TELESCOPING TORQUE TUBE ASSEMBLY

摘要

A low-cost, lightweight telescoping torque tube assembly is reliable, safe, and easy to operate. The assembly has no loose fasteners, and no tools are required to operate the telescoping assembly. The telescoping torque tube assembly has only two parts, namely an end fitting and a torque tube. A resiliently deflectable locking tab is provided on one of the parts, and the locking tab is received by a corresponding locking slot formed in the other part. The locking tab has an abutment edge, and the locking slot has a limit edge facing the abutment edge for engaging the abutment edge when the locking tab is undeflected to prevent axially directed adjustment of the end fitting relative to the torque tube from an extended position toward a retracted position. A user deflects the locking tab to enable adjustment of the end fitting from the extended position to the retracted position.

主权项

1. An apparatus for telescopically coupling an end fitting to an end region of a torque tube, the torque tube and end fitting having a longitudinal adjustment axis along which the end fitting is adjustable between an extended position and a retracted position, the apparatus comprising:
a resiliently deflectable locking tab on the torque tube, the locking tab having an abutment edge; wherein the end fitting includes a locking slot arranged for receiving the locking tab when the end fitting is in the extended position, the locking slot having a limit edge facing the abutment edge of the locking tab for engaging the abutment edge of the locking tab when the locking tab is in an undeflected state to prevent axially directed adjustment of the end fitting relative to the torque tube from the extended position toward the retracted position; and wherein the locking tab is deflectable by a user such that the abutment edge of the locking tab is not faced by the limit edge of the locking slot, thereby permitting axially directed adjustment of the end fitting relative to the torque tube from the extended position to the retracted position.