Patent ID: 7534067
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A coupling assembly releasably connecting an animal specimen holder to a positioning receiver assembly to form a multicomponent specimen positioning system, said coupling assembly comprising: a specimen holder constructed to hold an animal in an imaging machine; a positioning receiver assembly constructed to mount said specimen holder in an imaging machine; a male coupling portion having an axially-extending frustoconical plug portion and mounted on one of said specimen holder and said positioning receiver assembly; a female coupling portion having an axially-extending frustoconical socket portion and mounted to the other of said specimen holder and said positioning receiver assembly; said axially-extending frustoconical plug and socket portions comprising precision machined surfaces machined on said male and female coupling portions; a male keying member projecting from a predetermined circumferential position on one of said male and female coupling portions and into a corresponding slot on the other of said male and female coupling portions for aligning and fixing said male and female coupling portions in the same circumferential positions each time said male and female coupling portions are coupled so as to accurately and repeatably position and align the animal specimen in the same circumferential position; and a driver comprising a cam member mounted on said female coupling portion; wherein said driver moves relative to the female coupling portion to drive said cam member for axially driving said male coupling portion and said female coupling portion into tight abutment with one another and applying an axial force and a radial force between said precision machined surfaces machined on male and female coupling portions so as to form said multicomponent specimen positioning system with said frustoconical plug and socket portions tightly wedged together to produce an accurate repeatable axial location and coaxial alignment between said male and female coupling portions.