Patent ID: 8342770

Claim:
A coupling device for connecting first and second elements which are hinged with respect to one another, the coupling device comprising: a tubular compression rod, configured to transmit a compressive load between the first and second elements, defining a compressive condition of the coupling device, and a tension rod coaxially housed within the tubular compression rod, the tension rod configured to transmit a tensile load between the first and second elements, defining a tensile condition of the coupling device, wherein each rod is provided with opposing first and second ends, each of the first and second ends of each rod being provided with a respective opening forming a transverse through hole in each end of the rod, wherein the through holes on adjacent ends of the compression and tension rods partially align, and a hinge pin passes through each respective set of aligned through holes at adjacent first and second ends such that ends of each hinge pin are receivable by a respective hinge yoke of the first and second elements, allowing pivoting motion of the compression rod and tension rod around each hinge yoke of the first and second elements, wherein the openings, at the adjacent ends of the compression and tension rods, are elongated and axially offset along the compression and tension rods such that in the compressive condition a radial edge of the elongate opening in the compression rod is in abutment against the respective one of the hinge pins while a radial edge of the elongate opening in the tension rod is set back from the respective hinge pin, and in the tensile condition the radial edge of the elongate opening in the tension rod is in abutment against the respective hinge pin while the radial edge of the elongate opening in the compression rod is set back from the respective hinge pin; and wherein the compression rod forms a substitute tension element configured to additionally transmit the tensile load between the first and second elements upon breakage of the tension element, defining a breakage condition of the coupling device.