Flexible coaxial pushpull cable

• US 4,541,303 A
• Filed: 08/27/1984
• Issued: 09/17/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kuzunishi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Leppink, James A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKenzie, Jr., Frank H.
• Application Number:
  US06/644,658
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 74/501 R, 74/501 P
• US Class Current: 74/502.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/14 Construction of the end-piece of the flexible member; Attachment thereof to the flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/20 Construction of flexible members moved to and fro in the sheathing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/265 with a swivel tube connected to the end-fitting of a sheathing, e.g. with a spherical joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20456 Specific cable or sheath structure

Abstract

A flexible coaxial pushpull cable comprising an outer cable member, and an inner cable member disposed inside the outer member so as to be slidable lengthwise therein, the inner cable member having a projecting end portion which extends lengthwise beyond the free end of the outer cable member, the inner cable member including a flexible working core and a length of wire tightly wrapped around the core in a helical configuration and with a given lengthwise pitch, whereby the inner cable member has an apparent diameter which is substantially equal to the sum of the diameter of the core and twice the diameter of the wire, the wire defining a helical groove, at least the projecting end portion of the inner cable member including a reinforcing member formed by a flexible polymeric material which fills the helical groove.

Claims

1. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable adapted to be connected to a terminal tubular fitting, comprising an outer cable member, an inner cable member disposed inside said outer cable member so as to be slidable lengthwise therein, said inner cable member having a projecting end portion which extends lengthwise beyond one end of said outer cable member, said inner cable member including a flexible working core of substantially circular cross section and a length of metal wire wrapped around said core in a helical configuration to define a helical groove between the helical wraps of said wire, said helical groove having a depth substantially equal to the radial thickness of said wire, a resin reinforcement on said projecting end portion of said inner cable member, said resin reinforcement being a molded flexible polymeric material which is injection-molded into said helical groove and which fills said helical groove such that said molded flexible polymeric material has a thickness which is substantially equal to the depth of said helical groove, said resin reinforcement thereby reducing bending deformation of said projecting end portion, said projecting end portion being adapted to be received and to be bent in said terminal tubular fitting such that said flexible polymeric material provides a smooth peripheral surface on said projecting end portion to assure a smooth push-pull operation should said projecting end portion contact said terminal tubular fitting as a result of bending of said projecting end portion within said terminal tubular fitting.

2. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable according to claim 1, in which said wire is swaged after it has been helically wrapped around the core.

3. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable according to claim 1, wherein said flexible polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, nylon and synthetic rubber.

4. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable adapted to be connected to a terminal tubular fitting, comprising an outer cable member, and inner cable member disposed inside said outer cable member so as to be slidable lengthwise therein, said inner cable member having a projecting end portion which extends lengthwise beyond one end of said outer cable member, said inner cable member including a flexible working core of substantially circular cross section and a length of metal wire wrapped around said core in a helical configuration to define a helical groove between the helical wraps of said wire, said helical groove having a depth substantially equal to the radial thickness of said wire, a resin reinforcement on said projecting end portion of said inner cable member, said resin reinforcement being a molded flexible polymeric material which is injection-molded onto said projecting end portion to fill said helical groove and to extend radially outwardly of said helical groove such that said molded flexible polymeric material has a thickness which is greater than the depth of said helical groove, said resin reinforcement thereby reducing bending deformation of said projecting end portion, said projecting end portion being adapted to be received and to be bent in said terminal tubular fitting such that said flexible polymeric material provides a smooth peripheral surface on said projecting end portion to assure a smooth pushpull operation should said projecting end portion contact said terminal tubular fitting as a result of bending of said projecting end portion within said terminal tubular fitting.

5. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable according to claim 4, in which said wire is swaged after it has been helically wrapped around the core.

6. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable according to claim 4, wherein said flexible polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, nylon and synthetic rubber.

