| Abstract: | A tilt and lock apparatus that includes a tilt servomechanism, a spiral
torsion spring, a lock wheel, and a lock hook is described herein. The
spiral torsion spring is mechanically coupled to the tilt servomechanism
and the lock wheel (which includes an opening). When a shaft is
positioned through the opening, rotation of the lock wheel is in unison
with rotation of the shaft. An external surface of the lock wheel
includes one or more grooves. The lock hook includes a head that engages
and disengages the grooves. The lock wheel is stationary when the head
engages one of the grooves and is rotatable when the head disengages the
grooves. The head and the grooves are geometrically aligned when engaged
to prevent creation of a force that acts to disengage the head responsive
to an applied force acting on the shaft. |