Patent ID: 6722485
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A rotary lock for a shaft mounted in a housing for rotational movement about an axis, said shaft being axially movable relative to said housing and being biased to move toward a predetermined axial position, comprising:at least one member provided on one of said shaft and housing; a pawl mounted on the other of said shaft and housing, said pawl being movable relative to said other of said shaft and housing between first and second positions; wherein said pawl is operatively arranged to engage said member when said pawl is in said first position to prevent further rotation of said shaft in one angular direction, and to be disengaged from said member when said pawl is in said second position to permit rotation of said shaft in either angular direction; a cam mounted on one of said shaft and housing; a follower operatively arranged to engage said cam as said shaft is rotated when said shaft is axially displaced from said predetermined position to selectively move said pawl between said first and second positions and; such that when said shaft is axially displaced from said predetermined position and said pawl engages said member, said shaft will be prevented from rotating further in said one angular direction.