Self locking coupling mechanism for engaging and moving a load

Patent · 01 January 1982

OSTI ID:864406

Wood, Richard L ^[1]; Casamajor, Alan B ^[2]; Parsons, Richard E ^[3]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. Pleasanton, CA
3. Orinda, CA

Coupling mechanism (11) for engaging and lifting a load (12) has a housing (19) with a guide passage (18) for receiving a knob (13) which is secured to the load (12) through a neck (15) of smaller diameter. A hollow ball (23) in the housing (19) has an opening (27) which receives the knob (13) and the ball (23) is then turned to displace the opening (27) from the housing passage (18) and to cause the neck (15) to enter a slot (29) in the ball (23) thereby securing the load (12) to the coupling mechanism (11) as elements (49) of the housing (19) block travel of the neck (15) back into the opening (27) when the ball (23) is turned to the load holding orientation. As engagement of the load (12) and locking of the coupling mechanism are accomplished simultaneously by the same ball (23) motion, operation is simplified and reliability is greatly increased. The ball (23) is preferably turned by a motor (32) through worm gearing (36) and the coupling mechanism (11) may be controlled from a remote location. Among other uses, the coupling mechanism (11) is adaptable to the handling of spent nuclear reactor fuel elements (12).

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4360230
• OSTI ID: 864406
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/294/
11
12
13
15
18
19
23
27
29
32
36
49
accomplished
adaptable
ball
block
controlled
coupling
coupling mechanism
diameter
displace
elements
engagement
engaging
enter
fuel
fuel element
fuel elements
gearing
greatly
greatly increase
greatly increased
guide
handling
holding
hollow
housing
increased
knob
lifting
load
location
locking
mechanism
motion
motor
moving
neck
nuclear
nuclear reactor
operation
orientation
passage
preferably
reactor
reactor fuel
receives
receiving
reliability
remote
remote location
secured
securing
simplified
simultaneously
slot
spent
spent nuclear
travel
worm
worm gear