Drawing lock for torque transmitting engagement between two shaft

Abstract

In a mechanism for connecting together in torque transmitting engagement a coupling sleeve and a power takeoff shaft, particularly in agricultural implements, there is provided a drawing lock which may be arrested in the open position. The drawing lock includes a locking ring which holds a plurality of radially movable torque transmitting balls in their locked position during torque transmission of the assembly. A slotted spring ring is provided which engages the torque transmitting balls to hold them radially inwardly thereby to arrest the device in the open position. When a power takeoff shaft is inserted into the bore of the coupling sleeve, the torque transmitting balls are moved radially outwardly and, as a result, the slotted spring ring resiliently expands in diameter thereby to cause a first stop face of the ring to become disengaged from a supporting face of a supporting ring which is axially affixed to the coupling sleeve. The slotted ring then moves axially out of engagement with the torque transmitting balls and a second stop face on the ring engages the supporting face of the supporting ring. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the slotted spring ring is provided with a member bridging the slot thereof extending across both ends, but permitting relative movement between the ends of the ring so as to ensure corresponding movement of both ends, even where only one end of the ring is urged radially outwardly by a torque transmitting ball.