RELEASABLE LOCKING, COUPLING OR SUPPORT DEVICE

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB83/00230 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 1, 1984 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 1, 1984 PCT Filed Sep. 20, 1983 PCT Pub. No. WO84/01414 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 12, 1984.A releasable locking device comprises a tubular housing (180) having a pair of rotary pawls (182) mounted therein. The angular position of the pawls are controlled by spring-loaded balls (183). A line (179) passing through the housing has a collar (184) thereon which latches with the pawls when the collar is brought into engagement therewith, the pawls being rotated so that the balls then bear on adjoining surfaces of the pawls. When the line is subsequently slackened the balls (183) act on the pawls to rotate them further into the housing so that on subsequent engagement by the collar (184), they are free to rotate so as to allow the collar to pass through the housing. This system provides an automatic latching of the line (179) followed by automatic disengagement of the latch simply by releasing tension in the line followed by reapplying such tension. Therefore latching and unlatching can be effected simply from a position remote from the latching mechanism.