7. The combination comprising:

(a) a flexible coaxial pushpull cable comprising an outer cable member, an inner cable member disposed inside said outer cable member so as to be slidable lengthwise therein, said inner cable member having a projecting end portion which extends lengthwise beyond one end of said outer cable member, said inner cable member including a flexible working core of substantially circular cross section and a length of metal wire wrapped around said core in a helical configuration to define a helical groove between the helical wraps of said wire;

(b) a terminal tubular fitting means comprising a sleeve with an inner cylindrical opening which receives said projecting end portion of said inner cable member, said terminal tubular fitting means further comprising a tubular member disposed on said one end of said outer cable member and having a socket, said sleeve being provided with a ball member which is disposed in a swivel coupling relationship with said socket, a rod-shaped extension fitting slidable within said cylindrical opening in said sleeve, said rod-shaped extension fitting being connected to said projecting end portion of said inner cable member such that a push-pull action is transmitted between said rod-shaped extension fitting and said inner cable member as said rod-shaped extension fitting slides axially in said cylindrical opening in said sleeve, said sleeve being angularly movable relative to said outer cable member as said ball swivels in said socket and said projecting end portion of said inner cable bends in the region of said swivel coupling, said inner cylindrical opening in said sleeve having a diameter greater than the outer diameter of said projecting end portion of said inner cable member to provide space for said projecting end portion of said inner cable to bend; and

(c) a resin reinforcement of said projecting end portion of said inner cable member, said resin reinforcement being a molded flexible polymeric material which is injection molded into said helical groove and which fills said helical groove such that said molded flexible polymeric material has a thickness which is substantially equal to the depth of said helical groove, said resin reinforcement thereby reducing bending deformation of said projecting end portion while providing a smooth peripheral surface on said projecting end portion to assure a smooth push-pull operation should said projecting end portion contact said sleeve as a result of bending of said projecting end portion.

10. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable according to claim 7, wherein said tubular member has an internal cylindrical portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of said projecting end portion, said internal cylindrical portion being disposed at said one end of said outer cable member and providing space in which said projecting end portion can be bent.

8. The combination comprising:

(a) a flexible coaxial pushpull cable comprising an outer cable member, an inner cable member disposed inside said outer cable member so as to be slidable lengthwise therein, said inner cable member having a projecting end portion which extends lengthwise beyond one end of said outer cable member, said inner cable member including a flexible working core of substantially circular cross section and a length of metal wire wrapped around said core in a helical configuration to define a helical groove between the helical wraps of said wire;

(b) a terminal tubular fitting means comprising a sleeve with an inner cylindrical opening which receives said projecting end portion of said inner cable member, said terminal tubular fitting means further comprising a tubular member disposed on said one end of said outer cable member and having a socket, said sleeve being provided with a ball member which is disposed in a swivel coupling relationship with said socket, a rod-shaped extension fitting slidable within said cylindrical opening in said sleeve, said rod-shaped extension fitting being connected to said projecting end portion of said inner cable member such that a push-pull action is transmitted between said rod-shaped extension fitting and said inner cable member as said rod-shaped extension fitting slides axially in said cylindrical opening in said sleeve, said sleeve being angularly movable relative to said outer cable member as said ball swivels in said socket and said projecting end portion of said inner cable bends in the region of said swivel coupling, said inner cylindrical opening in said sleeve having a diameter greater than the outer diameter of said projecting end portion of said inner cable member to provide space for said projecting end portion of said inner cable to bend; and

(c) a resin reinforcement on said projecting end portion of said inner cable member, said resin reinforcement being a molded flexible polymeric material which is injection-molded onto said projecting end portion to fill said helical groove and to extend radially outwardly of said helical groove such that said molded flexible polymeric material has a thickness which is greater than the depth of said helical groove, said resin reinforcement thereby reducing bending deformation of said projecting end portion while providing a smooth peripheral surface on said projecting end portion to assure a smooth push-pull operation should said projecting end portion contact said sleeve as a result of bending of said projecting end portion.

9. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable according to claim 8, wherein said polymeric material has a generally overall circular cross-section configuration with an apparent diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical opening in said sleeve.

11. A flexible coaxial pushpull cable according to claim 8, wherein said tubular member has an internal cylindrical portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of said projecting end portion, said internal cylindrical portion being disposed at said one end of said outer cable member and providing space in which said projecting end portion can be bent.