CLOSURE MECHANISM CAPABLE OF BEING LOCKED AT OPEN POSITION

摘要

A mechanism for coupling a drive shaft with a coupling sleeve in torque transmitting engagement wherein locking elements are radially movable within radial apertures of the coupling sleeve and engage within an annular groove of the drive shaft and wherein a locking sleeve is movable between two axial positions on the coupling sleeve to hold the locking members in engagement within the annular groove and to release the holding members from locking engagement, the coupling sleeve being latched in the released position by a latching mechanism which is unlatched when the drive shaft is inserted to within the coupling sleeve to drive the locking elements radially outwardly against the latching mechanism which is held in the unlatched position during coupling of the drive elements. The locking elements are held when engaged within the annular groove of the drive shaft at a radial position which is a further distance from the longitudinal axis of the coupling sleeve than the position which they assume when engaged within the annular groove.