Bearing assemblies for selectively coupling to surgical instruments A bearing assembly can include a housing with a cavity, a first race in the cavity that translates but does not rotate relative to the housing, bearing elements disposed in the first race that move radially in and out of a central passage of the first race, and a second race that is fixed in the cavity. The first race can be biased toward an opening of the cavity, the second race can surround the first race with an inner surface having a tapered diameter configured to contact the bearing elements as the first race moves distally relative to the second race and urge the plurality of bearing elements radially inward to selectively lock the bearing assembly to a surgical instrument disposed within the central passage of the first race.

A lock mechanism for controlling a rotating component including an outer shaft attachable to a stationary component and having a slotted ring defining capture slots and an interior annular space, a control ring having a first end disposed in the annular space, an inner shaft attachable to a rotating component configured to rotate relative to the stationary component, and the inner shaft engaged with a second end of the control ring, a first collar rotatably disposed around the slotted ring, the first collar having a plurality of release recesses, and a plurality of first bearings respectively retained within the capture slots beneath the first collar. In a first rotational position of the first collar, the plurality of release recesses align with the capture slots to rotationally disengage the rotating and stationary components. In a second rotational position of the first collar, the plurality of release recesses misalign with the capture slots to rotationally engage the rotating and stationary components.

A truck-mounted vacuum material handler and quick disconnect for use on a truck with a with a boom for handling plate steel. The handler includes a coupler [32] that has a boom connector [44], a removable carrier [36, 38] with a carrier connector [60], and a base [34] located between the boom connector and the removable carrier. A locking mechanism [66] located in the base is arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector. In the unlocked position the carrier connector is removable from the base. In the locked position the carrier connector is secured in the opening and opposing face surfaces [48, 50, 62] of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another. The removable carrier may include a rotator-receiving recess [42] or a rigging hardware eyelet [40] arranged opposite the carrier connector.

Bearing assemblies for selectively coupling to surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly can include a housing with a cavity, a first race in the cavity that translates but does not rotate relative to the housing, bearing elements disposed in the first race that move radially in and out of a central passage of the first race, and a second race that is fixed in the cavity. The first race can be biased toward an opening of the cavity, the second race can surround the first race with an inner surface having a tapered diameter configured to contact the bearing elements as the first race moves distally relative to the second race and urge the plurality of bearing elements radially inward to selectively lock the bearing assembly to a surgical instrument disposed within the central passage of the first race.

A fastener comprises a housing, a socket, a pintle and a locking feature. The housing includes a shaft, a central bore that extends axially at least partially through the housing and a ball lock aperture extending from the bore. The socket extends into the housing adjacent to the first end face, and is configured such that rotation of the first socket rotates the fastener. The pintle is positioned within the bore and includes an actuation end and a rod that extends axially from the actuation end. The rod includes a ball transitioning surface and a ball locking surface. The pintle is moveable axially within the bore between a designated lock position where the ball locking surface of the pintle is aligned in register with each ball lock aperture, and a designated unlocked position where the ball lock surface of the pintle is moved axially away from each ball lock aperture.

A locking device having a base body, a locking means for locking the base body to a counter body, an actuation means movable relative to the base body, said actuation means being able to be brought into contact with the locking means, and at least one displacement device. Upon actuation of the actuation means, the displacement device automatically moves the actuation means into a locking position. In the locking position, the actuation means is in contact with the locking means and transfers said actuation means into a locking position.

A mechanical coupling for rotary devices, whereby a wind vane or other rotary tool, can be replaced without the use of a tool. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a coupling arrangement for a rotary device and a spindle supported for rotation, the coupling being enabled by a resilient body which acts upon a spheroidal locking member such as a ball bearing. In particular, the present invention provides a coupling arrangement for a wind vane or an anemometer rotating body comprising impeller cups, which impeller cups and rotating body are required for removable fitment, without the use of tools.

A fastener comprises a housing, a socket, a pintle and a locking feature. The housing includes a shaft, a central bore that extends axially at least partially through the housing and a ball lock aperture extending from the bore. The socket extends into the housing adjacent to the first end face, and is configured such that rotation of the first socket rotates the fastener. The pintle is positioned within the bore and includes an actuation end and a rod that extends axially from the actuation end. The rod includes a ball transitioning surface and a ball locking surface. The pintle is moveable axially within the bore between a designated lock position where the ball locking surface of the pintle is aligned in register with each ball lock aperture, and a designated unlocked position where the ball lock surface of the pintle is moved axially away from each ball lock aperture.

A releasable restraint may comprise a base and a socket coupled to the base. The socket may include a head and a shaft extending from the head, wherein the shaft defines a base channel configured to receive the base. A sleeve may be configured to translate relative to the shaft of the socket. A plurality of balls may be located in a plurality of frustoconical ball openings formed through the shaft of the socket. A plug may be received by a plug channel defined by the socket.

A quick release connector is provided that uses a plurality of the ball bearings to engage shaft of a releasable member. The use of multiple ball bearings along different faces of a shaft of a releasable member minimizes vibrations and provides an improved quick release connector adapted for use with microphones, boom arms, ball joints and similar structures used with sound recording or photography equipment.