초록 ▼

A quick-connect fastener of a relatively-simple straightforward design is arranged with a tubular body adapted to be engaged against an attachment fitting in coincidental alignment with an opening in that fitting. A tubular collet having flexible fingers projecting from its forward end is arranged i

A quick-connect fastener of a relatively-simple straightforward design is arranged with a tubular body adapted to be engaged against an attachment fitting in coincidental alignment with an opening in that fitting. A tubular collet having flexible fingers projecting from its forward end is arranged in the fastener body to be shifted forwardly by an elongated expander member coaxially arranged within the tubular collet for advancing the collet fingers into the opening in the attachment fitting. Biasing means are arranged between the elongated expander member and a rotatable actuator which is threadedly mounted within the tubular collet so as to be rotated for urging the expander member into engagement with the collet fingers. A first coupling member is arranged on the rotatable actuator to be accessible from outside of the fastener so that a second coupling member on the distal end of a flexible shaft can be introduced into the fastener body and coupled to the first coupling member to enable a typical actuating tool coupled to the shaft outside of the fastener body to be operated for advancing the outwardly-enlarged ends of the collet fingers into the opening in the attachment fitting and thereafter rotating the actuator member to expand the fingers within the opening for releasably latching the fastener to that attachment fitting. Upon expansion of the collet fingers, the biasing means impose a biasing force on the expander to releasably retain the fingers in their latching positions.

대표청구항 ▼

A quick-connect fastener to be coupled to a member having an opening and comprising: a tubular body having an access opening in one side thereof and an open forward end arranged to be engaged against another member with the longitudinal axis of said tubular body aligned with an opening in another me

A quick-connect fastener to be coupled to a member having an opening and comprising: a tubular body having an access opening in one side thereof and an open forward end arranged to be engaged against another member with the longitudinal axis of said tubular body aligned with an opening in another member; a tubular collet coaxially mounted within said body ahead of said access opening and arranged to be moved along said longitudinal axis and including forwardly-projecting flexible fingers having enlarged ends sized to enter an opening in another member when said fingers are contracted; an expander cooperatively arranged within said collet to be advanced against said flexible fingers for expanding said finger ends within an opening in another member; an externally-threaded actuator cooperatively arranged in said collet to be advanced forwardly therein toward said expander in response to rotation of said actuator; said actuator and operable in response to advancement of said actuator within said collet for urging said expander forwardly against said flexible fingers and expanding said finger ends once they are inserted into an opening; and actuating means operable for rotating said actuator from outside of said tubular body including a first coupling member coaxially arranged on the rear of said actuator and accessible from said access opening, a flexible shaft having sufficient rigidity to withstand moderate axial forces and arranged to pass through said access opening and be directed toward said first coupling member in response to movements of an actuating device positioned outside of said tubular body to the rear of said side opening and coaxially coupled to the rearward end of said flexible shaft for imparting axial and rotational forces thereto, and a second coupling member mounted on the forward distal end of said flexible shaft and arranged to be passed through said access opening and releasably engaged with said first coupling member for imparting said axial and rotational forces to said actuator before said flexible shaft and second coupling member are subsequently withdrawn from within said tubular body by way of said access opening.