Speed Crank Projection Lock Device for Trailer Landing Gear Assembly

Abstract

A speed crank locking device automatically secures a hand crank in its operative position to an input shaft of a gearing mechanism, with the locking device being easily disengaged to move the crank from its operative position to a stored position following rotation of the crank in the operation of the mechanism, the locked device also holding the crank in the stored position.

1 ) A manual drive apparatus providing input rotation to a mechanism, the apparatus comprising: 
 an input shaft having an axis of rotation and a shaft end surface;    a cavity in the input shaft end surface;    a crank connected to the input shaft for movement of the crank between a stored position where the crank is beside the input shaft, and an operative position where an end of the crank is axially aligned with the input shaft; and,    a lock member mounted on the crank for movement of the lock member between locked and unlock positions of the lock member relative to the input shaft, where the lock member is positioned inside the cavity in the input shaft end surface when the lock member is in the locked position, and the lock member is positioned outside the cavity in the input shaft end surface and adjacent a side of the input shaft when the lock member is in the unlocked position.    
   
   
       2 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the lock member having an end surface with a projection on the lock member end surface, and the projection being positioned inside the cavity in the input shaft end surface when the crank is in the operative position relative to the input shaft, and the projection being positioned outside the cavity in the input shaft end surface when the crank is in the stored position relative to the input shaft.    
   
   
       3 ) The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a pin extending through the input shaft and through the crank connecting the crank to the input shaft for pivoting movement between the stored and operative positions.    
   
   
       4 ) The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a spring on the crank pushing the lock member toward the input shaft.    
   
   
       5 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the mechanism being a trailer landing gear assembly and the input shaft being an input shaft to the trailer landing gear assembly.    
   
   
       6 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the lock member in the locked position extending from the crank, past the input shaft end surface and into the cavity in the input shaft end surface.    
   
   
       7 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the input shaft having at least one interior wall, the interior wall extends from the input shaft end surface into the input shaft and is positioned adjacent the cavity in the input shaft end surface.    
   
   
       8 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the crank having a socket; and,    the lock member being mounted inside the socket for reciprocating movement in the socket.    
   
   
       9 ) The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 the lock member having a rod that is received in the socket for reciprocating movement in the socket; and,    the spring being positioned inside the socket.    
   
   
       10 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the input shaft having a cylindrical interior wall, the interior wall extends from the input shaft end surface into the input shaft and extends around the cavity in the input shaft end surface.    
   
   
       11 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the lock member being mounted on the crank for linear reciprocating movement of the lock member.    
   
   
       12 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the lock member engaging the side of the input shaft and holding the crank in the stored position.    
   
   
       13 ) The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a spring pushing the lock member against the side of the input shaft when the crank is in the stored position and thereby holding the crank in the stored position.    
   
   
       14 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the lock member having an exterior surface with a recess, and the input shaft end surface being positioned inside the recess when the crank is in the operative position.    
   
   
       15 ) The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 the input shaft being outside of the recess when the crank is in the stored position.    
   
   
       16 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the lock member being mounted on the crank for movement of the lock member relative to the crank.    
   
   
       17 ) The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a pin extending through the input shaft and through the crank mounting the crank to the input shaft for pivoting movement of the crank between the stored and operative positions relative to the input shaft; and,    the lock member moving from the unlocked to the locked position in response to moving the crank from the stored to the operative position.    
   
   
       18 ) The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a spring on the crank operatively urging the lock member toward the input shaft.    
   
   
       19 ) The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 the spring on the crank being positioned inside the crank.    
   
   
       20 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the cavity in the input shaft end surface having an interior side wall, the interior wall extends from the input shaft end surface into the input shaft and extends around the cavity in the input shaft end surface; and,    the lock member having an end surface and a projection on the lock member end surface, and the projection is positioned inside the cavity in the input shaft end surface with the interior side wall of the cavity extending around the projection when the crank is in the operative position relative to the input shaft.