Flexible supporting sheath for cables and the like

• US 4,739,801 A
• Filed: 04/07/1986
• Issued: 04/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
• Original Assignee: Tysubakimoto Chain Company
• Inventors: Shimomura, Yoshimasa, Kimura, Akira, Yasuda, Hiroshi, Nishimura, Hiroshi, Kitao, Nobuo, Isozaki, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Callaghan, Thomas F.
• Application Number:
  US06/849,029
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 285/166, 285/167, 138/120, 138/155, 403/56, 174/68 C, 174/111
• US Class Current: 138/120
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 13/10 with universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 13/16 with arrangements for holding electric cables, hoses, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/015 using articulated- or supple-guiding elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 57/02 against cracking or buckling
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4461 Articulated
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/006 using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring extensible conductors or cables H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0475 formed by a succession of articulated units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32032 Plural ball and socket

Abstract

A universally articulable supporting sheath comprises an interconnected series of links, each having a convex spherical surface at one end, and a concave spherical surface at its opposite end. The concave and convex surfaces mate with one another to form the sheath. Special links having branch openings may be provided. Various forms of waterproofing seals are provided, including O-rings, axially compressed rings, flexible belts, and ridges on the spherical surfaces. The links can be fitted together by thermal expansion. However, an axilly split link is also described, which comprises two parts which snap together. The split parts may be molded as a unit with an integral thin wall hinge. The bending characteristics and bending radius of a sheath can be modified by insertion of spacers between the links at selected locations, or by the insertion of pins into radial holes provided in the links. Spacers with tongues may be used to prevent rotation of the links about the sheath axis, while allowing unidirectional articulation. Projections on one of a pair of mating spherical surfaces can be engaged with holes, slots or recesses of rectangular or other shapes to produce various limits on articulation and rotation. A single link may be provided iwth several alternatively usable holes, recesses and the like. The outer surface of a link can be provided iwth an axial extension engageable with a surface of an adjoining link to prevent back bending, or to prevent bending altogether.

Claims

1. A flexible supporting sheath for cables and the like comprising a series of interconnected hollow links forming a continuous hollow passage characterized by the fact that each one of said links has an inner concave part at one end, said inner concave part having a spherical surface, and an outer convex part at its opposite end, said outer convex part also having a spherical surface, and in which the convex part of at least one of said links is engaged with a concave part of an adjacent one of said links, in which the centers of the spherical surfaces of the engaged convex and concave parts coincide, in which the concave part of said adjacent link overlaps the convex part of said one of said links to an extent such as to prevent separation of said links, in which each of said links comprises first and second articulable link elements, the said inner concave part of each link being at one end of the first link element thereof, the said outer convex part of each link being at one end of the second link element thereof, the opposite end of said first link element having a second inner concave spherical part, the opposite end of said second link element having a second outer spherical convex part, and said second concave and convex parts being concentric, engaged with each other, and overlapping to an extent such as to prevent separation of said link elements, and in which a ring-like projection is formed on the exterior of said second link element adjacent to said second outer spherical convex part, said projection being engageable by an edge of said second inner concave spherical part to limit articulation of said link element, and having a link with an inner concave part engaged with the outer convex part at said one end of the second link element, and in which the same ring-like projection is also located adjacent to said outer convex part at said one end of the second link element and engageable by an edge of the concave part with which the last-mentioned convex part is engaged, to limit articulation of the last-mentioned concave and convex parts.

2. A flexible supporting sheath for cables and the like comprising a series of interconnected hollow links forming a continuous hollow passage characterized by the fact that each one of said links has an inner concave part at one end, said inner concave part having a spherical surface, and an outer convex part at its opposite end, said outer convex part also having a spherical surface, and in which the convex part of at least one of said links is engaged with a concave part of an adjacent one of said links, in which the centers of the spherical surfaces of the engaged convex and concave parts coincide, in which the concave part of said adjacent link overlaps the convex part of said one of said links to an extent such as to prevent separation of said links, in which each of said links comprises first and second articulable link elements, the said inner concave part of each link being at one end of the first link element thereof, the said outer convex part of each link being at one end of the second link element thereof, the opposite end of said first link element having a second inner concave spherical part, the opposite end of said second link element having a second outer spherical convex part, and said second concave and convex parts being concentric, engaged with each other, and overlapping to an extent such as to prevent separation of said link elements, in which an outer convex part of a link in said series is concentrically and overlappingly engaged with the inner concave part at said one end of said first link element, and in which a ring-like projection is formed on the interior of said first link element adjacent to both of the inner concave spherical parts thereof, said ring-like projection having annular surfaces facing in both directions along the axis of said first link element, one of said annular surfaces being engageable by an edge of said second convex part to limit articulation of said link elements, and the other of said annular surfaces being positioned for engagement by an edge of said convex link part engaged with said inner concave part at said one end of the first link element.

3. A flexible supporting sheath according to claim 2 in which the radially innermost edges of said ring-like projection are chamfered.