Ball Lock Mechanism

Abstract

A ball lock mechanism has a shaft with an annular groove formed therearound. A first sleeve fitted on the shaft defines at least one channel between the first sleeve and the shaft. An opening facing away from the shaft is formed at the end of each channel. Ball bearings fill each channel so that, when the channels and annular groove are misaligned, one of the bearings extends partially through each channel's opening. A second sleeve is fitted over the first sleeve and the openings for retaining the bearings in the channels. The second sleeve is configured and movable with respect to the first sleeve to push the one bearing extending partially through each channel's opening into the channel when the channels and annular groove are aligned. As a result, another of the bearings is pushed into the annular groove while remaining partially in each channel to inhibit axial movement of the shaft relative to the first sleeve.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 15, 1998
Accession Number
ADD019176

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ball Bearings
  • Bearings
  • Depression
  • Diameters
  • Inventions
  • Military Research
  • Misalignment
  • Patent Applications
  • Patents
  • Release
  • Release Mechanisms
  • Rotation
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).