IMPROVED SELF-LOCKING DEVICES

摘要

An improved self-locking device for locking a movable structural member to a stationary structural member, or to another movable structural member, or for unlocking the same, comprising a rotatable self-locking cam and an actuating means therefor; the rotatable self-locking cam being rotatably mounted on a first structural member and having (1) an arcuate surface thereon, capable of preventing movement of a movable structural member in a first or opening direction, and (2) a cam surface thereon, capable of moving the movable structural member in the first or opening direction; and the actuating means being capable of rotating the self-locking cam in an angular direction whereby the cam surface contacts an ear on the movable structural member to forcibly move it in the first or opening direction, while the arcuate surface is being simultaneously moved out of the way of the movable structural member, due to the angular rotation of the self-locking cam, to permit the movement of the movable structural member in the first or opening direction to unlock the movable structural member from the first structural member; means mounted on the first structural member to contact the self-locking cam and limit the rotation thereof; and then, the ear on the movable structural member being subsequently capable of rotating the self-locking cam in an angular direction opposite to that of the first angular direction, whereby the movable structural member returns to its original locked position, wherein it is prevented from moving in the first or opening direction by the arcuate surface on the rotatable self-locking cam.