FLEXIBLE CONNECTION SYSTEMS

摘要

A latch and catch arrangement is disclosed, whereby a sleeve supporting a flexible hinge with an extended finger is oriented over a fluid connection to a socket guide. An alignment via a latch and catch between the sleeve and tool collar orients a flexible hinge, which may be of reduced thickness, over a bearing in a guide. The finger moves upward when a tool is inserted into a tool socket, and the flexible hinge, properly oriented by the alignment catch/latch, keeps the finger in the tool socket while allowing necessary movement to insert and remove a tool.

主权项

1. A tool mount with flexible finger connector comprising:
a tool collar with a closed back end and an open front and an outer annular wall and an open ended tool socket having an inner annular wall; a bearing guide with a fluid connection from the outer annular wall to the inner annular wall; a generally cylindrical sleeve with an outer annular wall and inner annular wall having an open end, a partially closed end; a flexible hinge formed in the sleeve, fluidly connecting the outer and inner annular walls with a fixed first end and a free second end and a finger extending from the second end towards the interior of the cylindrical sleeve; the sleeve fitted over the tool collar with the finger extending into the tool socket through the bearing guide; and, a shaft attached to the closed back end of the tool collar.