Method and apparatus for providing tension within a cable

• US 6,279,415 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Chance, Kenneth Edward, Nolan, Christopher Patrick, Verrier, Celine Anne-Alice
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Mary Ann
• Application Number:
  US09/427,904
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 745/015.R, 745/005, 745/024, 745/026
• US Class Current: 74/501.50R
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/22 Adjusting; Compensating length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20402 Flexible transmitter [e.g., Bowden cable]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20408 Constant tension sustaining

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for providing tension in a cable 12. Apparatus 10 includes a generally cylindrical housing 14, movable member 16 which is slidably disposed within housing 14 and a member 18 which is slidably disposed within member 16 and housing 14. Assembly 10 further includes a conventional spring or compression member 20 which is conventionally and operatively coupled to members 16 and 18, and is effective to impart opposing forces upon member 16 and member 18, thereby providing tension within cable 12.

Claims

1. A cable tensioning apparatus comprising:

a generally hollow housing;

a first member which is adapted to be coupled to a first portion of a cable, said first member being slidably movable within said housing in response to an actuation of said cable and including an inner surface having at least one inwardly projecting ridge;

a second member which is adapted to be coupled to a second portion of said cable, which is disposed within said first member and which slidably engages said inner surface, said second member being movable, in response to a pulling force being applied to said second portion of said cable, between a first position in which said second member is remote from said at least one inwardly projecting ridge and a second position in which said second member abuttingly engages said at least one inwardly projecting ridge, thereby allowing said pulling force to be transferred to said first portion of said cable and allowing said cable to be actuated; and

a compression member which is coupled to said first member and to said second member, said spring being effective to force said first portion toward said second portion, thereby providing tension within said cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said compression member comprises a spring.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second member has a rounded outer edge which slidably engages said inner surface and allows said second member to pivot relative to said first member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said housing is generally cylindrical in shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and said second members each include a projecting portion which receives said spring and which cooperatively and substantially prevent said spring from bowing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said at least one inwardly projecting ridge comprises a pair of ridges.

7. A cable tensioning apparatus comprising:

a housing having a generally cylindrical channel;

a first member which is adapted to be coupled to a first portion of a cable and which is movably disposed within said housing, said first member being movable in response to a pulling of said cable, thereby allowing said cable to actuate;

a second member which is coupled to a second portion of said cable and which is slidably disposed within said first member and is slidably movable relative to said first member in response to an actuation of said cable; and

a spring which is compressibly attached to said first member and to said second member, said spring being effective to selectively force said first member and said second member in opposite directions after actuation of said cable, thereby maintaining tension within said cable.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first member and said second member each include a projecting portion which receives said spring and which cooperatively and substantially prevent said spring from bowing.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said spring comprises a coil spring.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said housing further includes a pair of apertures through which said first portion and said second portion are disposed.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first member comprises a pair of opposing ridge portions for limiting the movement of said second member relative to said first member.