Patent ID: 6889582

Claim:
A coupling device for locking push-on couplings especially of tools, said coupling device being releasable by actuation of a releasing element to permit easy detaching of the push-on coupling, the push-on coupling comprising: a polygonal coupling part, on one of the parts to be coupled, for engaging a complementary polygonal counterpart on another of the parts to be coupled, said polygonal coupling part having outer side faces, said polygonal coupling part having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a first transverse bore intersecting said longitudinal bore and opening in one of said side faces, a ball guided in said first transverse bore, an actuating body guided for longitudinal movement in said longitudinal bore between an extended position and a refracted position, said actuating body being generally cylindrical with a first end and a second end and tapering at said first and second ends, said tapering first end engaging said ball, whereby said ball, upon longitudinal movement of said actuating body to said extended position, is moved in said first transverse bore radially outwardly into a locking position, in which the ball projects beyond said side face, a second transverse bore in said one part to be coupled, said second transverse bore intersecting said longitudinal bore, said releasing element being a body of revolution guided in said second transverse bore and having a cam surface of revolution, said tapering second end of said actuating body having an end face normal to the direction of said longitudinal movement of said actuating body, said cam surface having a first cylindrical section, which is essentially engaged by said end face of said actuating body in said extended position, a second cylindrical section, the diameter of which is smaller than that of said first cylindrical section, said end face of said actuating body essentially engaging said second cylindrical section in said retracted position, and a conical section interconnecting said first and second cylindrical sections, spring means engaging said releasing element for urging said releasing element to a first position, in which said cam surface has moved said actuating body to its extended position, said releasing element being movable against the action of said spring means from said first position to a second position, in which said actuating body is free to be moved to its retracted position to permit inward movement of said ball out of its locking position.