초록 ▼

A lever-operated latching device for securing in endwise coupled relation a socket portion and mating shank of axially aligned auger sections of an auger mining machine. The latching device is designed to be of minimum radial dimension so as to fit in a hole of limited radial cross section bored by

A lever-operated latching device for securing in endwise coupled relation a socket portion and mating shank of axially aligned auger sections of an auger mining machine. The latching device is designed to be of minimum radial dimension so as to fit in a hole of limited radial cross section bored by the auger machine, and includes a latch pin that reciprocates in a passage formed in the socket portion between an extended position in latching engagement with the shank and a retracted unlatching position. The pin is biased by a spring toward its extended position and is retractable by a lever that engages a retractor element on the pin and that also acts as limit means that prevents the pin from extending beyond its extended latching position against the force of the spring. Openings are provided to permit removal by the latch pin of debris that could impair operative movement of the latch pin.

대표청구항 ▼

A latching device for securing in endwise coupled relation socket means and mating shank means of auger sections, said socket means having a surrounding wall having an exterior, said latching device comprising: means defining a passage extending transversely through said surrounding wall of said soc

A latching device for securing in endwise coupled relation socket means and mating shank means of auger sections, said socket means having a surrounding wall having an exterior, said latching device comprising: means defining a passage extending transversely through said surrounding wall of said socket means; retainer means at the outer end of said passage adjacent the outer surface of said wall of said socket means; a latch pin extending through said passage and having an actuating end portion projecting outwardly through said retainer means, retractor means on said actuating end portion of said latch pin outside of said passage, and an opposite latching end portion, said latch pin being movable between an extended latching position in which its latching end portion is in latching engagement with said shank means and a retracted unlatching portion in which its lAtching end portion is disengaged from said shank means, said latch pin having a transverse shoulder thereon that approximates in cross section the cross section of said passage and that is located on said latch pin so it is fixed on said latch pin adjacent its latching end portion and also so said shoulder is positioned in said passage a substantial distance away from said retainer means when said latch pin is in its retracted position to provide a clearance portion of said passage; means for biasing said latch pin toward its said extended latching position; means mounted on said socket means and having pin-engaging means adapted to engage said retractor means and move said latch pin against the force exerted by said biasing means to its said retracted unlatching position; and opening means communicating with said exterior of said surrounding wall of said socket means at a location adjacent to said passage and with the interior of said passage at a location in said clearance portion of said passage, to permit debris in said passage to be pushed by said shoulder into said clearance portion of said passage and out of said passage through said opening means to said exterior of said surrounding wall of said socket means by said shoulder means as said latch pin is moved to its said retracted unlatching position.