Flexible drive rod for access to enclosed locations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flexible bolt assembly comprising:
- a rotationally fixed threaded nut aligned along a first axis;
a guide positionally fixed relative to said threaded nut and aligned along a second axis different from said first axis; and
a flexible threaded rod engaged with said rotationally fixed threaded nut and aligned along said first axis and engaged with said guide and aligned along said second axis, the flexible threaded rod composed of a coiled wire having a plurality of coils wound in a direction such that rotation of said threaded rod to advance said threaded rod relative to said threaded nut tends to increasingly compress the coils.
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Abstract
A flexible metallic bolt assembly including a flexible threaded rod formed of a helical tension coil spring is engaged by a rotationally fixed threaded hole, such as a nut, that defines a first longitudinal axis of the assembly. A guide positionally fixed relative to the threaded nut also engages the threaded rod. The guide defines a second longitudinal axis different from the first longitudinal axis. A rotary drive interface is provided, preferably at one end of the threaded rod.
75 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A flexible bolt assembly comprising:
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a rotationally fixed threaded nut aligned along a first axis;
a guide positionally fixed relative to said threaded nut and aligned along a second axis different from said first axis; and
a flexible threaded rod engaged with said rotationally fixed threaded nut and aligned along said first axis and engaged with said guide and aligned along said second axis, the flexible threaded rod composed of a coiled wire having a plurality of coils wound in a direction such that rotation of said threaded rod to advance said threaded rod relative to said threaded nut tends to increasingly compress the coils. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)
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11. A flexible bolt assembly comprising:
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a relatively stationary threaded member having a predetermined diameter and pitch and defining a first longitudinal axis;
a guide engaging said coiled wire, said guide positionally fixed relative to said threaded member and defining a second longitudinal axis different from said first longitudinal axis; and
a coiled wire having a diameter and pitch sized to cooperate with said predetermined diameter and pitch of said stationary threaded member, said coiled wire formed with compressively contacting adjacent coils wound in a direction relative to said threaded member such that advancingly rotating said coil spring relative to said stationary threaded member against a resistance tends to increase said compressive contact. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27)
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20. A method for curvingly advancing and retracting a threaded rod, the method comprising:
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spatially fixing a first threaded nut defining a first longitudinal axis;
orienting a first guide defining a second longitudinal axis different from said first longitudinal axis;
forming a coiled wire of a plurality of adjacent coils compressively contacting another adjacent coil, said coils forming threads compatible with said threaded nut; and
threading said coiled wire through each of said first threaded nut and said first guide. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for curvingly advancing and retracting a threaded rod, the method comprising:
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threading a coiled wire through a first threaded nut spatially fixed along a first longitudinal axis, said coiled wire formed of a plurality of adjacent coils compressively contacting another adjacent coil and forming threads compatible with said threaded nut;
curving a portion of said coiled wire into alignment with a second longitudinal axis; and
passing a portion of said coiled wire into a first guide oriented along a second longitudinal axis different from said first longitudinal axis.
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Specification