Self locking coupling mechanism for engaging and moving a load
Abstract
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).
- Inventors:
-
- Livermore, CA
- Pleasanton, CA
- Orinda, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864406
- Patent Number(s):
- 4360230
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B66 - HOISTING B66C - CRANES
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- locking; coupling; mechanism; engaging; moving; load; 11; lifting; 12; housing; 19; guide; passage; 18; receiving; knob; 13; secured; neck; 15; diameter; hollow; ball; 23; 27; receives; displace; enter; slot; 29; securing; elements; 49; block; travel; holding; orientation; engagement; accomplished; simultaneously; motion; operation; simplified; reliability; greatly; increased; preferably; motor; 32; worm; gearing; 36; controlled; remote; location; adaptable; handling; spent; nuclear; reactor; fuel; worm gear; coupling mechanism; fuel elements; fuel element; nuclear reactor; spent nuclear; reactor fuel; remote location; greatly increased; greatly increase; /294/
Citation Formats
Wood, Richard L, Casamajor, Alan B, and Parsons, Richard E. Self locking coupling mechanism for engaging and moving a load. United States: N. p., 1982.
Web.
Wood, Richard L, Casamajor, Alan B, & Parsons, Richard E. Self locking coupling mechanism for engaging and moving a load. United States.
Wood, Richard L, Casamajor, Alan B, and Parsons, Richard E. Fri .
"Self locking coupling mechanism for engaging and moving a load". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864406.
@article{osti_864406,
title = {Self locking coupling mechanism for engaging and moving a load},
author = {Wood, Richard L and Casamajor, Alan B and Parsons, Richard E},
abstractNote = {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).},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1982},
month = {1}
}