; and means limiting the extent of rotation of said annular member, including further pins projecting radially outwardly from said hollow mEmber within said annular member, arcuate passages of limited angular and axial extent in said annular member for traversal by said further pins, and further resilient means contained in said arcuate passages and engaging said annular member and said further pins to urge said annular member into the first position thereof, said radial passages and further pins being located alternatively about the axis of said outer and inner members.