Ball clutch mechanism with two sets of balls in separate radial planes

Abstract

A ball clutch mechanism for restraining a pin from longitudinal movement, including an anvil, a radially symmetrical cup, a spring and two two-ball sets of uniformly dimensioned balls. The anvil has an axial bore for axially receiving the pin. The cup has a confining end, a tapered interior wall and a predominantly open end covering the anvil and axially aligned with the anvil for axially receiving a pin that is axially received by the bore of the anvil. The anvil is longitudinally movable along its bore axis with respect to the cup. The spring forces the anvil toward the confining end of the cup. The first set of balls engages the anvil and is forced by the anvil toward the confining end of the cup by the spring. The second set of balls is in the extreme confining end of the cup for clutching the pin. The interior wall of the cup is dimensioned and tapered with respect to the balls to cause the balls of the first and second sets to be in different radial planes and to cause the balls of the second set to contact the pin. When the balls of the first set are forced toward the confining end of the cup, the balls of the first set wedge the balls of the second set between the tapered interior wall of the cup and the pin and uniformly space the balls of the second set to apply symmetrical radial pressure against the pin to firmly clutch the pin and thereby restrain the pin from longitudinal movement.