Straightforward, robust locking device between two elements capable of sliding relative to one another

Locking device between a cylinder body (2) and a piston (4), the cylinder body (2) comprising paths (20) extending from an interior zone of the cylinder body (2) and opening into an outer lateral surface (12.1), the piston (4) comprising at least one groove (23, 25) in its interior surface, balls (24) being housed in the paths (20). An actuator is able to force the balls (24) to move in the paths (20) towards the outside of the first element (2), so that in the unlocked state one (24.1) of the balls of each path (20) is housed entirely in its path (20), and in the locked state, said ball (24.1) is housed partly in its path (20) and partly in the groove (23, 25) preventing the relative sliding of the cylinder body (2) and the piston (4).