The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 13, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 20, 1998
Paul E. Hanser, Tipton, IA (US);
Stacy Hanser, Davenport, IA (US);
HWH Corporation, Moscow, IA (US);
Abstract
A locking mechanism that includes a multi-dimensional connecting locking pin which provides a structural link between two structural members that can be repeatedly separated and locked together. The connecting pin is comprised of a tapered shaft extending through a radially expandable split ring with the tapered shaft being moveable between housings located on each of the two separate structural members. As the tapered shaft moves through the radially expandable split ring, the ring is expanded outwardly to engage locking grooves in both housings to lock the structural members together. The tapered shaft is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder that forces the tapered shaft through a first stage in which the receiver housing is first aligned with the other housing, and after proper alignment is achieved, a second stage of the tapered shaft expands the split ring into a locking position. In this manner, the two structural members are positively and properly aligned and locked, and once locked in place, the locking pin provides both shear resistance and tensile and compressive strength that exceeds the strength of the two structural members had they been a single piece.