MECHANICAL LINK

• US 20180069386A1
• Filed: 09/06/2017
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultra PCS Limited
• Original Assignee: Ultra Electronics Limited (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Keen, Phil
• Granted Patent: US 10,320,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts

Abstract

A mechanical link includes a carrier for supporting a conductor within a mechanical link. The mechanical link may include a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being arranged for movement with respect to the first arm, and a flexible helical carrier for supporting a conductor, wherein the flexible helical carrier is received within the first and second arms. The carrier may be, or may include a generally helical member of a flexible material, the generally helical member comprising a continuous support portion having on both sides thereof upstanding wall portions.

Claims

1. A mechanical link comprising:

a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being arranged for movement with respect to the first arm; and

a flexible helical carrier for supporting a conductor, wherein the flexible helical carrier is received within the first and second arms.

2. A mechanical link according to claim 1 wherein the flexible helical carrier is of an elastomeric material.

3. A mechanical link according to claim 2 wherein the elastomeric material comprises neoprene.

4. A mechanical link according to claim 1 wherein the flexible helical carrier comprises a continuous support portion for receiving the conductor, the continuous support portion having on both sides thereof upstanding wall portions for retaining the conductor in position when the conductor is received on the central support portion.

5. A mechanical link according to claim 1 wherein the second arm is arranged for pivotal movement with respect to the first arm about two mutually orthogonal axes.

6. A mechanical link according to claim 5 wherein the mutually orthogonal axes are offset from one another.

7. A mechanical link according to claim 1 wherein the first arm comprises a first arm end received in a first housing member, the second arm comprises a second arm end received in a second housing member, and wherein the flexible helical carrier is attached at a first end thereof to the first arm end and at a second end thereof to the second arm end.

8. A mechanical link according to claim 7, further comprising an intermediate housing member interposed between the first and second housing members, wherein the first, second and intermediate housing members are configured to form a universal joint.

9. A mechanical link according to claim 7, wherein the first housing porting and the second housing portion are formed as hollow cylinders.

10. A mechanical link according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate housing portion is formed as a ring.

11. A carrier for supporting a conductor in a mechanical link, the carrier comprising a generally helical member of a flexible material, the generally helical member comprising a continuous support portion having on both sides thereof upstanding wall portions.

12. A carrier according to claim 11 wherein the flexible material comprises an elastomeric material.

13. A carrier according to claim 12 wherein the elastomeric material comprises neoprene.

14. A carrier according to claim 11, wherein continuous support portion having on both sides thereof the upstanding wall portions forms a helical open channel.

15. The carrier according to claim 14, wherein the helical open channel is configured for holding multiple cables in a parallel arrangement.

16. A mechanical link, comprising means for movement of a second arm with respect to a first arm, and means for supporting a conductor within the first and second arms.

17. A carrier comprising means for supporting a conductor within opposing arms of a mechanical link.