Flexible shaft
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flexible shaft, comprising:
- a plurality of discrete shaft segments together defining a first, central axis; and
at least one flexible elongate member linking said plurality of shaft segments with at least some of said shaft segments displaceable relative to said elongate member, said elongate member having a second axis spaced from said first axis, wherein orbiting of said at least one elongate member about said first axis causes rotation of each of said plurality of shaft segments about said first axis.
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Abstract
A flexible shaft. In exemplary embodiments, the flexible shaft can be used for the transmission of rotary motion and/or curvilinear guidance. In one embodiment, the flexible shaft includes a plurality of shaft segments linked together via at least one flexible elongate member. The shaft segments are spaced along the at least one flexible elongate member. Some of the shaft segments are displaceable relative to the at least one flexible elongate member. Orbiting of the at least one elongate member about a central axis of the shaft induces rotation of the shaft segments about the central axis, thereby effecting rotation of the flexible shaft.
126 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A flexible shaft, comprising:
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a plurality of discrete shaft segments together defining a first, central axis; and
at least one flexible elongate member linking said plurality of shaft segments with at least some of said shaft segments displaceable relative to said elongate member, said elongate member having a second axis spaced from said first axis, wherein orbiting of said at least one elongate member about said first axis causes rotation of each of said plurality of shaft segments about said first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A flexible shaft, comprising:
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a plurality of discrete shaft segments together defining a first, central axis; and
at least one flexible elongate member linking said plurality of shaft segments with at least some of said shaft segments displaceable relative to said elongate member, said elongate member having a second axis spaced from said first axis, said first axis and said second axis together defining a plane of flexure, said at least one flexible elongate member translatable along said second axis to effect flexing of the flexible shaft in said plane of flexure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification