Patent ID: 7232274

Claim:
A locking device for vertical connection of an upper connection component, that comprises an upper engaging section, to a lower connection component, that comprises a lower engaging section, the locking device comprising a primary connection including a hub that rotatably connects the upper and lower connection components; and secondary connection that rotatably connects the upper and lower connection components in the event the primary connection fails, the secondary connection including at least two shell segments ( 1 ) each of which only partially extends around opposite vertical sides of the primary connection from the outside and in a horizontal direction, with the shell segments ( 1 ) comprising upper and lower terminal axial edges ( 5 , 6 ) at each respective end of the shell segments adjacent to each of which are provided upper and lower engaging sections ( 7 , 8 ) facing upper and lower engaging sections ( 13 , 14 ) of the upper and lower connection components so that, should the primary connection of the two connection components fail the upper engaging section ( 7 ) of the shell segments ( 1 ) is supported against the upper engaging section ( 13 , 14 ) provided at the upper connection component, while the lower engaging section ( 8 ) of the shell segments ( 1 ) holds the lower engaging section ( 13 , 14 ) of the lower connection component, said locking device further comprising an upper and a lower washer ( 9 , 29 ), each being comprised of at least first and second washer segments ( 11 , 12 ), the washer segments being configured so that each can be pushed onto the connection from the outside and in said horizontal direction, whereby, when installed, the upper washer ( 9 ) is fixed to the upper connection component and the lower washer ( 29 ) to the lower connection component, whereby the upper and lower engaging sections ( 13 , 14 ) are each formed on the respective washer segments ( 11 , 12 ) of the upper and lower washers.