Patent ID: 8430433

Claim:
An apparatus for coupling together first and second casings, comprising: a connector disposed at least partially outside of the first and second casings, the connector being at least partially arcuate in shape, the connector including an inside circumferential surface, the connector defining a first aperture and a second aperture extending radially therethrough, and the connector having first and second lugs extending from the inside circumferential surface, the first lug having a first angled drive surface and the second lug having a second angled drive surface, the first lug being configured to be received into a first recess defined in an outer surface of the first casing and the second lug being configured to be received in a second recess defined in an outer surface of the second casing, the first recess having a first angled contact surface and the second recess having a second angled contact surface, the first and second angled contact surfaces facing away from each other, the first angled drive surface being configured to slide against the first angled contact surface and the second angled drive surface being configured to slide against the second angled contact surface, and the first aperture positioned to align with a blind hole defined in the first casing and the second aperture positioned to align with a blind hole defined in the second casing; and a retainer disposed at least partially outside of the connector and including a first threaded rod and a second threaded rod, the first threaded rod extending through the first aperture and into the blind hole of the first casing and the second threaded rod extending through the second aperture and into the blind hole of the second casing, and the retainer being configured to force the connector inward such that the sliding engagement between the first angled drive surface and first angled contact surface and between the second angled drive surface and the second angled contact surface pushes the first and second casings together.