Abstract: A device for interchanging tools on a mechanical manipulator arm includes a male locking cone unit, a female receptacle cone unit and a motor unit. The male locking cone unit has 3, 6 or 12 equal size balls captured in a male conical cage to extend through its external surface. The female receptacle cone unit that carries a tool includes a dished member having an internal conical surface mating with the external surface of the locking cone, a groove in the conical surface contoured to embrace portions of the balls positioned therein and lands in the groove dividing it into 8 sections of substantially equal length. The lands prevent the balls when in the groove from moving from one of the sections to another. The motor unit, which axially connects via a power take off system with the tool to operate it, is mounted on the female receptacle cone unit.

Abstract: A device with which a tow line may be attached to a towed object, e.g., a submarine vessel, and then detached remotely includes a body member, a trip member, a latch and a keeper member. The body member has a pivot portion and an integral tow portion. The pivot portion includes a first arcuate section integral with the tow portion, a second arcuate section hinged to the first arcuate section and fastener means to forceably close the second section upon the first section forming a circular opening in the the pivot portion, which opening serves as the means for connection of the device to the towed object. The tow portion is J-shaped while the trip member is C-shaped and is pivoted on the tow portion to swing between a latched position and a release position. The latch includes a hook member pivoted on the tow portion and a ledge on the trip member is positioned so that the hook member can engage the ledge to retain it in the latched position.